Several of our young correspondents seem to have taken to writing poetry of late. The two following letters and poems—printed just as they came to us—will serve as samples of those received:

Winchester, Tenn.

Dear St. Nicholas, Seeing so many writing to you of my age I thought I would send you a letter. I am ten years old, and am advanced for my age. I like to read you very much, &c.—Your constant reader

Albert Marks.

P.S.—Please publish this poetry, which I wrote.

1.I looked o'er the
Place where Xerxes
Massed his millions
Before the grecian army,
2.I looked where Xerxes
Massed his hundred of ships
Before the small grecian
Navy. I looked o'er the place
3.Where Xerxes reared a mighty
Throne. I looked where ambitious
Caesar fell benea the assassin's dagger.
I looked where brave Leonidas braved
The millions of Xerxes.
4.I looked where Vesuvius laid
Pompeii under ashes and Lava. I looked
Where Marco Bozzaris bled for the
liberty of Greece.

1.I looked o'er the
Place where Xerxes
Massed his millions
Before the grecian army,
2.I looked where Xerxes
Massed his hundred of ships
Before the small grecian
Navy. I looked o'er the place
3.Where Xerxes reared a mighty
Throne. I looked where ambitious
Caesar fell benea the assassin's dagger.
I looked where brave Leonidas braved
The millions of Xerxes.
4.I looked where Vesuvius laid
Pompeii under ashes and Lava. I looked
Where Marco Bozzaris bled for the
liberty of Greece.

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dear St. Nicholas I have taken an idea lately, of writing poetry, and indeed, when I find myself at a loss to know what to do, I take out my little blank book and begin some little verses, some pretty good and others to my dissapointment, the opposite. I first write my poem on paper and if thought good, put it in my book. The following is a little piece on

Spring.


Oh, look! The grass is getting green

The buds begin to sprout

The blossoms on the oak-tree

Are beginning to come out


But hark! Who is that singing?

It is the robin gay

He has come back to greet us

Upon this happy day


But when we see the streamlet

Released from ice and snow

And down its pebbly routine

In music sweet and low,


And when at last the may flowers

Their sunny faces bring

It makes us feel so happy

And reminds us it is spring

R.S.F.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

From the American Tract Society:

Yusuf in Egypt: and his Friends. By Sara Keables Hunt. Eight full-page illustrations. Yusuf is a boy donkey-driver of Cairo, in Egypt. In telling the story of this brave little fellow's ups and downs in the world, the author describes many interesting scenes and incidents of modern Egyptian life, and conveys in an attractive way much information about the country and its people, customs, ancient temples and history.

Nan's Thanksgiving. By Hope Ledyard. Large type; illustrated. A bright and sweet little story of a girl's unselfishness.