was filled up with drawings and writing of an amusing
character. Benjamin was quite famous among the boys for the skill and
facility with which he made sketches, and in this letter he had given a
curious specimen of his artistic talent. The following is a copy of
this production:

DEAR OSCAR:

I am sorry to hear you 're in weakness and pain,
And I send you a book to beguile your tired brain;
I send also some puzzles, to stir up your wit,
And tempt you to laugh, when you really don't feel like it one bit!

[Illustration: A Queer Name.]

What a queer name!

What do we all do when we first get into bed?
Why is swearing like an old coat?
What is that which is lengthened by being cut at both ends?

My first, if you do, you won't hit;
My second, if you do, you will have it;
My whole, if you do, you won't guess it.

[Illustration: The Double Face.]

Turn me over, pray.

A word there is, five syllables contains;
Take one away, no syllable remains.

What is that which is lower with a head than without one?
Who was the first whistler?
What tune did he whistle?
How do you swallow a door?
What is that which lives in winter, dies in summer, and
grows with its root upwards?
If you were to tumble out of the window, what would you fall against?

[Illustration: The Cat-Erect.]

Why is this like the Falls of Niagara?
If my puzzles are simple, and my pictures a fright,
Then just laugh at me, and it will all
B. WRIGHT.

This letter was the prime source of attraction to all the children, the
rest of the day; and its reception formed an era in Oscar's sick-day
experience, not easily to be forgotten. All the family, from Mr.
Preston down to little George, set themselves to work to guess out the
riddles; but in some of them, they found more than their match. To
Oscar, however, the letter was something more than a collection of
drawings and puzzles. It was a token of interest and sympathy from a
boy towards whom he had never manifested a very friendly spirit.
Benjamin's high standing in the school, both for scholarship and
behavior, had awakened in Oscar a secret feeling of jealousy or
resentment towards him. He was a poor boy, too, and this by no means
increased Oscar's respect for him. But now, Oscar began to feel
ashamed of all this; and as instances of his unkind treatment of his
generous classmate came up in remembrance, he wished he had the power
to b