DEAR ST. NICHOLAS:  Here is news to do your heart good.  Last summer, a Brooklyn lady, who herself has been bed-ridden and in pain for many years, felt very sorry for the children of the tenement houses, who are unable to get relief or a chance to enjoy the fresh air and bright sunlight of the country.  She longed to help them, and said so to Mr. P., a clergyman in northern Pennsylvania.  He spoke of it to his congregation, and asked them if they would invite some of the poor city children to visit their farm-houses and cottages for a week or so; and they gladly said they would, and told him he might bring along as many as he could get to come.  This generous reply he told to the lady, and she let others know, and the result was that, although late in the season, more than sixty children from the poorest neighborhoods of Brooklyn—­pale, deformed, city-worn, and ill-fed—­spent a happy fortnight in the country.

The children were ferreted out, and their parents persuaded.  They were then taken to the railroad depot, and there given in charge of Mr. P., who went with them, and sorted them among his people; and, when the time was up, brought them back, and turned them over to us at the depot.  Then we took them to their homes.  The total expense of carrying all the children there and back in three lots was about $180, and more money could have been had if it had been wanted.  In fact, the minute the subject was broached every hearer wanted to help.  The railroad company charged only half fares, and the employes got to know Mr. P. and his batches of children, and did all they could to make things easy and cheerful for them.

I can fancy how glad you would have been, dear old ST. NICHOLAS, to see the happy, hearty, bright-eyed boys and girls that came home in place of the pale-faced, dead-and-alive children that left two weeks before!  They talked of nothing but the good times they had had.  One little fellow, thinking to surprise us, said, “I seen a cow!” All of them fared well, and particularly enjoyed the “good country milk.”  When they came back, many wore better clothes than they had gone in, and all were laden with good things for the home folks.  One boy carried under each arm a “live” chicken,—­special gifts for his mother!

Now, if some of your readers in the country follow the example of these Pennsylvania people, they will know what it is to be downright happy; for every person who has had anything to do with this enterprise feels happy about it, and longs to do it again, and more besides.—­Yours truly,

C.B.

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ANSWERS TO MR. CRANCH’S POETICAL CHARADES, published on page 406 of the April number, were received, before April 18, from Neils E. Hansen, C.W.W., Arnold Guyot Cameron, Helen and Frank Diller, “Sadie,” “Marshall,” Emma Lathers, Arthur W. James, Louise G. Hinsdale, Ada C. Okell, E.K.S. and M.G.V., “Sunnyside Seminary,” “Persephone,” M.W.C., Genevieve Allis and Kittie Brewster, Florence Stryker, “Cosey Club,” Mary and Willie Johnson, and Jeanie A. Christie.