s rats, and cats too when
she gets a chance. She talks, and she shows her teeth when she
laughs, and sneezes when she is pleased.

LAURA B. W. (eight years).

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WELLSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

As you have asked us to write about household pets, I thought I
would tell you about a pet fish we kept in a stone basin about
three feet square and two feet deep. We caught the fish in Cross
Creek, and brought it home in a bucket, and placed it in the basin.
It was a yellow bass about ten inches long and very pretty. It soon
got very tame, and would take a fishing-worm out of my fingers. It
committed suicide one night by jumping out on the floor and killing
itself. I have a sunfish in the basin now, but I don't expect it
will ever get so tame. There are four or five pretty redbirds
staying in our yard, and lots of snowbirds.

SAMUEL J.

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NEW YORK CITY.

In YOUNG PEOPLE No. 11 there is an article on the Dead-letter
Office at Washington which mentions some curious things to go
through the mail. There are three more very queer things I would
like to mention. The first is two centipedes, which are on the
shelf with the snake; the second is an iron hitching post; and the
third is a live alligator about a foot and a half long. There is an
old record in the office of 1778, which lasted at that time eleven
years, but which, a clerk said, would last now about fifteen
minutes.

K. P.

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GEORGE B. WEBSTER.--Coons are very fond of fish, and you might bait your
trap with salt cod-fish roasted to give it a strong smell. The sense of
smell of a coon is very acute, and it will rarely pass a trap baited
with any provender it can scent.

* * * * *

LOUIE E.--The song you require is not yet published, but will probably
be issued before long.

* * * * *

I. H. MIRKIL, JUN.--Any letters sent to the care of Harper & Brothers
will be forwarded.

* * * * *

M. AND E. N.--Early numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE can be obtained on
application to the publishers.

* * * * *

F. A. RIGGS AND ERNEST A. F.--You must inquire at your post-office for
missing numbers. They have all been mailed to yo