BLUEBELL and DOLLY.—­Many thanks for your kind letter.

MAYFLOWER.—­We should think, from the price you name, that you are buying spirits of wine.  Send your own bottle to an oilshop for methylated spirits.  But why not do this:—­Get a small oil-lamp and kettle, enough to boil a quart of water; when quite boiling it will be enough for two gallons of cold water, and, using a sponge bath, you can have a comfortable bath?

GRACE should wear the backboard and faceboard, so often recommended by us, for an hour every day while reading or learning her lessons.  The book could be set on a stand or shelf, and she could learn while walking to and fro.

GUELDER ROSE.—­Some words and names have been given an arbitrary pronunciation by that tyrant—­the fashion of the day.  There is a rule for each class of society, by which all within those respective circles is bound, unless its members wish to make themselves remarkable.  Amongst the “Upper Ten” the name Derby is pronounced “Darby,” Shrewsbury as “Shrowsbury,” and clerk as “clark.”  Balmoral is “Bal-moral,” the “mo” chiefly accentuated.  Writing fairly good.

TRY AGAIN is thanked for her kind letter.  That a competitor should not be successful is no discredit to her work, because the number of papers sent in is so enormous, none but the most remarkably perfect amongst the good ones can be awarded even certificates, not to say prizes.

COMING THRO’ THE RYE.—­You form your letters fairly well, but reverse the heavy and light strokes.  The down strokes should be heavy, and the up strokes light.  Also, if you did not make the ends of your final letters in every word turn up like pig-tails, your writing would be improved.  Perhaps your handwriting may be formed, or begin to be so, at sixteen.  No children write running hands.

ROSE.—­No “gentlemen” presume to speak to girls in their own rank of life without an introduction; it would be an insult.  And as to proposing to walk with you, as a stranger, if you have no father, brother, nor uncle to warn him away, he deserves to be handed over to the police.  But men do not usually take such liberties unless they have had some encouragement.  Beware of looking at strange men in passing them.  Look away when they come near.

EDITH.—­Sage tea is good for cooling the face and healing the skin when much sunburnt; but it should be used the same day.  Lie on a sofa, and lay the wet leaves over your face.

AUTUMN.

[Illustration]

BY HELEN MARION BURNSIDE.

The chestnut burrs are falling
On the shining dew-steeped lawn,
Where the swallows have been calling
To each other since the dawn;
For again the forest leaves,
And the upland’s crown of sheaves,
Wear the fair pathetic glory, which so quickly is withdrawn.

And a youthful pair goes straying,
As we used to do of old,
With the sunlight on them playing,
Through the elm trees’ paling gold;
And I wonder as they go,
Pacing slowly to and fro,
Are they telling one another just such secrets as we told?