My part of the story is different. Last spring, the beans being still alive, I put them in a small box and packed them away for the summer. When I unpacked them, what do you suppose I found? Three shells, each with a hole in it, the dried skin of the worm, and also a perfect specimen of a strange moth. I cut one of the shells in half, and there were a number of eggs as yet unhatched. Will the Editor please have these specimens conveyed to Mr. W. Hamilton Gibson, who writes such interesting articles for young folks about natural history, so that he may write on this subject if he thinks it of sufficient interest.
Why did the moth or worm bore the hole and lay the eggs? Did the moth die of hunger or suffocation; if so, why did not the worm die in the shell? How could it be a cocoon if the worm did not make it? Why did it lay _all_ the eggs in one shell? All are questions which, when answered, will surely be interesting.
Not a few persons fail to stick to one signature. Especially is this true of young persons. They sign their name in all sorts of ways--a practice that is most confusing to those of their correspondents who do not, through personal acquaintance, happen to know that "John A. Smith," "J. A. Smith," "J. Albert Smith," and "John Smith" are one and the same person.
Young persons coming into the world of affairs should select a form for their name and always use the same. It is a matter of fancy, probably, but we prefer the first name spelled out, since it tells something about the writer. A correspondent replying to a letter signed by initials only is often uncertain whether to begin his letter "Dear Sir," or "Dear Miss," or "Dear Madam."
California is a great raisin country. Immense quantities of raisins from this valley are exported annually to all parts. The muscat is the raisin grape generally grown, but there are several other varieties. The Sultana and the Thompson seedless are small grapes without seeds. During grape-picking-time the country presents a lively aspect. Men, women, and children find employment during the grape season, and a quick worker may earn good wages. One may often see whole families having come from a distance to pick grapes on some large vineyard, camping out in light tents either in the field or beside the country road-side.