Chapter XIX (2)

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I read an article lately against nicknames and
spelling names with "ie," but I don't agree with it. I think when
people are grown up their real names look better, but at home, among
one's own friends, a pet name is pretty. I don't like to see a
nickname in a marriage or death notice, but I do like it for young
folks and in the family. They say it is a French fashion to spell
names "ie." Whether it is true or not I like it, for all wise people
say against it. I know I am only a little girl, and my opinion may
not be worth much, but I mean to stand up for it, whatever they say.
I suppose every one has a right to her own opinion, and if others
don't agree with me, they needn't; but I don't like them to call me
"silly" because I don't think as they do. I am willing they should
have their own opinions, but I want the same privilege,--isn't that
fair? I don't like such nicknames as "Tom" and "Bob," or "Mollie"
and "Sallie," but like such as "Charlie" or "Hattie," and I think
they look prettier spelt so than they do spelt "Charley" or "Hatty."
If other people like them so, I am willing; but I want the right to
follow my own choice in the matter, whether others like it or not. I
think people have a right to spell their own names as they
please.--Your friend,

ALLIE BERTRAM.

P.S.--My parents think my name is too pretty to be used so often as
to get common, and so they call me "Allie," and I like it. I don't
want any one but my friends who love me, and whom I love, to call me
"Alma."

* * * * *

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: May I tell you about a miniature fountain my
sister and myself made long ago? It was lovely when finished, and
fully repaid us for our labor.

We first chose a board, about four feet long, and two feet wide, on
the sides of which we nailed laths, to hold the earth we laid upon
it, after having bored two holes, one near the middle and the other
close in the corner. We then placed the board on a box, and set a
barrel near it on blocks that stood about a foot higher than the
board.

We now cut a gourd in two, and making holes through the centers,
fitted them over those in the board, the large one for the
fountain-basin, the small one for a little spring in the corner.

The next thing was to connect this with the barrel by pipes. For
this we used reeds, placing a small upright piece in the center of
the middle basin, and joining to this a larger reed which ran
beneath the board, and was let into the barrel near the bottom. The
spring was finished in the same manner, with this exception, that
there was no upright piece in the middle. We now searched the woods
for moss, bits of twigs, and even some tiny pine and cedar trees,
which we planted with other things in the earth banked upon the
board. We arranged a small rockery with vines trailing over it; we
made paths covered with sand; and laid out tiny dells, and hills and
plains. We lined the fountain-basin with shells and the "spring"
with moss, and made little water-courses for the overflow; and,
after it was all completed, we filled the barrel with water; and,
lo! we had the prettiest little garden imaginable, with a fountain
spurting and plashing in the center, and a pretty little mossy
spring in the corner.

LILLIE F. FALES.

* * * * *

Sitapur, Oude, India.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The people here live in little mud huts clustered
together in rude villages. They worship grotesque idols, wear very
odd clothing, and eat strange food. Carpenters, and tailors, and
shoe-makers, use their toes almost as much and as well as they use
their fingers, and men do the sewing and a great deal of the
cooking. Little girls very, very seldom go to school, and are
betrothed when they are babies. Little boys do not play ball or such
games, but they are very fond of flying the kite.

There are monkeys here by hundreds. They live in groves and eat
fruits. These are not monkeys which hang up by their tails at night
to go to sleep,--they live in the mountains,--but great big fellows
like plump dogs, only their fore-legs are short and their "feet" are
hands.

The other day I saw a fight between some monkeys and about a hundred
crows. The monkeys wounded one poor crow, and it hopped about upon
the ground unable to fly. Then the crows settled around it and tried
to carry it off; but they could not. The monkeys charged down upon
them, and then the crows charged the monkeys. It was an exciting
time. Seeing the crows were getting the worst of the battle I came
to their rescue, but the monkeys charged upon me, and I had to run.
At last, I carried off the poor crow, hoping to cure it, but it died
the same day. The other crows followed me home, and made a most
dismal noise, as if they could not trust me.

Here the squirrels are quite small and not at all wild. I saw a
little boy, the other day, walking along with a saucy little
squirrel perched upon his shoulder.

In the schools in the villages here, the boys sit upon the ground,
write upon wooden slates, and study aloud. They have wonderful
memories and commit everything, though they do not understand very
much of it. It is much better to understand every lesson as we go
along, isn't it?

Nearly all the little boys in India wear only a long coat which
comes down to their knees. It is so very warm here for most of the
year that the very little folks go without any clothing at all.

There are 60,000 soldiers in India, sent from England. One of the
regiments is in Sitapur, where I live, and they have a brass band
which makes first-rate music. They also have bagpipes.

In India there are persons from almost every nation--Hindus,
Arabians, Chinese, Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, Frenchmen,
Americans. There are twenty-three languages native to India. A great
many Indians speak English, which is taught in all the schools, as
Greek or Latin or French is taught at home.

But, although this is a great country, there is no place like
America, especially to Americans. Three cheers for the boys and
girls of America!

J.E.S.

* * * * *

Nauvoo, Ill.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Here is something about my sister Lu and a
strange pet she had: Her childhood was spent in a wild, new country.
I cannot remember that she was ever amused with dolls and
baby-houses. She made amends, however, by surrounding herself with
kittens, dogs, fawns, ponies, squirrels, opossums, 'coons, and
various birds, which, in turn, she petted and loved.

She lived in the Red River country of Louisiana. The climate there
is so warm that out-door play may be had at any season.

The summer she was thirteen, with an older brother and other
friends, she went fishing on the lake, whose waters were dark and
still, studded here and there with cypress-trees in close ranks.
Heavy timber filled the valley surrounding the lake.

After catching a full supply of fish, some of which were cooked on
the spot, brother Ed., in wandering about, captured a young
alligator, and led it along to where sister Lu was seated, saying:
"I've brought you a new pet, Lu." She adopted the little monster at
once, and it was carried home, and turned loose in the creek below
the house.

In a few days the alligator was quite at home. It would eat anything
which was brought to it, and soon learned to come to a call, seeming
more delighted with notice than with what there was to eat. It
whined and barked like a dog, and wagged its big tail when pleased.
It enjoyed being patted on the head, and would caper around, the
most awkward thing that ever attempted a frolic.

In a few months, the pet became so large and familiar as to be a
nuisance. He would track up sister Lu through the field and about
the garden, showing his scent to be true and keen. Often when Lu was
seated, perhaps, at her tatting, he would come to her feet and lie
as still as if carved out of stone, waiting for a little notice. He
soon grew to like eating the young goslings and chickens, and began
to climb the fence, and look longingly at the young pigs. At last
the scaly, good-natured creature disappeared. He probably made his
way to a neighboring bayou, and was never seen again by any little
girl's eyes.

But Lu has never forgotten him, although probably he remembers
nothing now of the good times of his youth.--Yours truly,

G.M.K.

* * * * *

THE WITCHERY OF ARCHERY. By Maurice Thompson. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons.

Archery has become so popular, of late, that this book will be of interest to all boys and girls, as well as grown people, who practice shooting with bows and arrows. Mr. Thompson, the author, wrote the articles on Archery in Scribner's Monthly, which have excited such an interest in bow-shooting, and he probably knows more about the matter than any one else in the country.

There is much in the book about the various pleasures and advantages of archery, which are very many; but there are also a great many plain and practical directions to those who are unaccustomed to the use of a bow and arrows. The author tells the young archer just what to do and how to do it, and, as no one should use a bow who does not know how to use it properly, such directions are very valuable, and should be carefully read and followed.

THE RIDDLE-BOX.

CLASSICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

The initials and finals, read downward, name two Latin poets.

1. To affirm. 2. A male character in Shakspeare. 3. To cry aloud. 4. One of the United States. 5. An order of architecture. 6. Small.

VERTI.

NAMES OF AUTHORS ENIGMATICALLY EXPRESSED.

1. An Italian river. 2. A prefix, and an enemy. 3. A berry, and a spine. 4. A machine, and a small house. 5. The cat'll eat it. 6. What doves do, and an expression of contentment. 7. Bright things that fly upward. 8. What should be done with a sister in the sulks. 9. What should be done to one's mother. 10. Half of a New England city, and what is useless when dry.

RUSTICUS.

ENIGMA.

My first is in boy, but not in lad;
My second in merry, but not in sad.
My third is in stripe, but not in streak;
My fourth is in proud, but not in meek.
My fifth is in little and also in tall;
My sixth in none, but not in all.
My whole a trusty guide is found
For animals men ride around.

JANIE M.B.

WHAT IS IT?

Name the thing described in the following paragraph:

Kingdom: Animal, vegetable, and mineral. Conducive to travel; dreaded by all with whom it comes in contact; an article of personal adornment; when misplaced, causes terrible disasters; false; beaten, hardened, and fire-tested; of various colors; preferred when green and flexible; constantly changed, and changing others; its use enjoined by Scripture.

M.S.R.

CHARADE.

Darker and darker still, the slow hours creeping,
Bring to my _first_ the inexorable gloom;
Silent and soft, the tender skies are weeping
For all the beauty they no more illume.

Stay not. O wand'rer, by the hurrying river,
Nor in the whispering wood, nor where above
Rises the perilous crag. My _second_ ever,
With added final, welcomes all who rove.

Wildly my _third_ over the hill is flying,
Over the wide moor, and the wider sea,
Moaning as one whose latest hope, in dying,
Leaves an eternity of agony.

Listen! oh, listen! to my _whole_, while filling
My shadowy _first_ with ecstasy divine!
Listen! oh, listen! would ye not be willing
Ever in gloom to dwell, and not repine,--
Ever to joy in such melodious gladness,--
Ever to sorrow in such rapturous sadness?

L.S.

INCOMPLETE SENTENCES.

In each of the following sentences, fill up the blanks with suitable words having the same sound but spelled differently and having different meanings.

1. It is but ---- to pay your ---- to the conductor. 2. When the ---- was over, he did ---- to ---- to his father. 3. The ---- was ---- to do her work well. 4. She ---- that the ---- of South America are exceedingly tall. 5. The enraged farmer ---- his neighbor's cow for eating his ----. 6. Don't ---- if the ---- should hit you. 7. The ---- of a knave is not always as ---- as his character. 8. He ---- would ---- but is awed into sincerity before this sacred ----.

GRACE G.C.

PICTORIAL ANAGRAM PUZZLE.

The answer--a line from Young's "Night Thoughts"--contains six words.

Each numeral beneath the pictures represents a letter in that word of the line which is indicated by the numeral--1 denoting that the letter it designates belongs to the first word of the line, 4 to the fourth word, and so on.

Find a word, letters, or a letter, descriptive of each picture, and containing as many letters as there are numerals beneath the picture itself. This is the first process. Then write down, some distance apart, the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, to correspond with the words of the answer. Group beneath figure 1 all the letters designated by the numeral 1 in the numbering beneath the pictures. You will thus have in a group all the letters that spell the first word of the line, and these letters, when set in the right order, will spell the word itself. Follow the same process of grouping and arranging, in making the remaining five words of the answer. Of course, the re-arrangement of the letters need not be begun until all of them have been set apart in their proper groups.

S.R.

THREE DIAMONDS.

I.--1. A consonant. 2. A kind of carriage. 3. A well-known river of Italy. 4. A precious stone. 5. In circumnavigator.

II.--1. In inconspicuous. 2. A Turkish name. 3. A spice. 4. A climbing plant. 5. In herbalist.

III.--1. In iniquity. 2. A girl's name. 3. A country in Asia. 4. Purpose. 5. In Niagara.

ALLIE.

RIDDLE.

A head have I, though never do I think;
A mouth as well, but with it never drink.
A body, too, is mine, of giant growth and strength,
Combining with its force majestic length.
But, as to feet, of them I have not one,
Though I am never still, but always run.
Ne'er was I known to leave my lowly bed,
Or ope my mouth so that I might be fed.

E.S.S.

POSITIVES AND COMPARATIVES.

The positive is found from the first definition given, and the comparative is made by adding the sound "er" to the positive.

1. My positive is level, and my comparative is what one's true friends never do. 2. My positive is an article of food, and my comparative is a tool. 3. My positive is coarse, and my comparative is a trade. 4. My positive is a youth, and my comparative is an instrument for climbing. 5. My positive is a preposition, and my comparative is to esteem. 6. My positive is a part of the body, and my comparative is wrath. 7. My positive is an American poet, and my comparative is part of the body. 8. My positive is an article of food, and my comparative is something used in a part of Asia. 9. My positive is a public place, and my comparative is a sufferer.

G.S.

HIDDEN NAMES.

Find a girl's or a boy's name hidden in each of the following sentences.

1. Arthur likes my apples. 2. Herbert expected letters every night. 3. Alice rode to her uncle Robert's. 4. Mr. Allen bought eight lambs. 5. Hattie Arnold reached Rochester yesterday. 6. Even Theodore has eaten little. 7. Every rainy night Eva sews trimming. 8. Ellen's dog is terribly hurt. 9. Florence rides every day. 10. Softly the evening light lingers around. 11. Even dull wits improve, nowadays. 12. Generally, raisins are capital eating. 13. Fido ran after Ned's kite.

C.K.

EASY CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.

My first is in edict, but not in law;
My second's in chilly, but not in raw.
My third is in ice, but not in snow;
My fourth is in cut, but not in mow.
My fifth is in mild, but not in bland;
My sixth is in country, not in land.
My seventh is in silent, not in still;
My eighth is in slaughter, but not in kill.
My ninth is in learn, but not in teach;
My tenth is in sandy, but not in beach.
My whole is the name of a useful book,
As soon you'll see, if you'll closely look.

W.B.H.

DOUBLE WORD-SQUARE.

Across: 1. Departed. 2. Declare. 3. Look askance. 4. Terminates. Down: 1. High wind. 2. Part of a stove. 3. Want. 4. Mistakes.

H.H.D.

REBUS.

A two-line quotation from a poem by Thomas Gray.

CENTRAL SYNCOPATIONS.

1. Syncopate an orifice, and leave a troublesome insect. 2. Syncopate to cut, and get a natural underground chamber. 3. Syncopate a wise saying, and get to injure. 4. Syncopate a small house, and leave a fugitive named in the Bible. 5. Syncopate a crown of a person of rank, and leave a musical instrument.

A.B.

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

The initials form the name of a European sovereign. The finals form the name of a great statesman.

1. Striking. 2. A vowel repeated. 3. A body of soldiers. 4. A lofty building. 5. A musical drama. 6. Scarce. 7. A pastoral poem. 8. The surname of a celebrated Italian poet.

DYCLE

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN AUGUST NUMBER.

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.--Primrose, 1. PeaR. 2. RomeO. 3. IsthmuS. 4. MacE.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.--All owing: allowing.

PICTORIAL TRANSPOSITION PUZZLES.--1. Ten mugs; nutmegs. 3. Ten tea-pots; potentates.

DIAMOND PUZZLE.--1. M. 2. JAy. 3. MaCaw. 4. YAk. 5. W.

SQUARE-WORD.--1. Crane. 2. Raven. 3. Avert. 4. Nerve. 5. Enter.

SHAKSPEAREAN REBUS.--"Hamlet," Act III., Scene i.

"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought."

GEOGRAPHICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC.--1. ChilI. 2. HellesponT. 3. IndiA. 4. NepauL. 5. AlleghanY.

METAGRAM.--Dip, fip, lip, hip, rip, nip, pip, sip, tip.

VERY EASY HIDDEN FURNITURE.--1. Table. 2. Sofa. 3. Chair. 4. Stool. 5. What-not. 6. Crib. 7. Cot 8. Hat-rack 9. Desk.

DOUBLE CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.--Holmes, Lowell.

TRANSPOSITIONS.--1. Warned, warden, wander. 2. Red nag, gander, ranged, garden, danger. 3. No elms, Lemnos, lemons, melons, solemn. 4. Red opal, pale rod, real pod, leopard.

PROVERB REBUS.--"One swallow does not make a summer."

CHARADE.--Pondicherry; pond, I, cherry.

HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.--Centrals, Arrow, 1. CHAnt 2. ORe. 3. R. 4. COg. 5. BoWer.

CONTRACTIONS.--1. Brown, brow. 2. Plane, plan. 3. Lathe, lath. 4. Heath, heat. 5. Hazel, haze. 6. Plume, plum. 7. Crown, crow. 8. Lunge, lung. 9. Forty, fort.

WORD-SYNCOPATIONS.--1. Leveret; ever, let. 2. Slashing; ash, sling. 3. Slashings; lash, sings. 4. Carpenter; pea, carter. 5. Carpets; pet, cars.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE JULY NUMBER were received, before July 18, from Bessie Hard, C.C. Bourne; Mamie H.S., and Louise G.H.; Cari Hinkle, O.C. Turner, "Prebo," "La Gazza Ladra," "Cosy Club," Bertha E. Keferstein, Nellie M. Slade, "Duchess May" R.H.R.; Alice MacNary and Elliot MacNary; "Kelloke and Cary and Rose," Fred W.M., E. Farnham Todd, "Winnie," "Stock-Broker and Doctor," "Dottie and Daisie;" May and Charlie Pray; Laurie T. Sanders, May Chester, "Hyacinth," H.P.B.; Frances and Margaret Bagley; W.H. McGee, Charlie Kellogg, Nellie Kellogg, T.W.H., A.G.D., Nessie E. Stevens, "Romeo and Juliet" Bella W. Brown, May Duffan, "St. Nicholas Club," H.B. Ayers; "Orada and Ibylsa;" William W. Bellinger, Lillian Willams E.J.F., A.C.S., George D. Mitchell, Arthur Boehm, Bessie Taylor, J.B.H., George C. Wedderburn, William T. Gray, John V.L. Pierson, Henry Kummel, Virginia Simpson; F.M.J., Jr.; Kitty Curtis, Mildred Meredith, Louisa F. Riedel; "Bessie and Tic;" X.Y.Z., Sarah Duffield, Dycie Warden, Nettie A. Ives, "Violet," R.T. French, Josie Hamilton, Alice M. Mason, Ellen Smith, Liffie D. Hacker, Mamie Packer, Jennie A. Carr, Willie Sellie, Arnold Guyot Cameron, Grant Squires, Georgine C. Schnitzspahn, T.H. Loomis, Rachel Hutchins, Mary G. Arnold, M.W. Collet, Laura Maude Benton, Willie Robinson, Fanny J. Schonacker; May and Louis Ogdea; Arthur Stowe, Nellie C. Graham, Mattie Olmsted, W.A. Wheeler, Maggie T. Gemmill, Rufus B. Clark, Lewis G. Davis, Clare G. Hess; Ella and Kittie Blanke; Nellie Quayle, Gertrude Weasondonk, Clara F. Allen, Addie S. Church, "My Maryland," Nellie L. Ninde, F. Popenhausen, A.B.C., "Hard and Tough," Nellie Emerson, L.B. Bancroft, M.P., Wm. C. Ferguson, Alice Lanigan, Florence Van Rensselaer, Anna E. Mathewson, Josie Morris Brown, Charles N. Cogswell, "Fritters," "Bertha and Daisy," "Beech-Nut," Stephen Waterman, E.M. Biddle, Jr., "So So and his Cousin," Georgie B., Chas. Alfred Christian, George J. Fiske, Esther L. Fiske; Frank Allen and May; "Lena Kate," Milly E. Adams, Eddie Vultee, Willie B. Deas, F.D., "Fannie," Grace E. Fuller, C. Speiden, M. Speiden, Austen M. Poole, Ada L. Goodwin, Fred Huckel, Estelle Jennings; William Guillet, of Canada; "Brutus and Cassius," Kate Sampson, Edwin C. Garngues, "Bessie and her Cousin," "A.B. and C.D.," Bessie Barnes, and Charles H. Stout.

"Fanny Pop" and Ernest B. Cooper answered correctly all the puzzles in the July number.