ALL our boys and girls who like to ask questions will be glad to hear of "The Young Folks' Cyclopædia of Common Things," a new book, by John D. Champlin, Jr., and published by Henry Holt & Co., New-York. How many questions you young folks ask of older ones every day! Some of these the old folks answer; but sometimes they are too busy, and sometimes they don't know. And how many questions you would like to ask that you never do ask, for fear of being troublesome! Now, if you have one of these cyclopædias, instead of asking questions, you look in your book, and there is your answer. A cyclopædia, you know, does not merely give definitions, like a dictionary. It tells a good deal about every. thing that it mentions at all. For instance, if a boy wants to know about bees, he can turn to the word "bee," in the cyclopædia, and find out all about their habits and food, etc. A girl hears a good deal said about the telephone, but does not quite understand what it is. She will find it described in this cyclopædia in language that she can comprehend. There are cyclopædias for grown folks, but these are full of terms that some children cannot understand, and they are generally in many volumes. But this is in one volume, and is of a convenient size to keep on your book-shelves at home, or to take to school with you. It treats of common things. It does not include matters of history and biography, but is full of interesting facts, and contains numerous pictures, that help to make the meaning plain. It is printed in clear, distinct type, on good paper.

Of all the pretty and dainty books you ever saw, one of the very prettiest and daintiest is called "Under the Window," and is published by Routledge of New York and London. It is full of charming little songs and verses, and has hundreds of pictures,-still more charming,-drawn by Miss Kate Greenaway, the English lady who drew the quaint little lads and maidens for "Children's Day at St. Paul's" and "Beating the Bounds," published in ST. NICHOLAS for January, 1979, and April, 1879.

The pictures in "Under the Window" are all printed in colors, and are as full of life and beauty and jollity as pictures can be made. Every child will like this book, and every grown person of taste will want to look over it himself, and then give it to some child who deserves to be made happy.

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E. P. Dutton & Co., of New York, have just published two books, written by Olive Thorne Miller. One of these books, called "Little Folks in Feathers and Fur, and Others in Neither," is made up of a great many stories about birds, beasts, insects, and fishes, with lots of pictures. The other book is "Nimpo's Troubles. Many of our readers who have been acquainted with ST. NICHOLAS from the beginning, will remember this as a serial in the first volume of the magazine, but those who saw it as it came out in numbers will be glad to see it again, and read about the little girl who was tired of home and thought it a grand thing to board, and of all the funny and provoking things that happened to her; and they will remember Mrs. Primkins, and Black Sarah, and the wonderful and

startling stories she told. Those who have not read her story of Sam and the cellar key have missed a treat. It is sent to

But, if

The "Chatterbox" has made its annual appearance. to us by Estes & Lauriat, of Boston, and is as full, as ever, of big pictures and short stories. This well-known book is such a favorite with the little people, that dishonest persons have given its name to books that are not the real Chatterboxes. you have a "Chatterbox" with Estes & Lauriat on the titlepage, you are all right. This firm also publishes a book of dainty little poems, named "Little Folks' Songs," by Alexina B. White, with beautiful illustrations, some by Addie Ledyard; and also a book by Hezekiah Butterworth, which he calls "Zig-zag Journeys in Europe," in which he tells how an American teacher took some of his boys on a vacation tour through England and France, and related to them delightfully true stories of the places they visited.

Those interested in insects will find full accounts of the butterfly and moth in a book by Julia P. Ballard, called "Insect Lives; or, Born in Prison," published in Cincinnati, by Robert Clarke & Co.

"The Boys' and Girls' Treasury,-A Picture and Story-Book for Young People," by Uncle Herbert, is published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. It contains over three hundred large-size pages, brimful of good pictures, and with stories that little children can understand. This firm publishes for very little ones a beautiful book,-large and square,-with full-page pictures, and a verse in large type for every letter of the alphabet. It is called "The Picture Alphabet," by Cousin Daisy.

From the American Tract Society, New-York, we have lately received some very pretty books, which we have only room to mention briefly. There is a story, by Elmer Lynnde, of a little girl named Daphne, and it is in six volumes! These are not very large, however, and are all in a pretty paper box, and each volume has two pictures. Another fancy box has ten tiny beauties of books, each book with two or more stories or poems. These are for quite little people, and are named "Books for Our Birdies." For those a little older there are two small books,-one called "Sunny Hours,' and the other "Happy Home Stories," with a good many pictures; and a larger book, "Pictures and Stories of Long Ago," containing thirty-six stories from the Bible. Each story has a full-page illustration. And, for still older children, there is an interesting narrative of "Fifine," a little French girl, who did not live in a house, but in a show-wagon that traveled about. This is written by Louise Seymour Houghton. "The Signal Flag" is a collection of short stories by the author of "Ruthie's Venture"; and "Nellie's New Year," by Rev. Edward A. Rand, is a book that girls will like. And there are two graver and more instructive books for the children who like sometimes to think seriously. These books are "A Crown of Glory," by Catharine M. Trowbridge, and “Women Worth Emulating," by Clara L. Balfour.

DR. EGGLESTON'S NEW PLAY, printed in this number, and entitled "Mother Goose and Her Family; a Christmas Recreation for Sunday-School and other Festivals," brings in, of course, only the chief of the Mother Goose characters. If more had been let in, the play would have run beyond half an hour, and would have been too long for use as merely a part of an evening's entertainment. However, should anybody need to fill up more time, other Mother Goose characters can be brought into the play; and, with Dr. Eggleston's original to imitate, a very ingenious person may be able to dress the added characters appropriately, and make them act and speak in a brisk, compressed style. But, to make the piece longer, is to risk making it drag, which would lessen the enjoyment of the audience.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The article upon "Playthings" in the November number reminds me that, a short time ago, I saw an Indian doll-baby such as the pappooses play with. A friend brought it from the Plains. It looked very funny, for it was a good representation of an Indian. It was made of buckskin, sewed with fine sinews, and stuffed with hair, having beads for eyes, nose, and mouth. On the head was sewed a small piece of scalp, and this was braided and arranged just like the hair of an Indian. And the doll had the Indian wardrobe,-breech-cloth, robe, leggins, and moccasins. Our friend had a little tomahawk made for it, "to scalp white doll-babies

with," he said; and he added that he meant to have machinery put in the doll so that it could whoop.

As it was, our neighbor's baby was afraid of it —Yours truly, S.

In answer to requests from a few of our boys and girls, to tell them of some quiet games which will help them to amuse themselves during the winter evenings, we call attention to the advertisement of the "Protean Cards" and "Stratford Game" in the publishers' department of the present number of ST. NICHOLAS. These games were originally prepared expressly for our own home circle of young folks, -and old folks, too, for that matter.

West Hampton, L. I. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We boys around here were delighted with the story you told us in the June number, about a fish that catches fish for its master; but I guess that queer fellow would have to do his level best for a good while before he could catch as many as our Long Island men caught near here, not long ago, in a few hours. They actually scooped in nine thousand blue-fish at one haul! Talk about fishing,-what do you think of that? I told a Pennsylvania cousin about it, the other day, and he would n't believe it at all, till he went and talked to some of the men, and they told him how they did it. But then he gave in,-and, after that, he would n't give me

a moment's peace till I promised him I 'd write and tell ST. NICHOLAS about it.

The way they do it is this: They have a tremendous big, long net, or seine, and they fasten one end of it at a certain spot on the shore, and then take the body of the net out over the water in rowboats, and then bring the other end slowly back to shore. The net is so long that sometimes the end brought back is a half mile away from the first end.

That makes a pretty big circle of water, you see, to be hemmed in by one net, but a good part of the fish in that water are apt to get caught, and, of course, as the net is drawn in, the fish are crowded together more and more, in the center of the net. But just there, is a queer bag or "cod," which is arranged something like a mouse-trap, so that when the fish once get in they can't get out. That is not the kind of fishing most boys are used to, but I tell you it's a big business. Why, they use horses to pull in the ends of the net, and, even then, it is often a heavy pull for the teams.

But this last haul beats anything that has yet been done around here. Think of it! nine thousand blue-fish at one haul! And what do you think the whole lot weighed? Sixteen tons! There 's enough for a good many breakfast-tables, or my name 's not

J. F. M.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Uncle says you are not the real Santa Claus; but I am pretty sure you must be. If not, please send Santa Claus word that I wish to have a microscope for Christmas. I want to see snow-crystals, and flies' wings, and lots of things that you and Jack-in-the-Pulpit tell about. Really truly I want to very much, so now, please don't forget, dear ST. NICHOLAS, and I shall look out sharp on Christmas morning.-Your little friend, HARRY BAIN.

We hope Santa Claus will see this letter, for, if he does, the microscope will surely come. There is nothing the pleasant old fellow loves so well as to give his little ones just what they wish for,-especially if it is going to make delight for them all the year round, and at the same time open the door into the true fairy world of nature.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you an account of a phenomenon new to me, and, it may be, to many of your readers.

I skated, with two companions, for three miles against a strong wind, at a very rapid rate, and, before going home, we skated out upon a piece of flooded meadow, where the ice rested on the ground. Several times we heard sharp reports, till, at last, I came to the conclusion that what seemed so strange to us was merely electricity. We then all skated in a circle, and stopped together, and we were fairly astonished by the rapidity and loudness of the reports.

In many cases, pieces of ice the size of a silver half dollar were sent up, all with a circular mark on the bottom. A number of little boys gathered on the ice to witness the affair, and one was hit quite severely in the face by a sharp piece. The reports only occurred when we skated in a circle.

We supposed that the rapid skating had generated large quantities of electricity in our bodies, and the earth beneath the ice became filled with it by our moving about, so that, when we stopped, our steel skates attracted it back through the ice. In some places, we could see the ice pop up as far off as forty feet.-Yours respectfully, W. L. RODMAN.

H.-We have described often in ST. NICHOLAS various articles that can be made at home for fairs and for holiday presents. In the numbers for December, 1875, November, 1877, and November, 1879, many suitable articles are fully described and illustrated.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We have a fernery which we made by ourselves, and we enjoy it very much. Perhaps you would like to know how it was made?

First we got a zinc pan about two inches deep, and then four pieces of sheet glass to form the sides, and one for the top. The corner edges of the pieces we made fast with cloth strips and glue, and then we set the glass wall in the pan. The glass top we bound with paper and fastened to the walls of the fernery. In the bottom of the pan we put a layer of pebbles, and this we covered with rich earth, which we planted with different kinds of ferns, and grasses, interspersed with rocks, a little pool and some pretty shells.

The zinc pan stands on four little wood blocks,-spools would do, -and these are fastened to a thick board which is only just a little wider and longer than the pan. We concealed the open space underneath, and the metal sides, with bits of bark.

We have ferns from all our favorite spots in this neighborhood, and also from some of the places we have visited this summer, and they all are growing, as fresh and green and beautiful as you can think.Truly yours, FANNY AND ALICE.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you the pictures of two "jumpfrogs," as we call them. One is made of the wish-bone of a chicken,

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: We all have read your article in the October number, on the New York Elevated Railroads, but cannot find out how the cars were put on the track, as the article said nothing about it. Will you please tell us in the "Letter-Box" how it is done?-I remain, yours truly, BERTHA S. PERINE.

A short track is laid from the street slanting up to and joining the elevated track; the cars are rolled upon the lower end of the short track, and then hauled up by a steam winch or windlass.

SUSAN S. sends word of a quiet way to put coals on a fire, so as not to disturb an invalid or wake the baby: wrap small quantities in bits of old newspapers and lay the parcels on the hot coals; the paper will burn away, and the coal slip quietly into place.

Bremen, Prussia. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Perhaps your "Letter-Box" readers may like to hear what the little boys and girls in Bremen do at Christmas time.

On Christmas eve, every child puts a shoe under the bed, and inside the shoe a wishing paper, asking the Christkindchen to bring some special toy or treasure. For a week beforehand, the little folk carry their wishing papers in their pockets, puzzling their heads as to just how generous ST. NICHOLAS will be. Many papers are filled, written and crossed, and ST. NICHOLAS Sometimes frowns over blots and mis-spelled words. After all in the house are asleep, according to the old story, the kind old gentleman comes down the chimney, slips the wishing-papers into his great, deep pocket, and fills the shoes with candies and cakes; but sometimes, to show that though gray and old he dearly loves a joke, he places a piece of turf or coal in the toe of the shoe or slipper, and chuckles over the blackened little fingers which are quite sure to find under the coal a shining mark piece-about twenty-five cents in American money. Το naughty children, of course, only switches are left.

A day or two before New-Year's comes "Baum-plundem," or "Tree-robbing"; so-called because the children are invited from house to house among their friends to help rob the Christmas tree. They gather around a tree, and at a given signal it is shaken. Immediately the children scramble to pick up all they can that may have fallen. Then they take turns at pulling from the tree, what is within their reach,--the top ornaments being left for the older boys and girls who can reach higher.

This is one of the things most looked forward to in the holiday

week, and the children go home with arms full of golden and silver nuts, candy figures of every description, chocolate rings, and many pretty ornaments.-Yours truly, J. F. D.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I wonder if your readers know that the Trailing Arbutus will bloom in the house, late in winter or early in spring, if taken up before cold weather-in November, even, but December is best. The buds form early, being snugly protected from storm and frost; so, if you look closely, you can find plants with clusters, good, though still quite small; and if you do not stir the roots much the plants will not be harmed.

I had some Trailing Arbutus in my "Dish Garden (see "LetterBox," March, 1879), and it bloomed beautifully. Being under glass, the blossoms lasted fresh for a long while.

If the roots are taken up in a sort of ball, with the earth around them, and set in a common flower-pot or hanging basket, the plant will bloom early in spring. After placing the plant in the pot, keep it in a cold room for a few days, and then in a moderately warm one for a week or two; this will accustom it to the change from out-door weather, and then it can safely be brought where your other flowers are, and will need little further care. The pure, delicate, Arbutus blossom showing long before wild flowers are expected, will repay you for the very slight trouble of getting and caring for the plant. If not under glass, the flowers will scent a room delightfully, though the Llooming takes place earlier and lasts longer under cover. Wishing success to all who may make the trial, I remain very truly, your friend, H. S. Boston, Mass.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The other day I asked my mother to read my ST. NICHOLAS to me, and she selected "The Educational Breakfast at the Peterkins'.'

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When the rest of our family discovered what mother was reading, they, one and all, prepared to listen.

We were so much impressed by Elizabeth Eliza's sad fate, that we set our wits to work to find means of escape for her.

One thing and another was suggested, but to all we exclaimed,

triumphantly: "Oh, you can't get ahead of Miss Hale, she has covered the whole ground"-when Paterfamilias remarked: "Could n't she unbutton her dress and slip out of it?" This completely silenced us, and we thought we must ask Miss Hale why Elizabeth Eliza could n't do that. A. G. M.

THE answers to J. D. L's rhymed story riddles in the Novem ber "Letter-Box," are: Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday; Rip Van Winkle; Ferdinand and Isabella; Christopher Columbus, the port of Palos; Sir Walter Raleigh, beheaded; Diogenes.

Wyoming, N. J. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about a pet hen of ours; she is of the Polish breed, and some call her Polly. She is very tame and in Winter time she flies up to a window, and taps on it with her bill until some of us open it; she then flies in and walks upstairs till she comes to a little storeroom in which she lays an egg; after which she flies out of the window.

I am ten years old.-Your constant reader.

L. B. M.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I write you this about a cure for wakefulness, because some of the parents of your young readers may be suffering from sleeplessness, and I know that parents who do not sleep are apt to be cross to children.

The Little Schoolma'am will tell you that, about the beginning of this century, London was guarded at night by watchmen called "Charleys," many of whom were old men, weak, and unfit for the work, while others were cowards, and, from very fear, stayed in their wooden sentry-boxes when they ought to have answered cries for help or quelled street-fights. But, in general, when these watchmen were wanted, they would be found asleep in their boxes.

Well, a friend of Lord Erskine, the great English lawyer, suffered from almost constant wakefulness. Every method was tried to get him to sleep, but in vain. At last, one night, the man's physicians had him dressed like a watchman, with a long, heavy coat, many shoulder-capes, hat, lantern, rattle and all, and left him in a watchman's box near by. The cure was complete and swift, for in ten minutes he was fast asleep!-Yours truly, K.

CYRIL DEANE.

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

3. Take a vessel from relating to daytime, and leave a face.

FIRST WORD: OH! I am just half of a jolly old man,

Whose love at this time you must win if you can. SECOND WORD: And I am the rest of the jovial old fellow, Whose locks are so white, and whose cheeks are so mellow.

CROSS-WORDS: 1. A New-York lake, whose crystal wave
Once mirrored many a painted brave:
But now, when summer breezes blow,
Pale students to my waters go.

2. A gentle youth, whose farewell sigh
First showed man what it is to die.

3. A lake-fed torrent. falling, grand, My thunders shake the rock-ribbed land.

4. A Latin word to Brutus used,
I'm very much like you;

And, were your home in sunny France,
They'd call you by me, too.

5. I welcomed not proud Perseus,

SCATTERED SQUARE WORDS.

FROM the verse which chronicles the calamity that befell Jack and Jill may be made sixteen or more square words.

"Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water,

Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after."

Take four scattered letters from the first line of the verse to form the first word of the square,-ACHE for example; then four scattered letters from the second line for the next word,-COIL; four from the third line for the third word,-HILL; and four from the fourth line of the verse for the fourth word,-ELLA; and we have the square word