I am only a poor Egyptian boot-black, but, for all that, I do not consider myself the inferior of any living being, and feel very proud to own that I am a descendant from one of the most ancient nations existing on the face of the earth. I was born in Cairo, Egypt; so were all my ancestors, and no other land bears the imprints of the soles of their feet, for they lived and died in this sunny land.
My name is Abdullah (i. e., servant of God). I am an orphan; my parents died before I was five, leaving me a waif trusting to the mercy of the world at large. Having no home, and no kith or kin to claim me, I was thrown into the streets to hunt up my own living. I used to wander up and down begging for a para, a piece of bread, or anything with which I could satisfy the pangs of hunger. Thus I passed about four years of my life living on beggary, till one day I noticed a boy blacking an Englishman's boots, and he paid the boy one piastre for doing it. I at once resolved to earn my living that way, and begged the boy to instruct me. He first refused, but on my telling him I was an orphan, he at once taught me how to handle the brushes, and gave me a couple of old ones which he had in his box. I gratefully accepted them. Hastening to one of the stores, I begged for an empty little box, and fastening it to a piece of rope I had found on a dust heap, I slung it across my shoulder proudly, in imitation of all boot-blacks. How could I get some blacking? was my next thought. I entered a grocery store, and said to the owner, "Ya sidi" (i. e., my lord), "I will black your boots for a couple of figs."
"You don't look like a boot-black," he responded.
"I can black boots better than ten boot-blacks," said I, confidently.
"All right," said he, seating himself, and presenting me his foot; "black away."
I tremblingly opened my box, and taking out my brushes hesitatingly said:
"Ya sidi, my blacking is not very good; it is rather dry. If you let me use your blacking, I could make your shoes like a mirror."
"Very well," he unsuspectingly said, handing me a large box of blacking from a well-filled shelf over his head. "I guess mine is fresher; but make them fine, for I want to go to a wedding."
"Halla rassi" (i. e., on my head), I replied, setting to work. It being a very hot day, this gentleman was dressed in a long spotless white caftan touching his ankles. I worked vigorously, and in my eagerness to do the thing well, I got the blacking smeared over my hands, which left large black marks on his ankles, and, worst of all, I had a nice sprinkling of black dots all over his white suit.
"Oh, you young rascal!" he exclaimed, hurriedly, glancing at his condition, "what have you done?"
He was just about dealing me a blow, when I grasped my box and brushes and made my escape. Exasperated that he had missed me, with an oath he flung the box of blacking after me, which hit me on the shoulder. I joyfully clutched the blacking, and ran into another street as fast as my legs could carry me. Breathless, I sat down on a door-step to contemplate my next undertaking, whereupon four professional boot-blacks roughly accosted me, asking how long I had been a boot-black, and to what district I belonged. I replied that I did not belong to any; upon which they began roughly pushing me, and wanted to take away my brushes and blacking; but I fought manfully and desperately for them.
"Hafarêm" (i. e., well done), said one. "You are a ghadah" (i. e., fine fellow). "You can fight well; and as you have no one, we will take you in our company, provided you divide your earnings with us."
Of course I acceded with great pleasure.
The Egyptian boot-blacks have a regular constitution and set of laws; not written out or printed, but not the less enforced.
1. The city of Cairo is divided into about a dozen boot-black districts.
2. The strongest boot-black in his district shall be the Sheik, or chief, until some stronger boy whips him; then the strongest boy takes his place.
3. Every boot-black must obey his Sheik.
4. Always stand by a boot-black, even if from another district.
5. Only Mohammedans are allowed the privilege of being boot-blacks. Any other sects taking up the trade must be put down.
I soon learned all these rules, and followed them closely. The Mohammedans, with the exception of the military men and those in the Viceroy's service, never have their boots blackened. A true Mohammedan looks on blackened boots as on something sacrilegious, so that we boot-blacks are regarded with scorn by our pious neighbors. The boot-black trade is in the European part of the city; that is where we mostly get our customers. We charge no regular price, but take just what we can get. Our worst customers are the military officers and policemen, for they often fail to pay us a single para; and if they are in a good humor, thereby refraining from giving us a kick, they will occasionally throw us the end of a cigar, and we are obliged to submit to this treatment with all humility. The European and American tourists are our genii, for they often give us a franc for polishing their boots. The Christians and Jews who reside in the city do not pay us well. Some of the richer ones give twenty paras (equal to two cents); while others, such as grocery men, pay us in an orange, or a few figs, or a handful of dates. Thus we barely make a living among a population of four hundred thousand inhabitants. Our voices are heard among the first sounds of the early morning, calling, "Boyâ! boyâ! boy-â-â-â!" (i. e., blacking). We frequent the streets where most customers are to be found, and often have a fight with some boot-black from another district who is trying to obtain the best custom.
Once in the year there is a gathering of the faithful followers of Mohammed for a pilgrimage to Mecca. The streets are filled with gay processions escorting the pious pilgrims. All the boot-blacks on that day unite in full force, every Sheik marching at the head of his company brandishing a stick; our boxes are slung across our shoulders to designate our trade; and we all heartily join in making as much noise as possible, shouting, "Boyâ! boyâ-â-â!" as we lead a camel richly harnessed through the streets of the city. There are hundreds of such other camels in this grand procession, led by various parties. Slowly we file through the streets, amid the hearty cheers of the citizens, and wend our way toward the desert, where we leave our camel to the charge of some faithful pilgrim, and return back again to our daily routine of boot-blacking.
I have been a successful boot-black for five years, and I am now the Sheik of my district, which position I gained by being the strongest and most able fighter, and best story-teller, consequently, as a badge of honor, I wear a small turban around my cap. The four boys who first patronized me are my best friends. After a hard day's work, we often resort to some quiet spot on a door-step, and, seating myself, my friends cluster round me for a thrilling tale from the Arabian Nights. Ali sits on my left, resting his weary arm on my knee, for he is the best boot-polisher in the city, and works very hard. Mustapha, on my right, has his only brother Hassan's head resting in his lap. Mahmud is the youngest, and is rather restless. He is fond of standing up, brushes in hand, and trying to see if he can not chance to spy some customer wanting his boots blackened, for he is ambitious to make as much money as possible, as he has an old grandmother, whom he loves dearly, to support.
Not long ago a kind American lady, who seems to have taken an interest in us poor boot-blacks, started an evening school for us. As she had been good to me, and had once helped me out of a serious difficulty, I used all my power as Sheik of my district to make the boys attend. At first it seemed rather dull work to spend two evenings every week in school, but our kind friend made it so pleasant for us that we gradually grew to like it, and now think our school evenings the pleasantest of the week. I am trying hard to learn what is taught us, and hope some time to be something better than an Egyptian boot-black.
I have the same old, old story to tell. My conduct has been such again—at any rate, that's what father says; and I've had to go up stairs with him, and I needn't explain what that means. It seems very hard, for I'd tried to do my very best, and I'd heard Sue say, "That boy hasn't misbehaved for two days good gracious I wonder what can be the matter with him." There's a fatal litty about it, I'm sure. Poor father! I must give him an awful lot of trouble, and I know he's had to get two new bamboo canes this winter just because I've done so wrong, though I never meant to do it.
It happened on account of coasting. We've got a magnificent hill. The road runs straight down the middle of it, and all you have to do is to keep on the road. There's a fence on one side, and if you run into it, something has got to break. John Kruger, who is a stupid sort of a fellow, ran into it last week head first, and smashed three pickets, and everybody said it was a mercy he hit it with his head, or he might have broken some of his bones, and hurt himself. There isn't any fence on the other side, but if you run off the road on that side, you'll go down the side of a hill that's steeper than the roof of the Episcopal church, and about a mile long, with a brook full of stones down at the bottom.
The other night Mr. Travers said— But I forgot to say that Mr. Martin is back again, and coming to our house worse than ever. He was there, and Mr. Travers and Sue, all sitting in the parlor, where I was behaving, and trying to make things pleasant, when Mr. Travers said, "It's a bright moonlight night let's all go out and coast." Sue said, "O that would be lovely Jimmy get your sled." I didn't encourage them, and I told father so, but he wouldn't admit that Mr. Travers or Sue or Mr. Martin or anybody could do anything wrong. What I said was, "I don't want to go coasting. It's cold and I don't feel very well, and I think we ought all to go to bed early so we can wake up real sweet and good-tempered." But Sue just said, "Don't you preach Jimmy if you're lazy just say so and Mr. Travers will take us out." Then Mr. Martin he must put in and say, "Perhaps the boy's afraid don't tease him he ought to be in bed anyhow." Now I wasn't going to stand this, so I said, "Come on. I wanted to go all the time, but I thought it would be best for old people to stay at home, and that's why I didn't encourage you." So I got out my double-ripper, and we all went out on the hill and started down.
I sat in front to steer, and Sue sat right behind me, and Mr. Travers sat behind her to hold her on, and Mr. Martin sat behind him. We went splendidly, only the dry snow flew so that I couldn't see anything, and that's why we got off the road and on to the side hill before I knew it.
The hill was just one glare of ice, and the minute we struck the ice the sled started away like a hurricane. I had just time to hear Mr. Martin say, "Boy mind what you're about or I'll get off," when she struck something—I don't know what—and everybody was pitched into the air, and began sliding on the ice without anything to help them, except me. I caught on a bare piece of rock, and stopped myself. I could see Sue sitting up straight, and sliding like a streak of lightning, and crying, "Jimmy father Charles Mr. Martin O my help me." Mr. Travers was on his stomach, about a rod behind her, and gaining a little on her, and Mr. Martin was on his back, coming down head first, and beating them both. All of a sudden he began to go to pieces. Part of him would slide off one way, and then another part would try its luck by itself. I can tell you it was an awful and surreptitious sight. They all reached the bottom after a while, and when I saw they were not killed, I tried it myself, and landed all right. Sue was sitting still, and mourning, and saying, "My goodness gracious I shall never be able to walk again. My comb is broken and that boy isn't fit to live." Mr. Travers wasn't hurt very much, and he fixed himself all right with some pins I gave him, and his handkerchief; but his overcoat looked as if he'd stolen it from a scarecrow. When he had comforted Sue a little (and I must say some people are perfectly sickening the way they go on), he and I collected Mr. Martin—all except his teeth—and helped put him together, only I got his leg on wrong side first, and then we helped him home.
This was why father said that my conduct was such, and that his friend Martin didn't seem to be able to come into his house without being insulted and injured by me. I never insulted him. It isn't my fault if he can't slide down a hill without coming apart. However, I've had my last suffering on account of him. The next time he comes apart where I am, I shall not wait to be punished for it, but shall start straight for the North Pole, and if I discover it the British government will pay me mornamillion dollars. I'm able to sit down this morning, but my spirits are crushed, and I shall never enjoy life any more.
"I promised you a story," said the little voice, close to his ear again.
"Yes, I know you did; can you tell it now?"
"To be sure I can, if I only have time. I did not bring any of my people to-night; they are helping some of the herb elves. It is a little late in the season, and some blossoms have been slow in opening, so that we have to urge them."
"How?" asked Phil.
"By coaxing and persuasion for some of them; others we have to blow upon quite forcibly."
"I am ready for the story when you are," said Phil.
"It is a wild affair, and one that all children might not care to hear; but to you, I fancy, nothing comes amiss."
"No, I like almost everything," said Phil.
"I shall begin just as my grandmother used to. Once upon a time, in the days of enchantment, there was a dreadful old ogre—"
"Do not make him too dreadful, or I shall have bad dreams," interrupted Phil.
The fairy laughed and flapped her little wings. "Now you must not be afraid; it will all come out right in the end. When I said the ogre was dreadful, I meant he was ugly-looking: we fairies like everything beautiful. Shall I go on?"
"Oh yes, and please forgive me for stopping you."
"This ogre was ugly, with a shaggy head, a shaggy beard, and fierce eyes, and he lived all by himself in a great stone castle on the shore of a large lake. His principal pleasure consisted in tormenting everything and everybody he came near; but if he had any preference, it was for boys; to tease and ill-use them had the power of affording him great happiness. Lazy, loitering little fellows were in especial danger, for he would catch them quite easily by throwing over their heads the nets he used in fishing, drag them off to his castle, and keep them in a dungeon until there would be no chance of discovery, and the boys' parents would think them lost forever. Thus he would gain a very useful, active set of laborers for a stone wall he was building, for so afraid were they of his displeasure, and so fearful that they might be starved, since the only food they received was dried and salted fish, that these boys worked like bees in a hive, only it was a sullen, painful sort of working, for they never sang or shouted, whistled or talked, and they were thin and wretched, and more like machines than boys.
"Now in this lake, on the shore of which was the ogre's castle, was an island, where lived a Princess whom the ogre had bewitched, but who had also regained her liberty, and near whom the ogre could never again come; even to land on her island or bathe in the water near would at once change him into a shark.
"This Princess, passing the ogre's castle in her beautiful swan-like sailing-boat, had seen the unhappy little boys at work on the stone wall; her sympathies had been aroused at so sad a sight, and she determined to wait her chance, and do what she could to relieve them. The chance came one day when the ogre had gone on a fishing excursion, from which he would not return till night. He had given the boys their rations of salt fish, and had commanded them in the gruffest tones to be sure and do an unusual amount of work in his absence, or they should all have chains on again; for when they were first caught he always chained them for fear they might try to escape; but they so soon lost all spirit and all desire for freedom that their chains were removed to enable them to work more easily.
"He had no sooner disappeared in his great clumsy craft laden with seines and harpoons, and baskets and jugs, than a whispering began among the boys, a sad sort of sighing and crying, almost like the whispering of wind in the tree-tops, which changed again to looks and glances of surprise as a beautiful vessel with silken sails floated up to the wharf, and a lovely gracious-looking lady clothed in white stepped from the boat, and came rapidly toward them.
"'Boys,' said she, addressing them in a very soft sweet voice, 'I have come to release you from this cruel bondage; will you trust me, and go with me?'
"'Yes, yes,' came from more than a dozen little tongues.
"'Come, then, at once. Drop your work, get into my boat, and we will be off. We have no time to lose, for your cruel master might possibly change his course and overtake us; then we should be in great danger.'
"The boys crowded about her, and with a wild cry followed her to her little vessel, and almost tumbled into it in their delight. It was with some difficulty that she kept them balanced, and prevented their falling out; but once packed, there were so many of them that they could not move. The vessel seemed to start of itself; its sails swelled out and spread themselves like wings, and away they dashed over the rippling waves, which rose and fell, and hurried them on their way. The ogre's castle was quickly left far behind, and the tired boys breathed more freely as it disappeared entirely from their view. In another minute they fell fast asleep, and did not waken till the motion of the boat ceased, and they found themselves gliding into a quiet harbor, fringed on each side with lovely shrubs that dipped their beautiful flowers into the calm water. Then the lady bade them follow her as she stepped from the boat on to the soft grass, and led them past fruits and flowers, and winding walks and fountains, up to the dazzling crystal palace in which she lived. Here the boys were halted while she made them this little speech: 'Boys, this is my home, these are my gardens; for a while you will have to remain here. We may have trouble with the ogre, but I want you to have no trouble among yourselves. Kindness, good-humor, pleasant looks and words, must prevail. There must be no envy, no selfishness, no desire to get the better of each other in any way. I demand obedience; if I receive it, all will be well; if I do not, you will have to suffer the consequence. Now I have said all that I need. These flowers, these fruits, are yours to enjoy in moderation.'
"As she ceased speaking, she clapped her hands, and a troupe of servants appeared. They led the boys to marble baths, where waters gushed and flowed in liquid beauty, and groves of orange-trees made a dense thicket about them. Here each boy was made sweet and clean, and provided with a suit of white clothes. When they emerged from the baths, they saw before them on the lawn tables filled with the most tempting food—roasted meats, broiled birds, pitchers of milk and cream, biscuits and jellies and ices.
"The utmost order prevailed. Starved as the poor boys were, the grace and beauty of their surroundings made them gentle and patient. At each plate was a tiny nose-gay held in the beak of a crystal bird, the body of which was a finger-bowl. Every plate was of exquisite workmanship. Some had birds of gay plumage; some had fierce tigers' heads or shaggy-maned lions; others bore designs of tools or curious instruments; but that which most delighted the boys was a dish of crystal, an exact imitation of the Swan—the Fairy Swan—in which they had sailed to this lovely island. It was laden with choice fruits. While the boys feasted as they had never before done in their lives, strains of sweet music became audible; and they could also hear the soft splash of the waves on the shore, or the dripping and tinkling of fountains, as the waters sparkled and fell in their marble basins.
"After they had feasted, the boys wandered off in most delightful idleness to all parts of the island. They climbed the trees, which bore blossoms, fruits, and nuts, all at the same time; they fished in the little coves; they waded in the shallow basins; and nothing would have marred their happiness had not one tall boy, with unnaturally strong and keen vision, declared that he saw the ogre's sail coming in the direction of the island.
"This was terrible, and had the effect of bringing all the boys together from their various amusements, just as chickens run from a hovering hawk. Together they crowded for a moment in mute dismay, unable to speak, to even hide, waiting the approach of their cruel foe.
"Nearer came the sail, and now they could all discern it. Its great clumsy shape, its heavy lumbering action, were not to be mistaken.
"What should they do?
"'Run for the Princess,' said one.
"'Too cowardly, that,' said another; and indeed their good abundant meal had begun to put strange courage in their little hearts.
"'Let's meet him, and fight him,' said one.
"'Let's upset his boat,' said another.
"'How?'
"'By pelting him with stones when he comes near enough.'
"'Good!' cried they all; and they began gathering all the bits of rock and pebbles they could find.
"Now came a roar of ogreish rage from the boat as it neared them.
"'I'll have ye again!' screamed the ogre.
"Then began the attack—a volley of small stones, nuts, fruits, anything they had in their pockets.
"One of the ogre's eyes was closed, so certain had been the aim of the tall boy who acted as leader.
"But the boat came nearer, and they were very much afraid the ogre would leap from it, when one of the boys whispered:
"'I'll go out to tempt him. Once get him in the water, and he's a goner. He'll be bewitched.'
"So he off with his jacket, and out he waded, while the others looked on in breathless admiration.
"The ogre looked with his one eye in eager derision; then forgetting his danger, and regarding the boy much as he might do an unwary fish that he would gobble up, he sprang from his boat into the shallow water, preparing not only to snatch the one boy, but to seize them all in a great seine he dragged after him, when suddenly the waves from the centre of the lake began hissing and seething, a tremendous swell set in toward the shore, driving the brave little fellow who had gone out to tempt the enemy completely off his legs, and obliging him to swim to the land, which he had no sooner reached than a great shout from all the boys made him look back, when, lo and behold! there was no ogre, only a great shark, with open jaws and a shining row of teeth, floundering about, and dashing himself in angry transports against the sides of the ogre boat, which he vainly attempted to board. And now could be seen swarms of little fish attacking the great one, darting hither and thither, now at his head, now at his tail, but keeping well away from his open jaws. And the waves began to be colored with the shark's blood. At last, wearied and wounded, with an angry snap of his jaws he dived down, and was seen no more.
"Then the boys gave another loud huzza, when, like a broad flash of sunshine, the lovely Princess came among them.
"'Boys,' said she, 'you have proved yourselves brave youngsters. The ogre can never again trouble you. He will be a shark for three thousand years, and he will not care to stay in these waters, with so many enemies about him. Now when you have regained your good looks and strength, I will take you all home. Here is the key of my sweetmeat closet. Run off, now, and have a good time.'
"The sweetmeat closet was a large inclosure where grew sugar-almond trees, candied pears, candied plums, and where even the bark and twigs of trees and bushes were of chocolate. In the centre was a pond of quivering jelly. Mounds and pyramids of jumbles and iced cakes abounded. They were too tempting to be long looked at without tasting, and the boys helped themselves gladly.
"A long sweet strain from a bugle called them away from this delightful spot, and on a broad smooth field they found bats and balls, ten-pins and velocipedes—in short, everything a boy could want to play with.
"After this they supped in simple fashion, each boy with only a great bowl of bread and milk. Then to more music they were marched to their beds—downy white nests in a great room arched with glass, through which they could see the moon and stars shining, and where the dawn could waken them with its early light.
"Such was their life for two of the most happy weeks of their lives, and never did boys thrive better. They grew fat and rosy; they sang, they danced, they played. Every time the Princess came among them they shouted with glee, and nearly cracked their young throats in doing her honor. But all fine things come to an end some time. Once more they were packed in the Fairy Swan, and away they sailed for the land of reality and for home. The Princess gave them each a beautiful portrait of herself, of the island, and of the Swan. And each boy promised that whenever he had a chance to perform a kind action he would do it in remembrance of the gentle courtesy of the Princess. And so ends my fairy story. Good-night, Phil."
"Good-night. Oh, how nice it was! I thank you so much!" and sleepy Phil turned to see the little white butterfly wings skimming out of the window, while a long sweet sigh came from his wind harp, sounding like "Good-night—good-night," again.
I am very anxious, children dear,
That you should quiet be,
And take care to behave quite well
While I pour out the tea.
Matilda Jane, I need not scold,
For you behave so well;
You sit so straight, and try your best
To please me, I can tell.
But oh, Belinda, what a sight!
See how she sits awry;
I can not make that child obey,
No matter how I try.
Her hair is always in a furze;
Her dress and sash untied;
She drops her shoes, turns in her toes,
I know not what beside.
But now for once, Belinda dear,
I trust you will behave;
Not spill the milk, nor spoil your dress—
My trouble try to save.
And then you both shall have a cup
Of most delicious tea,
A piece of cake, perhaps some jam,
And then go out with me.
St. John, New Brunswick.
I wish to tell the little readers of the Post-office Box about our pony. He is a dear little fellow, and just like a playful kitten. Sometimes Dexter—the pony—will not go the way you want him to. The other day I was going for Eddie, my brother, and down at our gate Dexter wanted to go one way, and I the other. As he is very hard on the mouth, he turned round to go home again. In doing so he upset the little sleigh, and the box came off, and away went Dexter up the drive and into the carriage-house.
When mamma saw it all through the window, she thought I was hurt, and she sent the man down to the gate. When he got there, all he could see was a heap of buffalo-robes, cushions, seats, and other things, with a pair of legs sticking out from under them. I was not hurt, and as soon as I could get up I went to the house to be brushed off. I am twelve years old.
Freddie L. T.
Troy, New York.
I can hardly wait until I get Young People. I think the story of "Toby Tyler and Mr. Stubbs" is just splendid. One wet day two little friends came to play with me. Bertha was the fat woman, and I was Toby. I wish you could have seen Allie as our Living Skeleton. We found out that Mr. Treat knew what he was talking about when he said it was much easier to get a fat woman than a skeleton. We had great fun playing tableaux.
Morton B.
The following letter is not written in Chinese, nor in Sanskrit, nor in any other uncommon language, but is simply a "Baby Letter," written by little four-year-old Bertha S., to Our Post-office Box. Bertha's mother writes that the little girl is sure her letter will be printed, and that the circle in the lower left-hand corner is a kiss for the editor. After that, it wouldn't do to disappoint her, would it?
Montgomery, Alabama.
My father brings me Young People every week. I keep my papers in my wall-pocket that grandma gave me Christmas. I got a beautiful doll for a present, too.
Christmas week we had snow here, and we had a fine time sleigh-riding and snow-balling.
I am going to New Orleans with papa and mamma for mardi gras.
Nellie O.
Newport, Rhode Island.
I have already received a sufficient supply of German stamps, and have sent away all my Swedish and Swiss stamps in exchange, and have no more to give.
I will try to answer all the letters I have received, but there are so many it will take me some time.
I think Young People is lovely, and I would not like to be without it.
Alice V. Smith.
Buffalo, New York.
Mamma takes Young People for me, and I like it very much, especially the story of "Toby Tyler." Poor little fellow, I feel so sorry for him!
I have a mud-turtle that I like about as well as Toby did Mr. Stubbs. I brought it from the country last August. Its shell is about as large as a silver half-dollar. We keep it in a glass dish of water, with sand and pretty stones at the bottom, and a piece of quartz for it to sun itself on. It has refused food ever since last October, until yesterday, when we gave it some raw beefsteak, and it ate it greedily. In the summer we feed it on wiggles and flies. I have named it Topsy, and it is very tame. It has slept a good deal of the time this winter.
Carrie O.
Sacramento, California.
Dear Young People,—The Sacramento River has broken the levee entirely. I am five years old, and mamma has taken me away from school because I am sick, and I have forgotten how to read.
In Sacramento there are lots of flowers. Only one rose-bush is in bloom in the back yard. There are little fingers on the bushes that make them hold to the lattice.
I went down to see the big river with my papa. I stood on a steamboat. I thought the boat was moving, but it was only the big drift and the water passing us. I saw the great, enormous chains that the anchors are fastened to. They made me think of the great, enormous squids that pull down the boats to the bottom of the ocean. That's all. [The above was written by Ottie's mamma from dictation, without change of a word.]
Henry Oscar B.
If any of the readers of Harper's Young People will send me a collection of United States postage stamps, I will send in return a collection of Java postage stamps.
A. Van Heel,
Samarang, Java.
We were at Avon Springs last summer, and while there we found some petrified shells and other fossils. We dug them from under a stratum of rock five or six feet below the surface of the earth, where they had lain for ages. I will exchange some of them for any kind of ore, sea-shells, or other curiosities.
Emma Hunt,
59 South Ninth Street, Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.
I want to tell you what a nice time I had one day in January. It was a very stormy Monday. I went to school; and although it is a very large school, only about one hundred scholars came, and in my room there were only eight. We did not have any classes, but spent the time in guessing words; that is, the letters of a word were given out all mixed up, and we had to guess the word they would spell. One easy one was oobk, which spells book. This is a very nice game.
I will exchange fifteen Connecticut postmarks (no duplicates), for fifteen of any other State except Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
Willie E. Hill,
32 Pratt Street, Hartford, Conn.
A few days ago we went into a beautiful cave that is on the farm of one of our neighbors, and got a great many nice stalactites and stalagmites. One of the stalactites is almost transparent, and in all of them there are beautiful crystals. We saw some stalagmites over twelve inches high. In one place the roof of the cave is covered with fossil shells. We tried to break some off, but could not get any whole ones.
We have a large collection of curiosities, and would be glad to exchange with any of the readers of Young People for relics, minerals, or curiosities of any kind.
Harry R. Bartlett and Brother,
P. O. Box 8, Greensburg, Green County, Ky.
I am trying to make a scrap quilt, and I would like to have scraps from different parts of the United States. If any little boy or girl will send me a nice package of silk scraps, I will send in return Texas mosses, grasses, forest curiosities, six different kinds of acorns, or snail-shells.
Ninon G. Hare,
Lynchburg, Harris County, Texas.
I am trying to get a collection of postage stamps. I have a scroll saw, and can make many pretty things. If any one will send me twenty-five foreign stamps, I will send in return two easels I have made.
E. M. Wright,
Bremen, Marshall County, Ind.
I have some postmarks, some silver ore, some shells from Florida, and a pretty stone—I do not know where it came from—which I would like to exchange for coins.
Frederick Pfans,
11 Beaver Street, Newark, N. J.
I have a few Greek newspapers which I would like to exchange for Indian arrow-heads and relics.
Charles Warren,
1577 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
I live three miles from nine Indian mounds, and I have a great many arrow-heads, and twenty-seven spear-heads. I will exchange a rock from Missouri for one from any other State, and my brother will exchange an Indian stone hatchet for six stone arrow-heads or spear-heads.
William Reel,
Baden P. O., St. Louis, Mo.
I have just been reading Young People. A friend of mine and I take it together. We live near each other, and often go to the beach to gather shells and mosses. In the spring we have a great variety of wild flowers. I would like to exchange pressed wild flowers, sea-mosses, and shells from the Pacific coast for a moss-agate, a bunch of cotton just as it is picked with the seeds in it, or any other curiosity from the Central or Southern States, or the Atlantic coast.
Caroline Baldwin, Santa Cruz, Cal.
The following exchanges are also offered by correspondents:
German postage stamps, for minerals, fossils, or ores.
P. C. Hennighausen,
143 Sharp Street, Baltimore, Md.
Foreign postage stamps, for Chinese and South American stamps, or for coins.
Kearny Mason,
2119 Pine Street, St. Louis, Mo.
Twenty-five foreign postage stamps (no duplicates), for ten United States department stamps.
W. W. Braden,
445 East One-hundred-and-eighteenth Street,
New York City.
Foreign postage stamps, for curiosities.
Lewis Pierson,
57 Third Place, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Postage stamps, for minerals. Correspondents are requested to label all specimens.
R. T. Andrews,
214 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Cowries, scallops, cockle-shells, Chinese coins, stamps, and postmarks, for quartz crystals, gypsum, hematite, copper, lead, or graphite. Correspondents will please label specimens.
E. V. Sheerar,
Wellsville, Allegany County, N. Y.
Stamps, for minerals, ores, Indian relics, or old and rare American coins.
John E. Hodges,
153 South Paca Street, Baltimore, Md.
Stamps from Egypt, Iceland, Ceylon, St. Helena, Persia, Ecuador, and other foreign countries, for United States stamps.
John L. Caspar,
P. O. Box 8, China Grove, Rowan County, N. C.
Stuffed birds.
Harry Greene,
8 Myrtle Street, Boston, Mass.
Two Cape of Good Hope stamps, for two Mexican stamps.
Emma K. Griffin,
Fond du Lac, Wis.
A stone from Massachusetts or New Jersey, for one from any other State except Missouri; soil of New Jersey, for soil of any other State; or specimens of mica, for any kind of ore.
F. L. Foster,
Fairmount Avenue, Elizabeth, N. J.
Postmarks and stamps, for stamps.
William M. Whitfield,
235 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York City.
Old issues of United States postage stamps and postmarks, for foreign stamps.
Edith L. Smith,
Glenburn, Lackawanna County, Penn.
Foreign postage stamps, shells, and other curiosities, for others.
G. H. Smith,
Care of Mr. J. B. Wright,
Columbus, Muscogee County, Ga.
Stones from Missouri, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, for stones from any Southern or Western State excepting Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota.
Fred P. Hall,
238 Warren Street, Jersey City, N. J.
Rare Indian relics, for minerals and stamps.
Nellie Sugden,
49 West Fifty-third Street, New York City.
United States and foreign postmarks, for stamps.
Samuel J. Lutz,
Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio.
Twenty-five postmarks, for two foreign postage stamps.
Frank Riggs,
P. O. Box 107, Watseka, Iroquois County, Ill.
United States revenue stamps and postmarks, for foreign stamps; or a stone from Kentucky, for one from any other State.
Harry Pulliam,
275 West Broadway, Louisville, Ky.
A printing outfit, for a scroll saw or a good printing-press.
Frank Rawie,
Canton, Stark County, Ohio.
Postage stamps.
Stafford R. Southwick,
131 East Seventy-ninth Street, New York City.
Foreign postage stamps and foreign and United States revenue stamps, for old United States or rare foreign stamps.
Bryant Willard,
Newport Barracks, Newport, Ky.
Fifteen Michigan postmarks and eight of other States, for one Chinese postage stamp.
Arthur K. Willyoung,
147 Park Street, Detroit, Mich.
Two specimens of California wood, for every set of twenty-five postmarks.
H. M. H.,
60 West Rutland Square, Boston, Mass.
Postage stamps. Swedish and Danish stamps especially desired.
Willard Francis,
258 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Asbestos and United States internal revenue stamps, for fossil fern and gold ore.
Lyman Newell,
Slater National Bank, Pawtucket, R. I.
Sandwich Island or Canadian stamps, for other foreign stamps.
M. D. Austin,
1199 Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y.
Stamps of British Guinea, Newfoundland, France, Norway, and Hong-Kong, for stamps of Honduras, Peru, Persia, Brazil, and Mexico.
Frank H. Nichols,
341 East Indiana Street, Chicago, Ill.
Minerals, forest woods, stamps, and sea-shells, for new specimens of the same. Minerals preferred.
Charles R. Fletcher,
144 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge, Mass.
Postmarks and foreign postage stamps.
Lillie W. House,
85 Whitney Place, Buffalo, N. Y.
Postage stamps.
Charles Uhler,
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Penn.
United States postmarks, for stamps.
Eddie Earl,
P. O. Box 714, Leominster, Mass.
Ocean curiosities, for soil from any State excepting Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Harry Lewis, care of J. W. Barton,
Northwest Corner of Front and Market Streets,
Philadelphia, Penn.
Stones from the Great Lakes, for foreign postage stamps.
Wat H. T. Mayo,
Hague, Westmoreland County, Va.
Ten rare foreign stamps, for ten Brazilian stamps. No duplicates.
Ike Hammond and Fred Crose,
Lock Box 152, Greencastle, Putnam Co., Ind.
Old United postage stamps, for foreign stamps, Indian arrow-heads, or other curiosities.
Elbert E. Hurd,
Lempster, Sullivan County, N. H.
Foreign stamps, old United States copper one-cent and half-cent coins, for foreign coins, postmarks, and curiosities.
Charles Gruner,
79 Park Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Soil from Massachusetts, for soil of Ohio.
Everett Crane,
Weymouth, Norfolk County, Mass.
Foreign postage stamps, for minerals and Indian relics.
Garry B. Post, care of George R. Post,
New Britain, Hartford County, Conn.
Minerals, for sea-shells, agates, and curiosities of all kinds; or lichens, moss, pressed ferns and flowers from Illinois, for moss, ferns, and flowers from other States and Canada.
Mary Lowry,
Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Ill.
Spar, fossils, stamps, and postmarks, for ocean curiosities. Thirty varieties of foreign stamps, or twenty stamps and twelve foreign postmarks, for a box of sea-shells and a star-fish.
Oscar Rauchfuss,
Golconda, Pope County, Ill.
American copper coins.
Ed Sweet,
Wellsville, Allegany County, N. Y.
Postage stamps, for stamps, curiosities, and Indian relics.
Francis B. Wheaton,
55 Park Street, Providence, R. I.
Asbestos and mica, for foreign stamps, especially from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland.
Willie Bogardus,
1455 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
A stone from Illinois, for a stone from any other State or Territory.
Blythe Henderson,
101 Third Street, Peoria, Ill.
Foreign and United States War Department stamps, for rare and old coins, a ten-cent piece of 1879, stamps, shells, copper or zinc ore, or stones and soil from any State except Wisconsin.
Clare B. Bird,
Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wis.
United States postage stamps, for the same or foreign stamps.
Clinton F. Hicks,
Pine River, Waushara County, Wis.
Twenty-five rare and old postmarks, for twelve foreign stamps.
Baker Bros,
P. O. Box 5, Comstocks, N. Y.
Soil of Ohio, for that of any other State.
Harry Laurimore,
Lock Box 6, Greenville, Darke County, Ohio.
Carrie E.—The book you inquire about is not contained in the "Franklin Square Library." The only answer possible to your other question was given in Harper's Young People No. 15, February 10, 1880.
T. H. P.—The line, "Tall oaks from little acorns grow," occurs in a poem entitled "The School-boy's Address," which is given in old Readers. The following paragraph in reference to the authorship of this poem has been kindly written by Mr. Benson J. Lossing, with whose name the readers of Young People are familiar:
"'The School-boy's Address,' in Bingham's Columbian Orator, beginning, 'You'd scarce expect one of my age,' was written by David Everett, principal of the New Ipswich (New Hampshire) Academy, in the winter of 1791, previous to his entrance to Dartmouth College. It was written for a favorite pupil, Ephraim Hartwell Farrer, and was spoken at a school exhibition at the academy that same winter.
"At the centennial celebration of the founding of New Ipswich, in 1850, Mr. Farrer, then a white-haired man sixty-six years of age, was called upon to respond to the toast, 'Rev. Stephen Farrer, the first pastor of New Ipswich: The memory of the just is blessed.' Mr. E. H. Farrer was a son of the venerable pastor. When he arose to respond, his first words were,
"'You'd scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage.'
"These words he had spoken just fifty-nine years before."
Alice B.—You will find a description of a very simple way to make snow-shoes in a letter from May C. T. in the Post-office Box of Harper's Young People No. 65. The best snow-shoes are a light frame-work covered with a netting of stout thongs, but these would be difficult for you to obtain, and you could not make them yourself.
F. S. K.—The poet Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, on February 27, 1807. He studied at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine, graduating in 1825. Nathaniel Hawthorne, John S. C. Abbott, and some others who afterward became distinguished literary men, were his classmates. After leaving college he spent several years in Europe, and on his return, in 1829, became Professor of Modern Languages at Bowdoin College. In 1835 he again visited Europe, and one year later became Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at Harvard University. He made his home in the historic Cragie House, once Washington's head-quarters, which he soon purchased. Longfellow resigned his position at Harvard in 1854, but still continues to reside in the historic mansion in Cambridge. Honorary degrees have been conferred upon him by the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, and his name is dear to the heart of every American.
I. Chase.—The letter from your Prince Edward Island correspondent published in the Post-office Box of Young People No. 62 probably explains your trouble.
C. U.—A five-kreutzer German stamp is worth about two cents, United States currency.
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Jimmie F. Burns, Lila Baker, A. E. Cressingham, Richard Owen C., C. D. Chipman, W. K. Crithens, R. H. Davidson, Linda and Susie Egbert, Philip S. Gillis, Jesse S. Godine, Carrie and George Hall, Frank H. H., Charles Jefferson, Norman D. Lippincott, William A. Lewis, Andrew E. P., "Red Lion," "Starry Flag," Louis K. Sayre, "L. U. Stral," I. W. Trotter, "The Dawley Boys," Eva J. Turner, Howard J. Van Doren, Bennie C. Woodward, Edith M. Wetmore, J. Anthony Walker, Willie F. Woolard, "Young Solver."
My first in old, but not in new.
My second in toll, not in curfew.
My third in enemy, not in foe.
My fourth in pack, but not in stow.
My fifth in quarrel, not in fight.
My sixth in heavy, not in light.
I am renowned in ancient song
For something most absurdly long.
T. H.
1. I am a famous place in the Western part of the United States, composed of 14 letters.
My 3, 7, 13, 5 is a twig.
My 7, 2, 14 is a trifle.
My 5, 2, 11, 8 is a small burrowing animal.
My 9, 4, 6, 12 is a curtain.
My 1, 10, 5 is a tropical vegetable.
William A. L.
2. I am an English bird composed of 8 letters.
My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is one of the cereals.
My 6, 7, 8 is a part of the body.
Carrie E.
3. I am a flower composed of 6 letters.
My 2, 5, 1 is a verb.
My 3, 6, 4 is a boy's name.
W. I. T.