uying them,
even if I can not make them quite so pretty. I am going to copy a
little verse on the back of each one. Mamma has chosen the verses
for me.

S. F. W.

There is no clear record of the origin of St. Valentine's Day. St.
Valentine himself was a priest of Rome who was martyred some time during
the third century, but he had nothing to do with the peculiar observance
of his day. In ancient Rome a great part of the month of February was
devoted to feasts in honor of Pan and Juno, during which the young men
drew by lot the name of their companion for the festivities. It is
supposed that this ancient custom changed gradually into the present
observance of the day. Many allusions to St. Valentine's Day are found
in English poetry of the earliest date, as the festival was much more
generally observed four centuries ago than now.

* * * * *

PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

I am a little boy eight years old. I want to tell you that papa
heard a bluebird sing in a chestnut-tree on January 11. I have six
cats and three ducks. One of my cats died last week, and I buried
her. Poor Susie!

S. B. H.

The little bluebird must have left its winter-quarters in the Southern
States, and travelled with the warm wave which swept northward in
January. It is to be hoped it will escape being frozen to death, and
live to sing its sweet spring song at a more seasonable time.

* * * * *

SHELBYVILLE, TENNESSEE, _January 20_.

I send you some flowers which grew in the front yard. The
buttercups and purple magnolias are blooming also, but I could not
press them to send them to you. I have seen some bluebirds and
redbirds. Many of our flowers are blooming. It is just like summer
out-doors.

E. B. COOPER.

* * * * *

HUDSON, WISCONSIN.

I have a little rabbit I like very much. It lives with the hens in
winter. Papa bought two in Chicago. They travelled to Washington in
a peach basket. When papa brought them home he gave one to me. The
other was drowned last summer in a hard storm. My rabbit likes
apples, potato skins, clover, grass, hay, and corn, and I must not
give it oats nor anything greasy.

CARRIE E. SILLMAN.

* * * * *

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I have a little dog named Fanny, who shake