s" published in the last Christmas number of ST.
NICHOLAS, is an example of a fine poem in simple and rhythmical
language, the study of which will improve your style of writing more
than any number of rules that we might give you.

THE RIDDLE-BOX.

HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.

The central letters, read downward, name a fashionable and beautiful
pet.

1. A large reptile. 2. Idolizing. 3. A foe. 4. To stain. 5. A consonant.
6. A dandy. 7. To baffle. 8. Good news. 9. Capable of being made better.

G.H.W.

BLANK APOCOPES.

In each of the following sentences, the second blank is to be filled
with the first syllable of the word used in the first blank.

1. From some ---- we made a portion of our ----. 2. The ---- was
extinguished when we made a ---- for the door. 3. On the second shelf
of the ---- you will find some ----. 4. It was of a bright ---- color,
the ---- that he had.

C.D.

EASY BEHEADINGS.

1. Behead to strike, and leave what all must do. 2. Behead what
children like, and leave a man's nickname. 3. Behead two pronouns, and
leave two other pronouns. 4. Behead an article of furniture, and leave
capable. 5. Behead a color, and leave a writing material. 6. Behead
something belonging to flowers, and leave a coin. 7. Behead a part of
the head, and leave what comes from the clouds. 8. Behead another
color, and leave a kind of stove. 9. Behead a sport, and leave a girl's
name. 10. Behead a part of a ship, and leave a tree. 11. Behead a kind
of bird, and leave disturbance. 12. Behead an article of food, and
leave a kind of tree. 13. Behead a table utensil, and leave a bird. 14.
Behead to frighten, and leave anxiety. 15. Behead a toilet article, and
leave to crowd.

A.D.L. AND S.W.

EASY TRIPLE ACROSTIC.

The primals, read downward, name a bird; the centrals, an animal;
the finals, an insect.

1. Disentangling. 2. Echo. 3. A city in a Western State. 4. Can't
be worse.

ESOR.

FRAME PUZZLE.

* *
* *
* * * * * * * *
* *
* *
* * * * * * * *
* *
* *

Make the frame of four words of eight letters each, so that the letter
A shall come at each of the four corners where the words intersect. The
words mean: Sweet-smelling, to make a scale, a fillet, an ecclesiastic.

BESSIE AND HER COUSIN.

HIDDEN FRENCH SENTENCE.

Find in the following sentence the French words with which the Emperor
Alexander of Russia once described St