I have written to you once before; but not having seen my letter published, I thought I would try again. Papa has taken YOUNG PEOPLE for my brother Harry and me since the first number came out. We take turns about reading it first. Harry has it first one week, and I get it first the next week. Papa made that rule because we both wanted it at once. We were so anxious to read about poor Toby Tyler! Papa read to us out of the paper about the boat that is called for him. We have two cats. The older one will not let us pet her at all, but the other is very gentle. We once had a cat that used to get on grandma's shoulder and take off her glasses, and she used to mind two little guinea-pigs we had. If she thought they got too far from the house, she would chase them back; and when papa brought them home she thought they were kittens, for she used to cuddle them up to her; and if they got frightened, they would run and get under her. When cold weather came, we sent them to the Zoological Garden, as we had no place to keep them, and grandma said the gray cat ought to have gone to take care of them. Mamma says she sees only one defect in YOUNG PEOPLE; that is, the date is not conspicuous enough. I am afraid I am making my letter too long. I would like to write more. On Sunday, the 23d of October, I will be eleven years old.
As the date is always in the same place, and you know where to look for it, it does not need to be very conspicuous for bright young eyes like yours.
Frank and I are two little boys who live in Louisville. We take your paper, and like it so much! I don't know which I like best, "Tim and Tip" or "Talking Leaves"; but Frank likes to read the letters from the boys and girls, and we want to tell them about our squirrels. We have had them about six months. They live in a large tin cage with a wheel, and they are so gentle they will eat from our hands, and come out of their house when we call "Bunny." We feed them ourselves, and they know us. I hope you will put this letter in your Box.
I live in the country about three miles from Scottsville, New York. I have for pets one dog named Sport, four cats--their names are Jim, Prince, Tramp, and Hayes--one cow named Snowball, one calf named Strawberry, and one pony named Nellie. I am staying at my grandma's for my health. My grandpa owns a large farm, and keeps horses, cows, and other animals. I would like to exchange 100 postmarks (no duplicates, and some rare), for thirty foreign stamps, or forty-five picture-cards (no duplicates). One stone from New York, for one foreign stamp. Please write before sending.