MAMMA and Papa had decided to go to the great New Orleans Exposition, but what to do with Joe and Jean was the problem that puzzled them.

Papa, from the first, was in favor of taking them along, saying that the travel and sight-seeing would do the little folk more good than a month at school. But Mamma said no; children were such a care in traveling, and always getting into mischief of some kind; in fact, she would have no peace whatever with them; they would be much better off, she thought, with Grandma Dean and Aunt Fanny.

So it was all arranged that they should go to Grandma's, while Papa bought the tickets that were to convey himself and Mamma to the sunny South for a few weeks of sight-seeing.

But it happened that, at the very last moment, Grandma Dean was taken with one of her bad rheumatic turns, requiring all Aunt Fanny's time and attention to nurse her; so it was out of the question to think of sending a hearty boy of fourteen and a lively little girl of ten, who never could keep still for more than two minutes at a time, to a place where the least little sound would cause pain to poor Grandma's aching body.

any other arrangements, so the only thing to be done was to take the children along; and this is how it came about that our young people went to the Exposition without having in the least expected it.

The morning after their arrival in New Orleans, while Mamma, who was somewhat fatigued after the long journey, remained at the hotel to rest, Joe and Jean started off with Papa to make their first visit to the great Exposition.

The grounds were about four miles distant from their hotel, and as they rode slowly along in the horse-cars (which, however, were drawn by mules instead of horses), they had a good opportunity to see something of the city.

Papa pointed out to them how different the New Orleans houses were from those at home. They were low and broad, nearly all of them having either little balconies, or wide piazzas running entirely around the outside; while in almost every yard the orange-trees, with their golden fruit, glistened in the sunshine.

On entering the grounds, Jean's attention was first attracted by the magnificent live-oak trees, which, with the delicate gray moss depending from their limbs, form a grand avenue leading to Horticultural Hall.

said.

So infatuated was the little girl with the big trees and pretty moss, that she could hardly be prevailed on to go to the main building until Joe said he could n't see "what fun a girl found in just sitting still under a tree. If she only knew how to climb one, there would be some sense in that."

As Jean never attempted to contradict anything Joe said, thinking him one of the wisest and best of boys, she allowed herself to be silently led away in the direction of the main building.

This large structure, Papa told them, covered thirty-three acres of ground. the largest space ever inclosed under one roof. Entering by the main door, they found themselves in front of the Music Hall, situated in about the center of the building, and capable of seating a great many people. It was here that during the holiday season the big Christmas-tree was placed, laden with all sorts of nice presents for the children.

Papa told Joe and Jean that they must be careful not to tire themselves out by attempting too much during this first visit, as they would be able to come out to the Exposition very often before returning home. The best plan, he thought, would be to stroll leisurely through the various buildings, so as to form a general idea of what there was to be seen, while on other days they could give more time to whatever objects specially interested them.

In the main building, they found that the different foreign governments here had their exhibits; while business firms, representing various cities of this country,

displayed their wares in the most tempting man

of all kinds; and during the day the din and clatter made in this section were really distracting.

From here it was but a step to the Government building. This structure, though not as large as the main edifice, was fully as interesting and instructive; for the geography and resources of our country could here be studied in a very practical manner by means of the various natural and industrial products of the different States, which were arranged in their respective sections in proper order. A careful survey of the numerous government exhibits could not but improve the mind of any boy or girl fortunate enough to see them.

Next in order came the building containing the live-stock. Here Joe was greatly delighted over some magnificent Percheron horses, while Jean

Almost one half of the vast building had been given over to machinery and mechanical inventions

As the children were now beginning to tire somewhat, Papa took them over to Horticultural Hall

JOE'S LETTER.

HOTEL ROYAL, NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 23d, '85. DEAR FRED: I believe I promised, when leaving school, to write you something about the Exposition. Well, I 've been so busy since I came here, going out to the Exposition grounds, or roaming over the old French quarter with Papa, that when night comes I am too tired to do anything but go to bed. To-day it is raining hard, and Papa, Mamma, and Jean all are writing letters; so I think, while I feel like it, I will send one off to you.

The Exposition is the biggest thing I have ever seen (I was too little to go to the Centennial, you know), and it has lots and lots of most splendid things in it.

In the main building there is a stuffed bird called the Quatzel, that I think is very interesting. The boy who takes care of the stand where it is told me all about it the other day.

The bird is a native of Guatemala, and looks something like a parrot, only its tail feathers are longer. The queer thing about it is, that if you only pull out one of its feathers the bird dies right away, and if a person succeeds in catching one, and puts it in a cage, it goes to work and pulls out its own feathers,- commits suicide, as it were,as it will not live if deprived of its liberty. I asked the boy if it knew how to sing, and he went to work and made just the funniest noise with his lips all puckered up, and said that was something like the cry it uttered. Have you ever heard of this bird before?

Another thing I like in this same building is a little house that was built in China. It is made of bamboo. There is a great big red dragon on top that 's tremendous; he keeps snorting out steam all the time. I wish we could have a dragon like that for our circus. When you go inside the little house they give you a cup of tea to drink. There is any quantity of machinery here for doing all sorts of work. This, I suppose, you would like best of all, as you are fond of such things; but ever since I almost took the top of my thumb off with Uncle Will's patent lawn-mower, I don't care so much for machines; they make too much noise for me.

In the Government building there are so many interesting things

made of reindeer's skin, hospital tents, sleds laden with provisions, different kinds of clothing, and a number of other interesting articles. Besides these, there are some photographs that show you, as plain as can be, just what it looks like up there.

Fred, I wish you could see the statues, houses, and different things they have made out of grain sent on from the West. One of the States has a copy of the Statue of Liberty that we are going to have down in New York harbor, made out of wheat, while another has a large figure meant to represent the goddess Ceres, that is very beautiful. Dakota has an obelisk composed of different colored ears of corn, some of them so red that you would surely think they had been painted; perched on top, on a sheaf of wheat, is a big American Eagle.

Besides the things I have told you about, there are samples of work done by boys and girls in different schools all over the coun

HOTEL ROYAL, NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 23d, '85. DEAR DAISY: I do so wish you were down here with us! We are having splendid times, going somewhere almost every day. I have been out to the Exposition a number of times, and think I have seen very nearly everything there. In the main building at one of the stands they have two of the funniest pigs you ever saw. In the middle of the floor there is a table set all ready for dinner, with a big ham in the center, while on each side stand Mr. and Mrs. Pig.

THE CHINESE BABY-CHAIR.

Mrs. Pig has on a lovely yellow satin Mother Hubbard, trimmed with red satin around the bottom and lace around the neck; while in her hand, which is one of her front feet, you know, she has a big

seem possible that some day they will only be ham like that on the table and that somebody will eat them up.

Poor things! I should think it would worry them to think about it. But of course a stuffed pig can't think; so it is all right anyhow. In the same building the Chinese Government have built a pagoda and filled it with a great many interesting things. Papa and Mamma have spent hours there, looking at the curiosities, but I could n't get interested in them, because I did n't know what they were for, until Papa explained them to me.

One thing I knew, though-a baby's chair; for it has a figure of a baby sitting in it, with a queer-looking nurse standing alongside. The baby's chair is made of bamboo; and when baby is put in it there is a piece that presses up close against its waist and holds the poor little thing a tight prisoner. In front, on rods, are a few little rings for baby to play with; to run these up and down is all the amusement the little one can have.

I should think all the babies who see this chair and think of their own little willow chairs with pretty ribbons on at home would be glad that they do not live in China. The baby represented in this chair has just a little bit of hair in front; all the rest of its head is bald. I guess that little bit is the beginning of what will be its cue some day.

One of the sights I like best of all is old John Anderson and his wife, with their dog and cat, all made out of the purest and whitest cotton; this belongs to the State of Louisiana. The old lady is knitting a stocking, and the ball of yarn has dropped from her lap; pussy is doing her best to tangle it all up. Mr. Anderson, who seems like a real kind old man, leans heavily on his cane, while the dog sits at his feet and looks as if he never in his life would worry pussy, or anybody else. Behind the old people is a bird, also made of cotton, meant to represent the American Eagle. Everybody who looks at this group thinks it just splendid. I am sure I do.

Daisy, do you like to write compositions? I hate them! for I never can write anything that sounds well. Mamma made me go