The next night, Jamie was tempted to say his prayers in his hammock.  The moment that the friendly sailor saw Jamie get into his hammock without first saying his prayers, he hurried to the spot and, dragging him out, said, “Kneel down at once, sir!  Do you think I am going to fight for you, and you not say your prayers, you young rascal?” During the whole voyage back to London this same sailor watched over the boy as if he were his father, and every night saw that he said his prayers.

Jamie soon began to be industrious, and during his spare hours studied his books; he learned all about ropes and rigging, and became familiar with latitude and longitude.  Some years after, he became captain of the “Great Eastern.”  On returning to England after a successful voyage, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood, and the world now knows him as Sir James Anderson.

MABEL R.

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B.P.R.—­Perhaps the little book called “Album Leaves,” by Mr. George Houghton, published by Estes & Lauriat, will help you to some verses suitable to be writen (sic) in autograph albums.

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  Mobile, Ala.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:  The “that” question in your recent numbers brings to mind some “thats” I had when I went to school long years ago, and which some of your young grammarians may never have seen.  I would like to have them, especially C.P.S., of Chicago, parse them.

E.S.F.

  Now that is a word which may often be joined,
  For that that may be doubled is clear to the mind,
  And that that that is right, is as plain to the view
  As that that that that we use is rightly used too;
  And that that that that that line has in it, is right,
  And accords with good grammar, is plain in our sight.

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DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:  I want to tell you about my aunt Hattie.  She is only nine years older than I am, being twenty-one, and seems more like a sister than an aunt.  When she was about fifteen she was thrown from her pony and hurt her spine, so that she hasn’t taken a step since.

But in spite of her great suffering she is the brightest, happiest one in the house, brimful and running over with fun and spirits.  Papa calls her our sunbeam, and no one can grumble when they see how patiently and cheerfully she bears her pain.  Her bright face and merry laugh will cure the worst case of “blues.”  She wants me to tell you how much she enjoys ST. NICHOLAS.  It is a great comfort to her, and helps to pass away many an hour of pain and loneliness when I am at school and mamma is busy.  She says she doesn’t know what she could do without it.