*

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.

FIRST and foremost this month, my friends, you shall hear the Deacon's report on the prize contest, FIFTEEN OWNERS WANTED, which was opened in May last. Only fifteen nameless feet and legs, and fully four thousand two hundred and sixtynine girls and boys who want to name them! My, what a busy time Deacon Green has had reading all those lists of names! And what hosts of different animals must have legs exactly alike, if all the answers are correct! But let us hear what the Deacon himself has to say:

"My dear 4269 children:

I thank you all for your hearty response to my request for a neat, brief, and correct list of the owners of the fifteen legs of which Mr. Dan Beard showed you pictures in the May ST. NICHOLAS.

"It has been very hard to decide among all these answers which three were the very best, as so many of the lists were almost exactly right and almost exactly alike.

"Yet, strangely enough, there was just one list that had the names precisely, word for word, as Mr. Beard gave them to me.

"The Little School-ma'am says that some of the legs would do quite as well for some other animals; yet it seems but right, in view of such uniformity of excellence, to give the first prize to the one sending the names of the very animals from which the leg-pictures were drawn. And I am sure that the 3974 American contestants will rejoice with the 295 foreign contestants that, in accordance with this decision, the first prize is won by a little ten-and-a-half-year-old Scotch cousin, named John H. Deans, who lives near the famous city of Edinburgh. This is his list :

"The second and third prizes were still harder to decide upon; but taking all the conditions into consideration, together with the advice of the Little School-ma'am and Mr. Beard, we found John Easter of Maryland (aged nine years) most fairly entitled to the second prize, and Bessie Thrall of Indiana to the third.

"How near all the following girls and boys came to being prize-winners, they can see by referring to John H. Deans's list.

Your faithful friend,

SILAS GREEN.

ROLL OF HONOR.

R. W. Meade, Jr.- -Jenny W. Noble - Edna Carey-J. M. Mitcheson K. C. Rockwood-Charles Crawford-W. T. Cottrell Ellicott R. Colson - Agnes Thompson-N. W. Dorsey - Thekla Gottesleben - Kate H. Spalding-Mary A. Forse-O. L. Hall. Fred. Fralick-Menie Deans-Arthur Strang-John A. Johnston, Jr.-Louis Dickson-Paul Loving-Edith P. Thomson Geo. C. Willson - Mamie James-Augustus M. Stillman-Edith M. Hart-David Ericson-Lizzie Smith-Daisy B. King - Will Smiley Marjorie R. Anthony-Dora Bennett- Alice W. Brown Allie A. Milliken - Florence Smith-Theodore Kelsey- Mary Brotherton - Edna Dickerson-Willard E. Aikman - Jessie L. Mitchell-Mabel and Edith-F. C. Lyon-K. S. Burchell-Charley Gerry - Silas B. Brower - Lorrin Andrews-Grace Hickox- Helen Crane-Betsy Miller - Florence Nichol-E. T. Adney-Bessie Harlow Mattie Hebersmith-Muriel J. Armstrong - Thatcher W. Hoyt - May Farnam - Sarah C. Neely- Emma WeighellSusie E. Mason - Bessie Burch - Bertha Cist-George Watson Geo. Easton - Sammie T. Birmingham - Grant Francis - Arthur W. Bingham -Blanche Huntington Stanley - Harry BradfordHoratio Knight Bradford-Irene Ackley-Lulu A. Barnes-J. Mercer Garnett, Jr.-Louise H. Selden-Isabelle T. MooreAnna K. Foulkrod - Anna Holmes Banks - Lizzie LineaweaverAddie Johnson - Alice Stevens- K. D. Quay-Annie K. Lemoyne Margaret Edson- Mabel L. Hastings-Winifred Norwood Bertie Vail-Julia M. Sickels-Charles C. Helmick- Maggie Cole-Frank P. Smith-Rosalind Richards- May Mazel - Floyd Frazier- Nora Sissons- Annie Elizabeth Butchard - Arthur P. Stone-Jane Douglas Butchard-S. Livingston - Edward W. GoodClark Holbrook - Charles Cune, Jr.- Walter T. K. Brown -Bessie S. Adams - E. S. Perkins-William F. Patten- Robert R. Dearden, Jr.- N. H. Burdick - Frederick Dabney-Ida Faitoute-Laura M. Smith- Minnie Zeamer-F. L. Burns - Clara L. H.-L. Anderson- Gertrude Floyd - Margaret Blair GoodyearG. W. C. Noble - Peter G. Peltret-Carrie S. Many - Daisy Sharpe-William S. Beaumont-A. F. Reddie- Mamie Higbee -t

win

THE ILLUMINATED FROGS AGAIN.

66

LITTLE Carrie S. of La Porte, Indiana, writes that she does not see how the fire-fly could throw a light so that it could shine through a frog's skin "; but, on the other hand, a little girl of Pomeroy, Ohio, sends this letter:

DEAR JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Two years ago last summer, I was visiting a cousin at Marietta, Ohio, and one evening we saw a very dignified old toad come out near the porch. Cousin Helen and myself thought we would give him a fire-fly that we had caught. We fed it to him, and it illuminated his stomach. Truly, your young friend, EUNICE GROW.

AN ILLUMINATED FISH.

"I, Human foot; 2, Dog; 3, Stork; 4, Tiger; 5, Rat; 6, Cat; 7, Deer; 8, Crow; 9, Child; 10, Cock; 11, Duck; 12, Rabbit; 13, Horse; 14, Monkey; 15, Cow.

*See ST. NICHOLAS for May, page 551.

greatly surprised to find the fish illuminated, and when the fly fluttered in the fish it lighted him up. This continued for several minutes, and a number of people at the hotel came down to see it. Your little friend,

NELLIE MORTON JOHNSTON.

A TAMED WELSH RABBIT!

ex

LONDON, S. W. DEAR JACK: Knowing your affection for animals, I thought you might like to hear of our wild rabbit, which we caught nearly two years ago in Wales; so you see there is such a thing as a live Welsh rabbit. He was then little more than a month old, and could sit with ease on a lady's hand. He is now ceedingly tame, and delights in being petted and stroked; sometimes when I call him he will come and sit up on his hind legs and try to kiss me. Our home is in London, and he lives in a hutch in the conservatory; but he gets plenty of exercise, for he has at least two runs a day either in the school-room drawing-room. At one time we used to allow him to run up and down stairs, which he could do with great ease; but that was before we had a dog. He is very inquisitive, and will hop upon the table, and if he sees a pen or a pencil, will pick it up in his mouth and throw it on

or

the floor. He likes warm milk, which he will drink out of a cup, though he prefers the saucer. Have any of your readers ever kept an ordinary warren rabbit? I have never known or heard of another one tamed. Your constant reader,

HELENA L. C.

WHITE SQUIRRELS.

A GOOD friend of mine, who lives in New Hampshire, and who loves to watch squirrels and

birds and all creatures of the woods and fields, has sent you this true story:

One day last summer I saw a lively red squirrel running along the fence, followed by what I at first thought to be a very light-colored rat. The little thing seemed quite feeble, and crawled slowly along, while the squirrel ran back and forth, apparently coaxing it forward. At last, becoming alarmed by some noise, the squirrel picked the invalid up in her mouth and ran with it to the nearest tree. I was convinced that it must be a young squirrel, either an albino or a cross between the red and gray. Whatever it was, the litter was all alike, for I saw three or four afterward, all of this very light-gray color. One was caught and tamed, but unfortunately it did not survive many weeks. It continued the same color on the back, but the nose, tail, and paws

grew a trifle more reddish. The last time I saw one of them it was nearly full-grown, and only a careful observer would have noticed any red about it. They all appeared, while young, much tamer than the mother, but as they grew larger no difference was seen in this re

"SHIP AHOY!"

spect. The one which was brought up in the house was very affectionate and interesting. Its owner decided that it could see for only a short distance, for when called it would run first in one direction and then in another, but when within a foot or so of its master would seem to perceive him for the first time. This, however, may be a common failing in young squirrels. I should be glad to know if Deacon Green or the Little School-ma'am can furnish a parallel for this red mother of a white family.

Yes, the dear Little School-ma'am found a young white sparrow last winter. I will ask her soon to tell you all about it, my children. This little white sparrow had a curious history.

COOKTOWN, QUEENSLAND.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We have been looking through the "Letterbox," and only once have seen a letter from Australia. We live on the coast of North Queensland. This is a lovely place, almost surrounded with mountains, and we have a fine view of the sea. We have a number of ponies, and often go for rides.

We like all your stories very much, especially Louisa M. Alcott's "Spinning-wheel Stories." Hoping to see this in the "Letter-box." We are your admiring readers, JULIET AND NELLIE.

HANOVER, GERMANY. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I thought, perhaps, you would like to hear I have been intending to write to from a little girl far over the sea. you all this winter, but never have had time. When you go to school in Germany, you do not have time to do anything. Not that they give hard lessons, but you have to stay in school such a long time, and go at such an unearthly hour. At eight o'clock in winter, and seven in summer. Just outside the city is "Herrenhausen," the beautiful palace of the Kings of Hanover. It is several hundred acres in extent. There is a palm-house and a lovely out-of-doors theater. I am going to tell you a little story that a German lady told me the other day. On her farm near Bremen, there was a family of storks. A boy took one of the young storks, put a ring around its neck, and attached to it a message, bearing his name, address, and greetings to the person who should find it. The next spring it came back again, with another message on it, in a language that they could not read. They took it to some learned man, who read it for them in Arabic, and gave them a good deal of money for it. If it had been mine, I would not have sold such a curiosity. This is the seventh year I have taken ST. NICHOLAS, and I think it is splendid. Now I must say good-bye. Your loving friend and reader, NELLIE G. P.

SAVANNAH, GA.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I am going to tell you a funny story about a black cat of ours. We put a box of bird-seed in a closet, and the next day, when the servant went to get the seed for the birds, she found that some mice had eaten it all up. And that night we set a trap to catch them. In the morning we opened the door, and the black cat sprung at the dead mouse in the trap, and ran into the next room, with trap and all in his mouth. My sister ran after him with the tongs, but the cat still held on; at last he pulled the mouse out of the trap and ate it up; but we took the other mouse in the trap away from him, and sent him out of the room.

Your devoted reader,

EDITH O'D.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I wish to tell you about a funny little cow we have. Papa wanted the grass for the cow, so he had to put the calf into a hired pasture, and when the man took her, would you be lieve it? the very next night, about eleven o'clock, she came home; and then when he took her again, he went in the wagon and tied her to it, so as not to let her smell along the road, and that very night we were sitting on the porch wondering whether she would come back, and my sister said: "There she is down on the lawn!" And while she was coming up she did not stop to eat any grass, she was so glad to be at home. The first time, the man took her two or three miles away; but the second time, he took her still farther. Her name is Daisy. From your friend, CLARA T. C.

will be glad to hear that an American friend of mine sent me some, and that at last I had my wish granted after waiting fifteen years! Lots of love to Jack-in-the-Pulpit, the Little School-ma'am, and yourself. I remain, your loving reader, F. A.

BROOKLYN, N. Y.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I am an old lady. I have taken ST. NICHOLAS ever since it was first issued, for my nieces, Hattie and Mabel. They are now young ladies, but think they can not do without their delightful old friend.

I myself am very fond of your visits, bringing so much that is "useful and beautiful and true." We all love you, the old as well as the and bid you welyoung, come and God speed. Please tell Mr. Palmer Cox that we think his "Brownies" are the funniest little creatures that ever appeared to us mortals. The dude with his eye-glass, and all of the solemn, comical little faces, are perfectly irresistible. H. D.

ROCK FERRY, NEAR LIVERPOOL, England, DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We have taken you for five years, and we like you better than any other magazine. We think the pictures are splendid, and my grandfather says he never saw a children's book with better engravings. In the first part of "Personally Conducted," we liked to see the picture of Liverpool Landing Stage, because we land there every day, having to cross the Mersey on the way to school, and we think that paddle-boat is the one we cross in. We like the stories of historic boys and girls; and was it not queer? -last month there was a sketch of "Zenobia of Palmyra," and only the month before her portrait was in our sketch-book. Perhaps your readers would like to know about it. The sketching-club was started about three years ago, and there are eight members. Every month we choose a subject, and then all draw illustrations of that subject. The secretary pastes them in book, and an artist friend criticises them. Then each member criticises and votes for the four she likes best. When the book is full, the one who has the most votes keeps the books. All our friends think it a good idea, and we all know it has done us good. I think if you let your children know of this plan, they will like it. We should like to say something else, but this letter is long enough already. We have never written to you before. EVELINE AND WINIFRED,

WAVERLEY HOUSE, HALIFAX, N. S. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have taken your magazine for four years, and like it very much. We are staying here for a few weeks. Mabel and I love to go down to the sea-shore and watch the ships come in. There are four war ships in the harbor. I have been on the admiral's ship "Northampton"; it's a large ship; I wish all the little boys that read ST. NICHOLAS could see it. There are nine forts here, and a good many English soldiers, besides the volunteers: it looks pretty to see the red-coats on the street. Some of the soldiers have been ordered off to the North-west.

I am ten years old, and Mabel is seven. If you would like to hear more about Halifax, I will write again. Yours truly,

GEORGE N. C.

COVINGTON, KY.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I 've no doubt that there are a great many little girls and boys who have never noticed the different characters of the "Brownies," which appear on the pages of the ST. NICHOLAS.

In every picture of those funny little men may be traced the same amusing characters. For instance, we will mention the Dude, who is never engaged in employment of any description, while all the rest of the "Brownies" are working as though their very existence depended upon it. But our aristocratic dude (as we might say) walks around with as much dignity as though he was a gentleman of leisure. He may always be known by his eye-glass, walkingcane, and silk hat. Then we have the Irishman, who takes quite a prominent part in the pictures, has on a very funny little sugar-loaf hat, and can certainly be known by his turned up nose and smiling countenance.

In the April number of the ST. NICHOLAS may be seen the allimportant little Dutchman, who, with his large hat, is busily engaged in carrying some branches up the hill.