I want to tell YOUNG PEOPLE what a nice trip we had on Lake Michigan this summer. There were papa, mamma, my sister, my two aunts, my uncle, and myself. At first we went on the cars to Racine; then we went on board the _Muskegan_. At first I did not know what to think of finding myself on such a large steamboat. We went to Milwaukee, then to Sheboygan, Jacksonport, Escanaba, and up to Green Bay. We had fair weather all the time, and that made it delightful. At most of the places we got off the boat, and rambled about. There was another little girl on the boat just about my sister's age. We had lots of fun playing doll and telling stories and riddles. One evening papa, that other little girl, whose name is Mabel, and myself, were on deck, and began telling stories and riddles. There were some little bits of boys and girls there who had some knit horse-reins, and liked to have us drive them. We went up on the hurricane-deck, and looked upon the water. We came home well pleased with our trip.
I am a little girl twelve years old. I have got a little dog named Trip; I have a little harness, and I drive him. I have a little squirrel named Chickery. I and two of my friends went chestnutting, and got six nuts apiece. I have a little sister named Leva. Maybe I will take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE next year. My little friend takes it, and I like it very much. I hope I may see my letter printed.
I, too, am twelve years old. I take YOUNG PEOPLE, and I like "Toby Tyler" and "Tim and Tip" the best. I have a little bird named Billy, and a doll named Jennie. I have not any brothers or sisters, but a dear little Cousin Ralph. I go to school, and study reading, arithmetic, geography, and spelling.
I am ten years old, and I have a little pony, and her name is Topsy. My papa says she is buckskin-color, but I think she is golden. And I had two pet rabbits, one black and one white, and papa had a puppy bird dog that broke loose and ate them both up, and I could not find them. One day I went out-doors and found their ears. We had a wild canary's nest in a maple-tree in our yard, and mamma got one of the birds, and it sings more than our tame one. I attend school, and study geography, arithmetic, Fourth Reader, grammar, spelling, and writing. I am the youngest in all my classes, but still keep a little ahead. I like the stories in YOUNG PEOPLE very much.