Dabney H. C.
You and Lillian must have looked like dear little fairy pages at the wedding you speak of. We would have enjoyed a peep at you both.
Oronoco, Minnesota.
I live in the State of Minnesota, in the small village of Oronoco, which is situated on the banks of the Zumbro River. I live on the north side, and my school-house is situated on the south bank, and it is a very beautiful place here. The people from Rochester, which is a city eleven miles from here, visit here often to catch fish and have picnic dinners in the groves. Nearly every autumn I gather butternuts out of our grove; last autumn I gathered two bagfuls. There are a great many nice fish caught here—black bass, pickerel, and many other kinds—and in the winter you can see fish-houses scattered all along on the ice. I have taken Harper's Young People for three years, and I will take it three years more I guess.
Blanche A.
Barclay, Kansas.
My papa gave Young People to me for a birthday present when I was ten years old, and now I am eleven, and he has sent for it again, for we all think that we could not do without it. I have one sister named Virginia, after mamma's native State, and we call her Virgie. She is nine years old.
I have lots of pets. Our pigeons are so tame that they will eat out of my hand or lap. We have two cats, named Tom and Dick, and they are real cunning, but I can not tell all their tricks. It would take too much space. Our dog Shep will beg for apples and melons to eat. She comes into the house, and when pa plays the violin she sings or howls, and the higher the notes he makes, the louder she sings. Has anybody else a dog that can do that?
When we came to this farm, three years ago, we bought some hens. A speckled one sat, and hatched out a flock of chickens, and what do you think?—she tried to kill all but the black ones. Last summer we had a white hen that acted the same way. Was it not strange?
Every spring since we have lived here papa has found, while working, a number of grubs, dead and callous, and having sprouts—some of them six inches long—growing out of where their eyes had been. A gentleman explained it by saying that the worm was infested with a vegetable parasite, which caused its death.
I have solved a number of puzzles, but never sent any to you. I have been sick for two months, but am better now. We go a mile and a half to school. Most of our school-mates are Quakers, and our teachers are too. I should be so pleased if you would publish this letter. Good-by.
L. Pearlie S.