Silverton, Colorado.
As I have not seen a letter from the Gem of the Rockies, as our pretty town is called, I thought I would write one. While I am writing, it is snowing quite hard, this last day of August. When I got up this morning, as soon as the fog had disappeared, the mountains looked beautiful. I have a nice pair of snow-shoes all ready for winter. It is great fun snow-shoeing for my sister and I. I have a big sister, who is helping me to make clothes for my doll. Her name is Saidie. I am a little girl eleven years old. I am always so delighted when I see papa coming home with my Harper's. Much love to the dear Postmistress.
Florence F.
Snow in August, Florence! No wonder you need snow-shoes for winter at that rate.
The apples, O! the apples, O!
See they come tumbling
Down below.
Climb the ladder,
And shake the tree!
One for baby,
And one for me,
And one for Dick,
Who climbs the tree
And shakes the apples,
And that makes three.
The apples, O! the apples, O!
Into the basket
See them go.
Pippins and Baldwins
All in a row;
One for baby,
And one for me,
And one for Dick,
Who climbs the tree
And shakes the apples,
And that makes three.
HOW THEY MAKE INDIGO.
BY A. E. T.
There are some amusing features connected with the process of making the very useful article we call indigo. You all know that it is a plant. The leaves, which are green, are first placed under heavy pressure, and then steeped from ten to fifteen hours in immense vats, so large that they contain 2000 cubic feet of water. In very hot weather this water swells until the surface becomes a frothing liquid, and should a match be applied, it would cause a loud report, and the flames would leap from vat to vat, like the will-o'-wisp flitting over marshes. These vats are filled from immense reservoirs, into which the water has been previously pumped. They have a time-keeper, who is called "gunta-paree"; he watches the process closely, and at the proper moment lets the steeped liquor run into another vessel, called the beating vat. And now comes the funniest part of it. They put a gang of coolies into the vats, each one having a long stick with a disk at the end. The coolies immediately plant themselves in two rows, facing each other; then they commence throwing up the liquor, which, meeting in mid-air, the two jets fall confusedly together. This they continue until the excitement grows intense. Such a screeching and yelling, with splashing of water and beating of sticks, until their naked bodies fairly glisten with the blue liquor. Oh, how they twist and contort themselves, until they look like imps or queer blue demons!