So, you see, I was greatly interested in “Little Women,” as I could
    appreciate it so well; and it seemed to me as if Miss Alcott must
    have seen us four girls before she wrote the story.

I have four first cousins, and they are all boys, and with my sisters and me we are “eight cousins.”  One of my cousins is a little baby, a little over five weeks old.  He makes the eighth cousin.

    I liked the piece about Miss Alcott in the December number very
    much.  We expect to take your magazine until we are young women.  I
    think it the best published for young people.—­Your friend,

    ANNIE ADAMS.

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By letters just received from England, we learn that the pretty Christmas and New-Year cards in our December and January issues were not drawn by Miss Greenaway, though a friend had mistakenly sent them to us last summer as specimens of that lady’s work, cut from a scrapbook.  We, therefore, hasten to correct the error, wishing at the same time, that we knew to whose hand to credit the drawings.  To our still greater regret, we now learn that Marcus Ward & Co., of London, having published these as Christmas cards, and counted upon having a large sale for them in America.  Had we known this in time, we certainly should not have copied the pictures without previously referring to the publishers.  The best reparation we can make at the present date is this acknowledgement and a bit of honest advice to our readers:  Hunt the shops for the beautifully colored cards from which these pictures were copied, and buy them for next Christmas.  They are far better than our printed ones.

* * * * *

    Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:  I am twelve years old and very fond of reading, and as I never can find an interesting book of history, I read stories.  But mamma and other people tell me I ought to read something instructive, but as I never can find anything I like, I would be much obliged if you would help me a little by giving me a list of pleasant books.  I have taken you for three years and enjoy you very much indeed.—­Your very affectionate reader,

    ALICE CLINTON.

“Greene’s Shorter History of the English People,” a new work, is very interesting.  H.M.D. in the “Letter-Box,” October, 1876, says that “The Life and Times of Sir Philip Sidney” is such a pleasant book that you cannot help having a good time when you are reading it, and will not think it is history unless you know beforehand.  “Seven Historic Ages,” by Arthur Gilman, is another attractive book, and if you are like most smart girls of your age, you will find Prescott’s “Ferdinand and Isabella” as interesting as many story books.  It is a history of Spain in its most prosperous times.  It is long, but, once begun, few find it hard to finish.