I am eleven years old. I liked the music which was published in YOUNG PEOPLE very much. My papa, who is teaching me music, taught me to sing the sailor boy's song in No. 19. We had snow fall day before yesterday to a depth of eight inches, and now (March 29) the sleighs are passing on the road, although the spring birds are hopping about on the trees in the orchard.
I live in the country, and have two sisters and one brother. We are all very much interested in the story, "Across the Ocean; or, a Boy's First Voyage." The United States training-ship _Saratoga_ was lying in the Potomac River opposite our house last week. About two hundred and fifty young men were on board, and they were firing cannons almost all day. My cousin was on this ship a few years ago, and he said the rules were very strict. The _Saratoga_ is a very large boat, and the sailors on board are both large and small boys.
I am eight years old, and I live in Southwest Texas, which some people think a very wild country. I came from Georgia. I have never seen any Indians here, but I can look out the window and see wild rabbits running, and I can hear mocking-birds sing. There is a very odd bird here called chaparral. I went fishing last week on the Frio River, and I saw some turtles sunning themselves, and ever so many buffalo-fish swimming in the clear water. Mamma reads YOUNG PEOPLE to me every evening.
We are so glad when Saturday comes, for then papa brings YOUNG PEOPLE. We each have a doll and a little wheelbarrow. We fill our wheelbarrows with sand, and wheel them round. We bring in wood sometimes. We want Santa Claus to come. We have some new hats, and are not going to wear hoods any more. We want to wear pants and not dresses, but mamma won't let us. Papa writes this, because we can't write yet, but we have read our primer through.
I like the story "Across the Ocean" very much. I have two cats, and a dog named Tip, and a canary named Ned. I am trying to study architecture, and I have made a plan of a house and a church. I like architecture very much, and mean to know all about it when I am a man. I was ten years old the 2d of April. I came pretty near being an April-Fool, didn't I? I have written this letter all by myself, for grandma does not know I am writing.