Chapter II: Part 2

But when it came to climbing, baby was nowhere. Fluffy was but three months old, but she was oftener on the roof of her house--where baby could _never_ have got--than in it, while if dear mamma came near her, with her long flounces, Fluffy was on them at once, and stuck there like a hairy burr. That was the sad thing about Fluffy, she was such a gad-about, being everywhere where you didn't expect her to be; and so tiny that even when you did expect her, nobody knew she was there.

She was lost about ten times a day, and found in the most astonishing places. Once in mamma's work-box, where she was looked for, but not seen, being taken for a ball of worsted; and once in papa's shooting-jacket pocket, who took her to his office with him, under the impression that she was his seal-skin tobacco pouch.

Moreover, a very fashionable lady called one day, and took Fluffy right away with her, the poor little dear having clung to her mantle, and been amalgamated with its fur trimmings.

To say that dear papa was "weak" about the fair Persian is to take a very favorable view of his devotion to her; but dear mamma said it was "quite ridiculous to make such a fuss about a kitten"--and never herself lost a chance of picking it up and fondling it in her arms. The rest of the family were described by their cousin Charley, who lived over the way, as "sunk in the Persian superstition," and even as "addicted to nigger worship"--an allusion to Fluff's sable hue.

And now comes the best part of the story, which is, of course, the "creepy-crawly" and horrible part.

Cousin Charley had a mastiff dog called Jumbo, ever so high and ever so huge, with great hanging chaps (which are pronounced chops, you know) on both sides of his jaws. If you never saw him open his mouth, I can scarcely give you any idea of it; but if you have seen pictures of Vesuvius during an eruption, think of the crater. It was said by his master that Jumbo would never hurt a fly, but that was not the point with those who were not flies, and all these stood in great fear of him. It is very little satisfaction to one who meets an elephant in his morning's walk, in a narrow way, to have read that that creature is the most gentle of mammals (or mammoths); and similarly there was no knowing what catastrophe might not take place from the presence of Jumbo, though he might not mean to bring it about. He was positively too tremendous for society; while, out-of-doors, I never knew a dog so respected--and avoided--by other dogs.

To see Jumbo and Fluff together was to behold the meeting of two extremes of the animal creation; the introduction of the King of Brobdingnag to the Princess of Lilliput, or of Chang, the Chinese giant, to Mrs. General Tom Thumb. Yet, if you will believe me, on Jumbo's first appearance on our drawing-room rug, Fluff scampered up to him (all on one side, as usual) and hung on to his tail! The moment was one of terrible suspense, not only to her, but to the spectators generally, except Charley, who said, "Oh, Jumbo won't mind," which might or might not have been the case; for it is my fixed conviction that that noble animal was totally unaware of what was taking place, so to speak, behind his back, and to this hour is ignorant of the indignity that was put upon him.

One Sunday morning, in midwinter, Jumbo called without his master, and walked into the back parlor without being announced; there was no living creature there except himself and Fluff, and when the family entered the room _there was only Jumbo_. They looked everywhere for his late (yes, his _late_) companion; but she had vanished. Whither? To this vital question it seemed to their horrified minds that there was but one reply; it was in vain for Jumbo to assume an indifferent air, as though he would say, "How should _I_ know?" The accusation that trembled on every lip was, "The dog has swallowed her." He looked about the same size as usual, but that was nothing; fifty Fluffs would not have made any external difference. One of his chaps, indeed, seemed to hang a little lower than usual, but she was not there. He yawned--nobody believed in _that_; it was just what a dog would do, conscious of crime and assuming unconcern--and everybody shuddered. What might not that enormous throat have swallowed, and thought nothing of it? Messengers were dispatched at once for Charley, who came and cross-examined the animal; but he only shook his head and wagged his tail. These actions might have been proofs of his innocence if Fluff had still been with us, but as it was, it only showed his callousness--the callousness of cannibalism.

All sat round Jumbo in a circle, and listened in solemn silence. Even the tiniest mew of farewell would have been welcome, but it was not vouchsafed. Nothing was heard but the thumping of that wicked tail (to which they had once seen Fluffy cling) upon the bear-skin rug on which they had so often lost her. She was not there now, for they took it up and shook it. She was not in the envelope case upon the writing-table; nor in the coal-scuttle, for they took the coals out one by one, to be quite sure; nor in the work-box, for it was Sunday, and it was not there; nor up the curtains, for they examined them with "the steps"; nor up the chimney, for the fire was alight; nor in either of papa's boots, which were set on the fender to get warm. She was gone from their sight like a beautiful dream, though still, alas! in a manner, _present_.

Dear papa was the first to recover from the catastrophe. "Whatever has taken place, my dears," said he, "we must go to church; the last bell is already ringing."

Dear mamma sighed, and took the hands of the two youngest children, leaving her muff to hang from her neck by its ribbon. She felt that in that hour of trouble the clasp of her fingers would be a comfort to them.

The whole family walked together like a funeral procession, and they could see the neighbors draw long faces, under the impression that there had been some fatal domestic calamity to account for such looks of woe. Even Charley was affected, though he could hardly believe even yet in his favorite's guilt, while Jumbo came behind with his tail between his legs--either from the stings of conscience, or because he knew he would be left as usual at the church door.

I am afraid the thoughts of some of the little party wandered a little, during the first part of the service, in the supposed direction in which Fluff had gone; but the sermon riveted their attention. They wished sincerely Jumbo could have been there to hear it, for it was upon cruelty to animals. It had just begun, and dear mamma had for the first time got rid of her books and placed her hands in her muff, when she drew them sharply out again and turned very red. At the same time a piteous little mew pervaded the sanctuary. At home we could not have heard it a yard away, but the church, being built for sound, developed those delicate notes. At the same time all the people on the right hand of the aisle began to smile. Fluff's little black face had presented itself at that end of the muff. Dear mamma hastened to close it up with her hand, and then all the people on the left hand of the aisle began to smile. Fluff's little black face had peered out at the other end. Then dear mamma, in desperation, put in both her hands, and then the imprisoned Fluff began to mew indeed. "How hard must that heart be," said the clergyman, going on with his subject, "who would ill use an innocent, helpless kitten!" "Like _me_, like _me_," said Fluff, or so it seemed to say, in its piteous way. The people in both aisles fixed their eyes on dear mamma, who in vain pretended to be rapt in the sermon; they knew very well by this time what was wrapped in her muff, and in the end dear mamma had to go. The denunciations of the clergyman against cruel people followed her down the aisle, and were supposed, no doubt, by those who didn't know her, to have a personal application, for Fluff was mewing all the way. It was altogether a most terrible business. What all the family felt, however, when they got home, was that an apology was, in the first place, due to Jumbo for the imputation on his character, and it was offered (on a plate of beef bones) in the amplest manner, and accepted in a similar spirit.

THEY GOT THE TURKEY.

BY MRS. MARGARET EYTINGE.

The shop of Mr. Onosander Golong looked, that 24th of December, like a bower. Two young cedar-trees stood one on each side of the doorway; long garlands of evergreen, sprinkled with bright berries, were festooned all over the walls; and every turkey there, and there were lots of them, hanging like some new kind of gigantic fruit from the mass of green that covered the ceiling, had a gay ribbon tied around its neck. And such a wonderful picture in the way of freshness and color as the big window presented to the passers-by! Bunches of crisp light green celery leaning up against heaps of brown, pink-eyed potatoes and honest red onions; fiery-looking peppers side by side with golden oranges and yellow lemons; hard, smooth, shining cranberries trying to look as though they were sweet; great fat pumpkins; piles of green and piles of rosy apples; bunches of fragrant thyme; and more turkeys, some with and some without their feathered coats, but all, as I said before, with gay ribbons around their necks. Dear me! if Santa Claus could have only looked into that window and peeped into that shop, how pleased he would have been, and how he would have laughed! And he certainly would have taken Mr. Onosander Golong for a long-lost brother, for never before did mortal man so strongly resemble the children's old Christmas friend. Snow-white hair, long snow-white beard, twinkling blue eyes, round, fat, red, good-natured face, a fur cap on his head, bunches of holly berries pinned here and there on his shaggy jacket, and a laugh--good gracious! such a loud, hearty, mirth-provoking laugh, that the very people on the street, hearing it, began to smile, and feel that Christmas was here indeed. And I tell you Mr. Onosander Golong was busy that day, and so were all the men and boys employed by him. Turkeys and other things that had been ordered the evening before, turkeys and other things that had been ordered early that morning, and turkeys and other things being ordered all the time, were to be packed away in huge baskets, and sent to their respective destinations. But he wasn't so busy but that he stopped a moment from his work to give a piece of meat to a poor dog that had trotted hopefully into the shop (having evidently translated the name "Golong" over the door into "Come in"), and was asking for it with his eyes. And as he rose from patting the dog, he saw two children standing before him, also asking for something with their eyes. They were poorly dressed children, but the girl had a sweet, bright face, and the boy was as jolly-looking a little fellow as you could find anywhere. His cheeks were as round, if not as red, as Mr. Golong's, and his merry black eyes actually danced in his head. Now if there was one place in Mr. Onosander Golong's heart softer than the rest, it was the place he kept for children; and so when he saw these two looking up in his face--the boy with boyish boldness, and the girl with girlish shyness--he said, in the cheeriest, kindest manner, "Well, small people, what can I do for you?"

"We would like to tell you a story," answered the boy, in a frank, pleasant voice.

"Tell me a story!" repeated Mr. Golong, in a tone of great surprise.

"Yes, sir, please--a Christmas story," was the reply.

"Bless my heart! what a queer idea!" said Mr. Golong, and he laughed a silent laugh that half closed his eyes and wrinkled his nose in the funniest way.

"Wouldn't you like to hear one?" asked the girl, coaxingly.

"Of course I would--I'm very fond of stories--but I don't see how I can spare the time. We're so busy just now, and likely to be until night," said Mr. Golong.

"It's only a short one," said the boy.

"A very short one," added the girl.

"Well, go ahead," said the good-natured old fellow. And he sat down on a barrel of potatoes, and his young visitors placed themselves one on each side of him.

"One Christmas-time," the boy began, "there was a big tenement-house in this city, and ten families lived in it, and every one of these families 'cept one knew they were a-going to have turkey for their Christmas dinner. They knew it sure the day before Christmas, all 'cept this one. The family that wasn't sure the day before Christmas morning lived on the top floor, and it was--it was--"

"Mrs. Todd, Neal Todd, Hetty Todd, and Puppy Todd," prompted the girl.

"Yes, it was them," said the boy, and went on with his story again: "Mrs. Todd was Neal's and Hetty's mother--they hadn't any father; he died three years ago--and Puppy was their dog. Mrs. Todd is one of the best mothers ever lived, and she sews button-holes on boys' jackets for a big store; and Hetty cleans up the house, and gets the supper, and such things; and I--I mean Neal--runs errands for folks when he can get a chance after school. His mother wants him to go to school till he's fourteen anyhow, 'cause a boy that has some education can get along better than a boy that don't know anything. And this family, though they were very poor, had always managed to have a turkey dinner till the Christmas I'm telling about, and Mrs. Todd she loved turkey."

"Didn't Hetty and Neal?" asked Mr. Golong, closing his eyes and wrinkling his nose again; and he hurried away to wait on a stout lady, all covered with glittering jet ornaments and bugles, who must have been a very particular customer, she talked so loud and so much.

"Didn't Hetty and Neal?" he repeated, when he came back.

"Oh, my! I guess they did!" said the girl, her eyes sparkling.

"They'd 'a been funny fellows if they didn't," added the boy; "but, 'pon their words and honors, they wanted it more for their mother--she's such a good mother, and has so few good things to eat--than they did for themselves. And it made them feel awful bad when she came home and cried 'cause some wicked thief had stolen her pocket-book with half a week's earnings in it, and the two-dollar bill that the boss had given her to buy a Christmas dinner with besides. And so the boy Neal--he's kind of a nice chap, ain't he, Hetty?"

"Awful nice," replied Hetty, with a mischievous little giggle.

"And he says to his sister--she's awful nice, ain't she, Hetty?"

"Kind of nice," said Hetty, with another little giggle.

"He says to his sister," continued the boy, "'Don't say anything to mother, but put on your hat, and bring a basket, and we'll make a try for a merry Christmas dinner--turkey and all.' And they went round the corner to a beautiful market, kept by a gentleman who looked exactly like Santa Claus--"

Mr. Onosander Golong laughed aloud this time, and flew to wait on another particular customer.

"So he looked like Santa Claus?" he said, with a chuckle, when he sat down on the barrel of potatoes again.

"The very image of him!" said the girl, with great emphasis.

"The boy," began the boy once more, "had run errands for him two or three times, and each time had got two apples or oranges besides the reg'lar pay; and he was good to cats and dogs. So this chap went to this gentleman--he took his sister along, 'cause he thought Mr. Golong would like to see her--and they told him their story. And the boy says, when it was done, 'If you would only trust us for a turk--I mean, a turkey, and a few other things, I'll work for you all holiday week, and another week too, after school. My name's Neal Todd, and my mother is a real nice woman, and I love her just as you used to love your mother when you was a little boy.' And the gentleman, says he, 'Being as it's Christmas-time, and I look so much like Santa Claus, I'll do it.' And he did. And that's all."

Mr. Onosander Golong burst out a-laughing, and oh! how he laughed! He laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. He laughed until he nearly fell off the barrel. He laughed until everybody far and near who heard him laughed too, and the very roosters in the poultry shop over the way joined in, and crowed with all their might and main. And they got the turkey.

BOOKS SUITABLE FOR HOLIDAY PRESENTS.

* * * * *

GIFT BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

_The Boy Travellers in the Far East._

Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey to Japan and China. By THOMAS
W. KNOX. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $3.00.

_An Involuntary Voyage._

A Book for Boys. By LUCIEN BIART. Illustrated. 12mo, Cloth, $1.25.

_Stories of the Old Dominion._

By JOHN ESTEN COOKE. Profusely Illustrated. 12mo, Illuminated
Cloth, $1.50.

_The Story of Liberty._

By CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth,
$3.00.

_The Boys of '76._

A History of the Battles of the Revolution. By CHARLES CARLETON
COFFIN. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $3.00.

_The Fairy Books:_

THE PRINCESS IDLEWAYS. By MRS. W. J. HAYS. Illustrated. 16mo,
Cloth, 75 cents.

THE CATSKILL FAIRIES. By VIRGINIA W. JOHNSON. 8vo, Illuminated
Cloth, Gilt Edges, $3.00.

FAIRY BOOK ILLUSTRATED. 16mo, Cloth, $1.50.

PUSS-CAT MEW, and other New Fairy Stories for my Children. By E. H.
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, M.P. Illustrated. 12mo, Cloth, $1.25.

FAIRY BOOK. The Best Popular Fairy Stories selected and rendered
anew. By the Author of "John Halifax." Illustrated. 12mo, Cloth,
$1.25.

FAIRY TALES. By JEAN MACÉ. Translated by MARY L. BOOTH.
Illustrated. 12mo, Bevelled Edges, $1.75; Gilt Edges, $2.25.

FAIRY TALES OF ALL NATIONS. By É. LABOULAYE. Translated by MARY L.
BOOTH. Illustrated. 12mo, Cloth, Bevelled Edges, $2.00; Gilt Edges,
$2.50.

THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE. By the Author of "John Halifax, Gentleman."
Illustrated. Square l6mo, Cloth, $1.00.

FOLKS AND FAIRIES. Stories for Little Children. By LUCY CRANDALL
COMFORT. Illustrated. Square 4to, Cloth, $1.00.

THE ADVENTURES OF A BROWNIE, as Told to my Child. By the Author of
"John Halifax, Gentleman." Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, 90
cents.

_Songs of Our Youth._

By MISS MULOCK. Set to Music. Square 4to, Cloth, Illuminated,
$2.50.

_Books for Girls._

Written or Edited by the Author of "John Halifax, Gentleman."
Illustrated. 6 vols., 16mo, Cloth, in neat case, $5.40; the volumes
separately, 90 cents each.

Little Sunshine's Holiday.--The Cousin from India.--Twenty Years
Ago.--Is it True?--An Only Sister.--Miss Moore.

_Pet; or, Pastimes and Penalties._

By Rev. H. R. HAWEIS, M.A. With 50 Illustrations. l2mo, Cloth,
$1.50.

_What Mr. Darwin Saw._

In his Voyage Round the World in the Ship "Beagle." Adapted for
Youthful Readers. Maps and Illustrations. 8vo, Ornamental Cloth,
$3.00.

_Our Children's Songs._

Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cover, $1.00.

_Smiles's Books for Young Men:_

SELF-HELP.--CHARACTER.--THRIFT. 12mo, Cloth, $1.00 per volume.

_Books for Young People._

By PAUL B. DU CHAILLU. Illustrated. 5 vols., 12mo, Cloth, $1.50
each.

Stories the Gorilla Country.
Lost in the Jungle.
Wild Life under the Equator.
My Apingi Kingdom.
The Country of the Dwarfs.

_Dogs and their Doings._

By Rev. F. O. MORRIS. Elegantly Illustrated. Square 4to, Ornamental
Cloth, $1.75.

_Abbotts' Histories._

Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, $1.00 per volume; $32.00 per set.

Cyrus.--Darius.--Xerxes.--Alexander.--Romulus.--Hannibal.--Pyrrhus.
--Julius Cæsar.--Cleopatra.--Nero.--Alfred.--William the
Conqueror.--Richard I.--Richard II.--Richard III.--Mary Queen of
Scots.--Queen Elizabeth.--Charles I.--Charles II.--Josephine.--Maria
Antoinette.--Madame Roland.--Henry IV.--Margaret of Anjou.--Peter
the Great.--Genghis Khan.--King Philip.--Hernando Cortez.--Joseph
Bonaparte.--Queen Hortense.--Louis XIV.--Louis Philippe.

_John G. Edgar's Juvenile Works._

Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, $1.00 each.

The Boyhood of Great Men.--The Footprints of Famous Men.--History
for Boys.--Sea-Kings and Naval Heroes.--The Wars of the Roses.

_Henry Mayhew's Works._

Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25 per volume.

The Boyhood of Martin Luther.--The Wonders of Science; Young
Humphry Davy, the Cornish Apothecary's Boy.--The Young Benjamin
Franklin.--The Peasant-Boy Philosopher: Founded on the Life of
Ferguson, the Shepherd-Boy Astronomer.

_Science for the Young._

By JACOB ABBOTT. Profusely Illustrated. 4 vols., 12mo, Cloth, $1.50
each. 1. HEAT; 2. LIGHT; 3. WATER AND LAND; 4. FORCE.

_Adventures of a Young Naturalist._

By LUCIEN BIART. Edited by PARKER GILMORE. 117 Illustrations. 12mo,
Cloth, $1.75.

_How to Get Strong._

And How to Stay So. By WILLIAM BLAIKIE. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth,
$1.00.

* * * * *

VALUABLE AND STANDARD WORKS.

_Tyrol and the Skirt of the Alps._

By GEORGE E. WARING, Jr. Illustrated. 8vo, Illuminated Cloth,
$3.00.

_Art in America._

A Critical and Historical Sketch. By S. G. W. BENJAMIN.
Illustrated. 8vo, Illuminated Cloth, $4.00.

_Contemporary Art in Europe._

By S. G. W. BENJAMIN. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, Illuminated and
Gilt, $3.50.

_Art Education Applied to Industry._

By Colonel GEORGE WARD NICHOLS. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth,
Illuminated and Gilt, $4.00.

_Art Decoration Applied to Furniture._

By HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, Illuminated
and Gilt, $4.00.

_The Ceramic Art._

A Compendium of the History and Manufacture of Pottery and
Porcelain. By JENNIE J. YOUNG. With 464 Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth,
$5.00.

_Cyprus: its Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples._

By General LOUIS PALMA DI CESNOLA. With Portrait, Maps, and 400
Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth, Extra, Gilt Tops and Uncut Edges, $7.50.

_Pottery and Porcelain of all Times and Nations._

With Tables of Factory and Artists' Marks, for the Use of
Collectors. By WILLIAM C. PRIME, LL.D. 8vo, Cloth, Gilt Tops and
Uncut Edges, in a Box, $7.00.

_Will Carletons Poems:_

FARM BALLADS.--FARM LEGENDS. In Two Volumes. Illustrated. 8vo,
Ornamental Cloth, $2.00 per vol.; Gilt Edges, $2.50 per vol.

_The Book of Gold and other Poems._

By J. T. TROWBRIDGE. Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cover, Gilt
Edges, $2.50.

_New Library Editions of the Great Histories._

8vo, Cloth, with Paper Labels, Uncut Edges and Gilt Tops, $2.00 per
volume. _Sold only in Sets._ Each Set in a box.

MOTLEY'S DUTCH REPUBLIC. 3 vols.
MOTLEY'S UNITED NETHERLANDS. 4 vols.
MOTLEY'S JOHN OF BARNEVELD. 2 vols.
MACAULAY'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 5 vols.
HUME'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 6 vols.

_Caricature and other Comic Art._

In All Times and Many Lands. By JAMES PARTON. With 203
Illustrations. 8vo, Cloth, Gilt Tops and Uncut Edges, $5.00.

_The Rime of the Ancient Mariner._

By SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE. Illustrated by GUSTAVE DORÉ. Folio,
Cloth, Gilt Edges, and in a neat box, $10.00.

_The Poets of the Nineteenth Century._

Selected and Edited by the Rev. R. A. WILLMOTT. With English and
American Additions by EVERT A. DUYCKINCK. _New and Enlarged
Edition._ 141 Illustrations. Elegant Small 4to, Cloth, Gilt Edges,
$5.00; Half Calf, $5.50; Full Morocco, Gilt Edges, $9.00.

_The Waverley Novels. 2000 Illustrations._

Thistle Edition: 48 volumes, bound in Green Cloth, $1.00 per
volume; in Half Morocco, Gilt Tops, $1.50 per volume; in Half
Morocco, Extra, $2.25 per volume.

Holyrood Edition: 48 volumes, bound in Brown Cloth, 75 cents per
volume; in Half Morocco, Gilt Tops, $1.50 per volume; in Half
Morocco, Extra, $2.25 per volume.

Popular Edition: 24 volumes (two vols. in one), bound in Green
Cloth, $1.25 per volume; in Half Morocco, $2.25 per volume; in Half
Morocco, Extra, $3.00 per volume.

_The Poets and Poetry of Scotland:_

From the Earliest to the Present Time. Comprising Characteristic
Selections from the Works of the more Noteworthy Scottish Poets,
with Biographical and Critical Notices. By JAMES GRANT WILSON. With
Portraits on Steel. 2 vols., 8vo, Cloth, $10.00; Cloth, Gilt Edges,
$11.00; Half Calf, $14.50; Full Morocco, $18.00.

_The Life and Habits of Wild Animals._

Illustrated from Designs by JOSEPH WOLF. 4to, Cloth, Gilt Edges,
$4.00.

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK.

HARPER & BROTHERS _will send any of the above works by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of the price_.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE will be issued every Tuesday, and may be had at the following rates; _payable in advance--postage free_:

SINGLE COPIES 4 cts.
ONE SUBSCRIPTION, _one year_ $1.50
FIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS, _one year_ $7.00

Subscriptions may begin with any number. When no time is specified, it will be understood that the subscriber desires to commence with the number issued after the receipt of order.

Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY ORDER, or DRAFT, to avoid risk of loss.

Address
HARPER & BROTHERS, Franklin Square, New York.

A LIBERAL OFFER FOR 1880 ONLY.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE _and_ HARPER'S WEEKLY _will be sent to any address for one year, commencing with the first number of_ HARPER'S WEEKLY _for January, 1880, on receipt of $5.00 for the two Periodicals_.

We give our correspondents a hearty Christmas greeting, and present them with an enlarged and handsome _Young People_, which we hope they will receive with the same kindness and appreciation they have already shown us. We shall give them weekly a great variety of stories, poems, and instructive reading, printed in large, clear type, on firm, handsome paper. The popularity of our Post-office Box is shown by the increasing weight of our daily mail-bag, which comes to us overflowing with pretty messages.

* * * * *

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Papa has brought us several numbers of _Young People_, and as you
ask us little folks to write to you, I thought I would tell you how
much we are pleased with the paper. The story of the "Brave Swiss
Boy" is so interesting I can hardly wait for the next number to
come. What a good, brave, and honest boy Watty was, and what a
plucky fight he had with the vultures! The picture of the "Monkey
on Guard" is very fine. I like stories of brave boys and pictures
of smart monkeys. Papa is going to take _Young People_ for me next
year, and I am going to keep every one. The paper is just the right
size to make into a book for Jamie and Maggie.

PAUL W. C.

* * * * *

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

I like your paper very much, and am always glad to get it. I have a
nice old bachelor uncle in New York, who sends it to me every week.
I should like very much to see this in print. If it is, I may try
again. I have been very sick with diphtheria, and I don't like it a
bit. I made 'most three dollars taking medicine, and I liked that
very much. As you ask for short letters, I will stop.

CARRIE L. S.

* * * * *

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

I have read _Young People_, and it is very nice indeed. My mother
told me that you were going to publish a paper for children, and
said I could take it. I have read all the "Story of a Parrot," and
it made me laugh very much. I think _Young People_ is better than
anything that has been published for children, and I will read
every number that is issued, and thank you kindly for such a nice
paper.

WILLIAM B. K.

* * * * *

WAYNESVILLE, OHIO.

As you kindly invited us all to write to you, I would like to tell
you about a pet pigeon I had. I called it Lily, because it was so
white. I got it when it was a little bit of a thing, and I did not
keep it in a cage. I taught it to eat out of my hand, and when I
came from school and called Lily, it would come flying from the
barn-yard, where it was with the other pigeons, and light on my
shoulder, and put its bill up to my mouth. One day I called Lily,
and it did not come. I went to look for it in the barn-yard myself.
It was there, but it would not come to me, and always after that it
was wild. I think HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE is a very nice paper, and
mamma thinks she will take it for me. My papa has taken HARPER'S
WEEKLY and MONTHLY ever since they were in existence.

SARAH E. H.

* * * * *

YONKERS, NEW YORK.

I was very glad when papa came home with a little paper for me, and
I took it from his hand and looked at it for about ten minutes, and
then asked him if he would take it for me. When he found out that I
read it all through, he asked which story I liked the best, and I
told him, "The Story of a Parrot." Papa takes HARPER'S MAGAZINE,
but I would rather have YOUNG PEOPLE. I have read all about the
"Brave Swiss Boy," and I hope he will become rich.

BELL H.

* * * * *

WINCHESTER, INDIANA.

Cousin Orla and I were delighted when Uncle Will (he is Orla's
papa, and I live at his house) brought us YOUNG PEOPLE, and now we
eagerly watch its coming every week. I think Watty Hirzel was a
brave and noble boy to risk so much for his father.

A. H. A.

* * * * *

WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

Your nice paper comes with mamma's. We have had lots of fun with
the "Wiggles." Won't you please answer this question: In our
dining-room there is a big looking-glass. In front of the glass
there is a table. When a lamp is set on the table, it looks as if
there were two lamps. Please tell me whether the lamp on the table
and the one reflected in the looking-glass will give as much light
as two lamps.

EDITH S.

The lamp and its reflection will not give as much light as two lamps, and the intensity of light thrown from the mirror depends upon the distance of the lamp from its surface, and also upon the nature and thickness of the mirror itself.

* * * * *

MARK E. E. S.--The first condition for admission to the _St. Mary's_ is a residence in New York city. The remainder of your question is answered in the Post-office Box of our sixth number.

* * * * *

J. R. B.--We do not know how to prescribe for your poor sick rabbit.

* * * * *

MILLIA B.--All stars appear to twinkle except the planets. We can not tell the reason any plainer than it is already given by the "Professor."

* * * * *

Very pleasant letters, and also answers to puzzles, are received from Henry C. L., Allie D., Frank S. M., Eben P. D., Theodore F. I., Charles E. L., M. W. D., Lilian, "Subscriber," C. F. C., F. Coggswell, Claude C., Charles F. and George J. H., Victor K., J. G., M. E. E. S., Charlie G., and Anna B.