"ie," but I don't agree with it. I think when
people are grown up their real names look better, but at home, among
one's own friends, a pet name is pretty. I don't like to see a
nickname in a marriage or death notice, but I do like it for young
folks and in the family. They say it is a French fashion to spell
names "ie." Whether it is true or not I like it, for all wise people
say against it. I know I am only a little girl, and my opinion may
not be worth much, but I mean to stand up for it, whatever they say.
I suppose every one has a right to her own opinion, and if others
don't agree with me, they needn't; but I don't like them to call me
"silly" because I don't think as they do. I am willing they should
have their own opinions, but I want the same privilege,--isn't that
fair? I don't like such nicknames as "Tom" and "Bob," or "Mollie"
and "Sallie," but like such as "Charlie" or "Hattie," and I think
they look prettier spelt so than they do spelt "Charley" or "Hatty."
If other people like them so, I am willing; but I want the right to
follow my own choice in the matter, whether others like it or not. I
think people have a right to spell their own names as they
please.--Your friend,

ALLIE BERTRAM.

P.S.--My parents think my name is too pretty to be used so often as
to get common, and so they call me "Allie," and I like it. I don't
want any one but my friends who love me, and whom I love, to call me
"Alma."

* * * * *

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: May I tell you about a miniature fountain my
sister and myself made long ago? It was lovely when finished, and
fully repaid us for our labor.

We first chose a board, about four feet long, and two feet wide, on
the sides of which we nailed laths, to hold the earth we laid upon
it, after having bored two holes, one near the middle and the other
close in the corner. We then placed the board on a box, and set a
barrel near it on blocks that stood about a foot higher than the
board.

We now cut a gourd in two, and making holes through the centers,
fitted them over those in the board, the large one for the
fountain-basin, the small one for a little spring in the corner.

The next thing was to connect this with the barrel by pipes. For
this we used reeds, placing a small upright piece in the center of