Harper's Young People, February 10, 1880 Part 5

OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.

LOWELL, Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.

I would like to know how old is the festival of St. Valentine's Day. I have painted some little cards myself, and am going to send them to my school-mates. I think that is better than buying them, even if I can not make them quite so pretty. I am going to copy a little verse on the back of each one. Mamma has chosen the verses for me.

S. F. W.

There is no clear record of the origin of St. Valentine's Day. St.

Valentine himself was a priest of Rome who was martyred some time during the third century, but he had nothing to do with the peculiar observance of his day. In ancient Rome a great part of the month of February was devoted to feasts in honor of Pan and Juno, during which the young men drew by lot the name of their companion for the festivities. It is supposed that this ancient custom changed gradually into the present observance of the day. Many allusions to St. Valentine's Day are found in English poetry of the earliest date, as the festival was much more generally observed four centuries ago than now.

PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

I am a little boy eight years old. I want to tell you that papa heard a bluebird sing in a chestnut-tree on January 11. I have six cats and three ducks. One of my cats died last week, and I buried her. Poor Susie!

S. B. H.

The little bluebird must have left its winter-quarters in the Southern States, and travelled with the warm wave which swept northward in January. It is to be hoped it will escape being frozen to death, and live to sing its sweet spring song at a more seasonable time.

SHELBYVILLE, TENNESSEE, _January 20_.

I send you some flowers which grew in the front yard. The b.u.t.tercups and purple magnolias are blooming also, but I could not press them to send them to you. I have seen some bluebirds and redbirds. Many of our flowers are blooming. It is just like summer out-doors.

E. B. COOPER.

HUDSON, WISCONSIN.

I have a little rabbit I like very much. It lives with the hens in winter. Papa bought two in Chicago. They travelled to Was.h.i.+ngton in a peach basket. When papa brought them home he gave one to me. The other was drowned last summer in a hard storm. My rabbit likes apples, potato skins, clover, gra.s.s, hay, and corn, and I must not give it oats nor anything greasy.

CARRIE E. SILLMAN.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I have a little dog named f.a.n.n.y, who shakes rats, and cats too when she gets a chance. She talks, and she shows her teeth when she laughs, and sneezes when she is pleased.

LAURA B. W. (eight years).

WELLSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

As you have asked us to write about household pets, I thought I would tell you about a pet fish we kept in a stone basin about three feet square and two feet deep. We caught the fish in Cross Creek, and brought it home in a bucket, and placed it in the basin.

It was a yellow ba.s.s about ten inches long and very pretty. It soon got very tame, and would take a fis.h.i.+ng-worm out of my fingers. It committed suicide one night by jumping out on the floor and killing itself. I have a sunfish in the basin now, but I don't expect it will ever get so tame. There are four or five pretty redbirds staying in our yard, and lots of s...o...b..rds.

SAMUEL J.

NEW YORK CITY.

In YOUNG PEOPLE No. 11 there is an article on the Dead-letter Office at Was.h.i.+ngton which mentions some curious things to go through the mail. There are three more very queer things I would like to mention. The first is two centipedes, which are on the shelf with the snake; the second is an iron hitching post; and the third is a live alligator about a foot and a half long. There is an old record in the office of 1778, which lasted at that time eleven years, but which, a clerk said, would last now about fifteen minutes.

K. P.

GEORGE B. WEBSTER.--c.o.o.ns are very fond of fish, and you might bait your trap with salt cod-fish roasted to give it a strong smell. The sense of smell of a c.o.o.n is very acute, and it will rarely pa.s.s a trap baited with any provender it can scent.

LOUIE E.--The song you require is not yet published, but will probably be issued before long.

I. H. MIRKIL, JUN.--Any letters sent to the care of Harper & Brothers will be forwarded.

M. AND E. N.--Early numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE can be obtained on application to the publishers.

F. A. RIGGS AND ERNEST A. F.--You must inquire at your post-office for missing numbers. They have all been mailed to your address.

CHARLES W. L.--The best way to understand the construction of certain kinds of puzzles is to study the answers and puzzles together. You will find some answers given in this number which will help you.

"GOLDEN," M. E. B., AND OTHERS.--We can not print puzzles unless accompanied with full name and address, as guarantee that they are original. Correspondents will please pay attention to this, as we have been compelled to reject some very pretty puzzles because they came without address. Never send old puzzles, as some have done, for they are worthless. Be very careful to give a clear and correct definition of words used in word squares, diamond puzzles, beheadings, acrostics, and charades. One poor definition will spoil an otherwise excellent puzzle.

Do not take a name little known, like that of some Western town, to form an enigma, for children in some other part of the country will find it difficult to solve.

Favors are acknowledged from "Bessie," Canada; Mary A. Tucker, Nebraska; H. Russell P., Homburg, Germany; Mary De Motte, Wisconsin; Hallie A. J., Minnesota; A. S. K., Missouri; Florence May, Michigan; Ollie M., Was.h.i.+ngton Territory. From Indiana--W. A. Burr, Allie W. F., H. I. Y.

From Illinois--Harry Atkins, Helen and Hattie. From Ohio--Hazie H. P., Vincent J. Nolan, James W. R. From Pennsylvania--Fannie K., Amy F. From New York--George J. B., U. Weiler, Hattie Wagner, Anna L. A., May Thornton, Irvie Easton, Grace P., Charlie L.; M. A. T. and F. V. B., Kentucky; Percy B. M., Ma.s.sachusetts; Bertie, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.; Harry Lovell, New Jersey.

Correct answers to puzzles received from N. L. Collamer, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.; Samuel J., West Virginia; Florence d.i.c.kson, Delaware; Sallie Teal, Oregon; Ernest B. Cooper, Tennessee; Arthur P. S., Wisconsin; Dorsey Coate, Indiana; Albert W. J., Illinois; E. S. C., Michigan.

From Ohio--Belle M., Nellie B., Fannie Barnett, B. M. E. From Pennsylvania--"Little Marie," Laura B. W., Eddie H. K., "Spot," Charles H. C., Minnie and Florence M., Charles W. Lisk, Clarissa H. H. From New York--Frank H. Dodd, F. W. P., O. G. Boyle, V. O., Allie D. D., George K. MacN., W. E. Baker, Pauline G., Gus A. S., Bertie Reid, J. E.

Hardenbergh, Nena Crommelin, Rosie Macdonald; Alonzo Stagg, New Jersey; Daisy B. H., Maine. From Rhode Island--Ella W., F. H. Vaughn, M. W. Dam, Annie Baker. From Connecticut--William H. H., "Golden." From Ma.s.sachusetts--Ida G. Rust, E. A. Abbot, Frank M. Richards, E. Allen Cus.h.i.+ng.