ve heard that there are a great many towns in the United
States named Vicksburg. Can you tell me how many?

My sister tried Helen's recipe for lemon pie, in YOUNG PEOPLE No.
32, and it was very nice.

F. M. G.

There are five towns and cities named Vicksburg, one in each of the
following States: Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,
Mississippi.

* * * * *

WILLIE M.--Directions for making an ordinary kite were given in
Post-office Box No. 19. "Sim Vedder's Kite," in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 25,
also contained some valuable suggestions.

* * * * *

WAVE.--Common sunfish can not injure the gold-fish and other inhabitants
of your aquarium.

* * * * *

OTTAWA, CANADA.

I am nine years old, and I have two sisters and one brother, Ruth,
Alonzo, and baby Vera.

There was a boy who wrote to YOUNG PEOPLE and said he was very
fond of history. So am I. I have read _Peter Parley's History of
the United States_ five times, and now I am reading Charles
Dickens's _Child's History of England_. I don't know what to read
next. I wish you would tell me the names of some child's
histories, for I do not understand very well those written for
older people.

PERCY R.

All of Abbott's Illustrated Histories would interest you. Then there are
some good histories for young readers by Miss Yonge; and child's
histories of the United States, of Greece, and of Rome, by Bonner; an
interesting child's history of the United States, by T. W. Higginson;
and many other books referring to special periods, like Mr. Coffin's
_Story of Liberty_ and _Boys of '76_, where you will find much valuable
information. The works by Abbott, Bonner, and Coffin are published by
Harper & Brothers.

* * * * *

ELLA W.--The date of the invention of gun-powder is unknown. Tradition
says that it was used in China as early as A.D. 85, for fire-works and
blasting, and that the Arabs employed it at the siege of Mecca in 690.
Roger Bacon is supposed to allude to its explosive force, and it is said
that Berthold Schwartz, a monk, about 1336, discovered the mode of
manufacturing it. It is also said that the knowledge of it was conveyed
to Europe by the returning Crusaders.

Tempt your parrot with English walnuts, bits of apple and pear, and
canary and hemp seed, and also give