Once again. Let us turn for a moment to the Mediterranean sh.o.r.es of Spain, and the mountains of Murcia. Those rocky heights, whose peaks stand out against the deep blue sky, scarcely support a blade of vegetation. The algarobas and olives at their bases are artificially supplied with soil. It is scarcely credible that these are the same mountains which, according to the forest-book of King Alfonso el Sabio, were once clothed to their summits with pines and other forest trees, while soft clouds and mist hung over a rounded, s.h.a.ggy outline of wood where now the naked rocks make a hard line against the burnished sky.
But Arab and Spanish chroniclers alike record the facts, and geographical science explains the cause. There is scarcely a district in the whole range of the civilized world where some equally interesting geographical story has not been recorded, and where the same valuable lessons may not be taught. This is comparative geography.
[Ill.u.s.tration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
That our youthful correspondents may not think we slight any of their favors, we would say that we regret exceedingly that our limited s.p.a.ce compels us to print so few of their prettily worded and neatly written letters. We thank you all for your praise and hearty goodwill, but while we read all your comments on _Young People_ with attention, as in that way we learn what pleases you best, we must choose for printing those letters which tell something of interest to other young readers.
To one thing we would call your attention. When you send drawings of "Wiggles" and other picture puzzles, be careful to do it on a separate piece of paper. Your letters are all recorded, and filed away, and if your idea for a "Wiggle" is drawn on the same piece of paper on which you write your letter, it makes confusion. We hope our young correspondents will pay attention to this suggestion.
ISHPEMING, MICHIGAN.
In _Harper"s Young People_, No. 10, Mr. Lossing wrote about "Putnam"s Narrow Escape." He said his informant was General Ebenezer Mead. Please tell Mr. Lossing that General Mead was my great-grandfather. I am nine years old. I was born in Evergreen, Louisiana, and came North when I was only three weeks old, so I don"t remember about any home but where I live now.
BEN BRYANT HILL.
DEL NORTE, COLORADO.
I am ten years old, and live away out in the Rocky Mountains. I went down to the hotel last night, and saw the twelve Ute chiefs who are on the way to Washington. Ouray, the head chief, had his wife with him. There being but one chair in the room, she very kindly sat flat upon the floor, and allowed her husband to occupy the chair.
WALLACE S.
SHEEPSCOTT BRIDGE, MAINE.
I am eleven years old. My father tells me lots of stories about Indians, and shows me the places where some poor people were killed by them. Our field takes in a part of Garrison Hill, where people used to come into the fort when the Indians came. My father says Sheepscott is a very old place, and the Pilgrims came here for corn. Close by our field is an old barn where the Indians came when some men were threshing, and fired on them, and killed two and took their scalps off, and one man hit back at them with his flail, and broke an Indian"s arm, and they carried him prisoner to Canada. It says so on his old grave-stone, and I have seen it. My grandfather shot bears, but there are none here now. The people here build little houses on the ice, and catch lots of smelts through a hole in the ice. Sometimes there are as many as a hundred houses. The smelts are sent to New York. I like _Young People_, and hope I shall always get it.
CLARENCE E. C.
WARREN, OHIO.
I want to tell you about my dogs. I have two coach-dogs; Spot and Sport are their names. I used to drive them in a sleigh, and they would draw me all about the town. I trained them all myself. Sport was just like some horses; he would back and kick and chew his harness. One day he chewed it all to pieces. Spot was good all the time. I am older now, and drive ponies. I drove the dogs when I was five years old.
ALASKA P.
EMPORIA, KANSAS.
My uncle gave me a little axe on New-Year"s Day, of which I am very proud, and make good use of it by cutting wood for my mamma, but Kansas wood is very hard to split. My papa says, "Where there is a will there is a way," and I am going to earn money enough with my axe to subscribe for _Young People_.
PORTER HUNTER.
EAST SMITHFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.
I have a canary. His name is Willie. He sings very sweetly, but he has not bathed for a long time. Do you know any way to make him take his bath?
MARY.
Sometimes canaries will not bathe in cold weather. You must give your bird tepid water, otherwise it will get chilled, and sicken. Try putting the bath dish in its cage and leaving it alone. Some canaries will never bathe if they are watched.
PEABODY, Ma.s.sACHUSETTS.
I have two Maltese cats exactly alike. One of them will eat pea-nuts faster than I can crack them. The one that eats pea-nuts has a bad cold. What can I do for her?
HARRY P. H.
Your kitty has a very funny appet.i.te. Keep her in a warm corner by the fire, and give her plenty of warm milk to drink, and her cold will get well. A little weak catnip tea mixed with the milk would do her good.
Robie I. G. has a kitty which climbs up on the bal.u.s.ters every morning and tries to open his chamber door; Carlotta P. writes that her kitties Betsy and Busti play with b.a.l.l.s, and run up the curtains as if they were climbing trees; Charlie M. S., Annie C. and Maggie W., Mattie V. S., and Ida R. L., also write of pet cats and dogs and birds.
MAYNARD A. M.--Your story and poems are very pretty, and show much fancy and imagination for a boy of your age, but we have not room to print them. We return them to Detroit, Michigan, the only address you give.
"MYSTIC."--Your drawing is very well done, but we can not use it.
MISS A. T.--There is no commentary on Pope"s translation of Homer, but many interesting papers have been published on the subject.
EDWARD M. VAN C.--Your letter was a long time reaching its destination, as it first took a trip to the Dead-letter Office at Washington, and was forwarded to us from there. Like the little girl mentioned in the paper on the Dead-letter Office in _Young People_, No. 11, you posted it _without a stamp_.
E. L. M.--You write a very pretty letter considering that you are "only a little girl nine years old," and you need not feel nervous in future.
MISS E. W.--Many thanks for the charming letter and poem you so kindly forward from the bright little nine-year-old girl, Jennie Lancaster, of Marshall, Texas.