AS.

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, MASSACHUSETTS.

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 appetite. 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 balusters every morning
and tries to open his chamber door; Carlotta P. writes that her kitties
Betsy and Busti play with balls, 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
fo