BALTIMORE, MD.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I thought some of your congregation might like to know of a very nice sort of a party which we had the other day. It is called a "Hunting Party." About thirty-five children came. We got about a hundred and fifty bundles, which we hid in every imaginable place. When the children came, mama gave them each a paper bag, such as grocers use to put their bundles in. We blew a horn and off they went to look for the things we had hidden.

We gave a prize to the girl who got the most, and to the boy who got the most. It was great fun, as any one who tries it will find.

U. S. RECEIVING SHIP "WABASH," NAVY YARD, CHARLESTON, MASS. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I live on the receiving ship at Boston Navy Yard. It is lovely, for we see the ocean steamers come in. Every Sunday I see inspection. My papa is a naval officer.

I have been sick and will not go to school for a long time. We have to go over to the yard in a scow, for the ship is anchored out from the land. It is pleasant to watch the marines drill at the barracks, in the yard. I am eleven years old. Good-by. ANNIE O'K

MANCHESTER, England.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We are two friends, and we have taken you for a long time, and like you very much. We do not live right in the town of Manchester, and not far from us there is lovely country. There are some very fine buildings in the town, especially the Town Hall, the clock of which you can hear striking more than four miles away! We have also some very good concerts every winter, given by Sir Charles Hallé. Nearly every. body here goes to hear them, and we sometimes go ourselves and enjoy them very much, as we are both very fond of music. We suppose that you are all going wild over Paderewski in the same way as we did when he was here, and we envy you very much hearing him.

We very seldom have any skating, but last year there was a long and hard frost, and we enjoyed the unwonted luxury.

We like reading the stories about England very much; it is very interesting to hear what you Americans think about England.

Wishing you continued success, we remain your interested readers, M. S. AND F. M.

NEW YORK.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I like all your stories very much, but the ones I like the best are those about horses and their riders, as I love them, and have ridden all my life, and like anything about horses.

I go to school in the country, and every afternoon that I can I go out in the pony-cart with an old pony which has been in the family about twelve years, and is about twenty years old. So you see we are very much attached to her, and would not part with her for anything. She seems to grow younger and go better every year. In the summer I have a saddle-horse, and have fine times riding with my friends. In winter it is too cold to ride in the country, but in the city it is very nice. I am your faithful reader, I. M. G.

TORONTO.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We have a horse called "Billy." One day when he was in the stable he managed to get his

halter off; the stable door was open, and he came out and started away down the street; afterward he got running down the principal streets; we could not catch him because every time that we would get near him he would kick up his legs and run; so we gave it up, knowing that he would come back. And at dinner-time he did come back and went into his stable. I suppose he wanted his dinner, but he had to wait till tea-time before he got anything. I remain your interested reader, JOHN K

YONKERS, N. Y. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I received you this morning, and have just finished reading "The Letter-box."

I have been wanting to write to you for a long time, but have been unable to do so before, as I have been very ill for over three months, unable to move any part of my body except my hands and arms.

Papa has given you to me, bound, for the last two Christmases, and this year he subscribed for you. Of course you can imagine how much I enjoy you, espe cially now, when I am ill and unable to walk. You give me many pleasant moments, dear old ST. NICK, and I hope I shall never have to part with you. When I am well I go to school. One of your many admirers, DORA S. H—.

MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS : I am a little American girl, but am spending the winter in Montreux. I go to a French school, where only two other American girls go beside myself.

The people here speak all sorts of languages, and it is very difficult to understand them sometimes.

My cousin has a pretty little puppy, about seven months old; his name is "Budge." When he was about five months old, he learned to sit up in the corner and beg; he does several cunning little things; if we hide the handkerchief or spool, and tell him to find it, he will go snuffing about until he finds it, and sometimes he will hide it himself and make us find it.

Montreux is on Lake Geneva, and we always have a lovely view of the lake. Your devoted reader,

M. E. L.

KENILWORTH, VA. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS : I have been taking your delightful magazine for seven years. I live on the old battlefield of Winchester, in a house built more than a hundred years ago, which was headquarters for both armies. I have often found relics of the war, among them a saber, bullets, and other things.

I am twelve years old, I ride on horseback to Winchester to school every day. I ride five miles there and five back. I have two little brothers, Murroy and Neville. We have nice times together with our boat on the pond. Your loving reader, JACK S

NICE, FRANCE.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you what a lovely place we are in, where winter is summer, and where the flowers always bloom and the sun always shines. Here, in Nice, although in midwinter, the air is as deliciously soft and balmy as on an American June day. Our garden, which surrounds our château, situated on the hillside, commanding a magnificent view, is full of tropical plants, palms, and aloes, and is a constant delight. The eucalyptus-trees and century-plants tower upward, tall and stately, while the large orange-orchard stretches away to the left. We make a great number of excursions, and yesterday

we went to Cimiez to see the ruins of a Roman amphitheater. I am devoted to the French people, and my brother and I both know the language well. We have traveled a great deal in Europe in England, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and France. We know and love "la belle France" the best of all. We lived six months in Paris, and saw all its interesting sights, and mounted the Eiffel Tower.

I enjoy your charming stories very much, but like best your tales of bygone times.

Your enthusiastic reader,

GWENDOLYN D

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: My father is an army officer, and has been stationed here five years. There are a great many nice children in the post, and a great many of us have ponies; so we have great fun riding, which we do a great deal. My pony is named "Candy," and my sister's "Verde." We also enjoy our hops, which we have every other Friday night.

Hoping you will live a great many years more, I am ever your constant reader, ALICE W. B

THE DOLLS' HOSPITAL.

(A True Story.)

GIRLS, did you ever hear of a dolls' hospital? Well, I am going to tell you about one. My sister Edith once had a very beautiful doll named "Rosy," and we were all very fond of her. She came to us in England, and had always been rather pale and delicate; so while we were in Florence, Italy, we thought it might possibly benefit her to take a course of baths.

One beautiful morning we took her out with us, and climbing the hill to the Piazzali di Michelangelo, where we were accustomed to play every day, we came to a beautiful fountain with a low, broad basin. This exactly suited our purpose. Undressing poor Rosy, her gentle little mother boldly plunged her into the water. We watched her gaily. After a while her mama said it was time to take her out of the bath; so out Miss Rosy came. Oh, what a sight to behold! Just imagine! Her hair was all coming out, her bones were out of joint, and her skin was peeling off. (Her skin was the kind which French dolls usually have compressed paper.) We all set up a dismal howl, and rushed home to ask mama if anything could be done for the poor darling. Mama tried first of all to quiet and soothe Rosy's broken-hearted little mother, and then proceeded to examine the wreck. She made Rosy a nice little nightgown and cap, laid her in a little bed, and comforted us by telling us she hoped the poor creature would soon be better. But Rosy still remained very ill, and never got any better, in spite of the tender care we all bestowed upon her.

Finally we left Florence, and went to Venice; but the change of climate did not benefit our dear invalid. From Venice we went to the Lake of Como, where we stayed two months, and often took our darling out to row on the blue waters. Still there was no change for the better. Then we journeyed over the Alps, into Switzerland,

where we spent the whole summer; but the Swiss air seemed to have lost its virtue. Rosy was no better. At last, when winter was near at hand, we went to Wiesbaden, Germany. This is a very beautiful city, as you all know, and famous for its hot baths. Many invalids go there to be cured. We had been there only a short time when we met a kind lady who, hearing of Rosy's condition, told us that she knew of a dolls' hospital, not very far from Wiesbaden, where old dolls were made young, and sick ones quite restored to health.

After much thought and discussion, we at length decided to send our darling there. We bade her good-by with many tears and kisses, laid her in a narrow box how funereal it seemed!—and sent her away. She had been gone only a few days when the winter rains began, and soon there were great floods throughout Germany.

For many long weeks we did not hear one word from her. Every day we went down to the doll establishment from which she had been sent to inquire about her; but all in vain. At last, however, our sad hearts were made very glad. One morning, going down on our daily errand, we found Miss Rosy had arrived, and was waiting impatiently to see us. Oh, joy! There she lay in a box, just as plump and rosy as she could be. Her long golden curls fell about her lovely face, and reached down to her waist.

When we arrived at home and tried on her dresses, none of them would fit. Would you believe it? She had grown a whole inch!

MILDRED L. COWLES.

FAIRFORD, ALA.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have taken you for a great many years, and I like you very much. I am very much interested in the story "Tom Paulding." I am ten years old, and I have three brothers and one sister. There is a large sawmill here, and my father is the superintendent I am very fond of dogs. We have two setters at home, named "Doc" and "Tatum." Papa has a kennel, and he has twenty hounds. Leo, my brother, and I have a gun apiece, and we go out hunting every Saturday. I like to hunt very much. CURRAN LAMAR S.

of it.

Yours sincerely,

WE thank the young friends whose names follow for pleasant letters received from them: Edna W., Mary W., Julia B. H., Georgina G. R., Clara G. G., Laura V. B., Louise P. B., Leona B., Ethel F., Mabel B., Abbie F. P., H. T. W., Emily B., Arlie H., Beatrice F. M., Edith P. M., Agnes K. J., Paul V. R., Edna S. P., Mary M. W., Clara G. A., Harry W. L., Charlotte L. A., Blanche, Beulah McF., Lucien M., Ellenor D., Florence F., X. Y. Z., Lucille M. C., Eloise C., C. Earl Fenner, Isabel R. D., Elsie S., Gertrude K., Ruth McN., Chris S. M., J. H. P., Jamie R. P., Paula H., Annie M. M., Katherine D. Y., Lawrence B. E., Elizabeth C. G., Florence Adelaide F., Madelaine L., Katharine M. A., M. Agnes B., R. M. H., Percy L. B., Minnie L. M., Emma C. D., Laurence B., M. W. P., Lynn A., Lucille B., Minnie W., Bessie C., Virginia G., Edward B., Helen S. F., Nina S., Carl B., and G. M.

I AM composed of ninety-five letters, and form a quotation from the writings of Thomas à Kempis.

MY 70-25-34-55 is a waiter. My 5-27-82 is a grain. My 62-15-37-18-11 is one of an ancient order of priests. My 3-66-75-93-88 is to drag. My 46-8-78-22-48 is averse. My 29-58-51-90 is fancy. My 86-39-60-54-63 is a weight of twelve grains. My 13-23-49-84-68-41 is troublesome. My 76-36-6-20 is the cheven. My 57-80-94-81-21 is a feminine name. My 72-77-1-17-85 is a quick puff of air or smoke. My 52-45-16-92-31-26 is dough before it is kneaded into loaves. My 4-43-3528-33-74 is secret. My 19-91-71-24 is an ancient city. My 64-53-67-30-69-47 is niggardly. My 2-56-40-10 is a season of the year. My 7-65-50-61-83-87 is another season; my 12-9-44-38-89-32 is a third season, and my 42-14-79-73-59-95 is a fourth.

PI.

M. D.

4. The European flounder. 5. Relish. 6. To allay. 7. Endowed with utterance. 8. A respectful title given, in India, to Europeans of rank. 9. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights. 10. A species of pepper. 11. A crevice. 12. One of the hereditary classes

nto which the Hindoos are divided.

WORD-BUILDING.

C. B.

RAPID, UGLY INK DR.

8

FROM 3 to 6, a mathematical word meaning a quantity consisting of three terms; from 7 to 8, strives; from 10 to II, a metal discovered by Müller in 1782; from II to 12, methods; from 3 to 7, a book; from 7 to 10, graceful; from 6 to 8, a young woman; from 8 to II, any fallacy designed to deceive; from 6 to 9, meager; from 9 to 12, unwholesome; from 1 to 4, iniquity; from 1 to 2, to observe closely; from 2 to 5, an edible root; from 13 to 15, a horned animal; from 13 to 14, to fool; from 14 to 16, ay; from 15 to 16, a lady in Spenser's "Faëry Queen"; from 17 to 19, a musical instrument; from 17 to 18, a solemn promise; from 18 to 20, to trill.

ELSIE L.