Christmas-Tide Stories. A Pretty Scarecrow, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. Taffy and Buster Tied to a Christmas Tree, and Taffy and Buster at Niblo’s, two stories by Jessie Benton Frémont. A Christmas Masquerade, by Mary E. Wilkins. A Christmas Guest, by Sarah Orne Jewett. A Wee Wedding, by Sophie May. Why the Doll’s Name was never Changed, by Katherine McDowell. These stories will all appear in the Christmas and New Year’s numbers.
Some Educational Extremes. A Yankee Schoolmistress, by Mrs. H. G. Rowe; a Maine village school of 1800, and how Aunt Polly Shedd taught history and civics. “Cap’n Bos’ard’s Wife’s School,” by Mrs. Frances A. Humphrey; an amusing record of an Old Colony dame-school. A New England Summit, by Frona M. Brooks; how the Harvard Annex girls live and study.
The Quest of the Whipping-Boy. By Georgiana Washington. An extravaganza chronicling the suppositious adventures of an American school-girl, who, inspired by the “happy thought” of the early English kings in providing a Whipping-Boy to be punished for the sins of their young princes, set out on a journey to find a victim willing to bear all the consequences of the shortcomings of a seminary-full of modern school-girls.
Longfellow’s Boyhood. Also, Longfellow and the Children. Two articles by Rev. Samuel Longfellow. Reminiscences of the beloved “children’s poet,” as a child himself, and his relations with his own children and with other children through life. This beautiful paper for all children will appear in the Christmas number.
An Old House. By H. L. Bradley. Another Longfellow article, to appear in the New Year’s number. It describes the quaint old Longfellow house in Portland, where the poet wrote his first poems, and to which American boys and girls make pilgrimages. Many illustrations from photographs and drawings.
A “Lend-a-Hand” Group. A Helping Hand, by Mrs. James T. Fields. A Livelihood for Girls, by Margaret Sidney. The Boston Girls’ Friendly Society, by Mrs. Henry Whitman. From the Annals of the S. P. C. C., by Mrs. Kate Gannett Wells. Associated Charities Story: Kitty’s Gingerbread Store, and Jack’s Animals, by Mrs. Margaret Storer Warner.
Flowers I have Met. By Grant Allen. An interesting record of observations upon plants and flowers along New England and Canadian roadsides and fields, made by the eminent English scientist during his recent visit to America. Also animal papers.
Child Life in London. From Hyde Park to Whitehall. By Mrs. Elizabeth Robins Pennell, with many drawings by Joseph Pennell, the distinguished etcher. Both author and artist are now in London making special studies for this article.
The True Story of William Tell. By Sarah Loring Bailey. An historical and mythological research made at Altorf, Switzerland. Several interesting illustrations from photographs of localities, statues, etc.
Washington and his Playmates. By Wm. F. Carne, author of “Washington as a Burgher.” Interesting new material gathered from Virginia records, letters and recollections. Important illustrations.