have short papers, like the one on page 14, telling how to make
pretty things. Meanwhile perhaps some of our young correspondents will
give you some new suggestions for fancy articles for your fair, for the
success of which you have our best wishes.

* * * * *

LIFE ON THE "ST. MARY'S."

By a Young Tar.

[The following sprightly account of life on the school-ship _St. Mary's_
was written for HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE by one of the recent graduates. We
give the portraits of three of the four boys who recently graduated with
the highest honors. That of the fourth, Master J. B. Stone, we were
unable to obtain.]

[Illustration: J. J. WAIT. B. C. FULLER. J. J. CRAWLEY.

GRADUATES OF THE "ST. MARY'S" SCHOOL-SHIP.--PHOTOGRAPHED BY PACH.]

The New York Nautical School on board the ship _St. Mary's_ must not be
confounded with the school-ship _Mercury_, which formerly existed at
this port; the latter was a floating reformatory, while the former was
established for the purpose of training American boys to officer and man
our merchant ships. The course of instruction embraces a short review of
arithmetic, grammar, and geography, a thorough drill in
marline-spikework, handling sails, boats, oars, etc.

When the _St. Mary's_ leaves her dock for the annual cruise, the school
routine is changed, the first-class boys having lessons in navigation,
steering, heaving the log and lead, passing earings, etc., while the
second class are aloft "learning gear," _i. e._, following up the
different ropes which form a ship's machinery, and fixing in the mind
their lead and use, and a sure method of finding them in the darkest
night. This last is absolutely necessary, for if a squall should strike
the ship, and the order, "Royal clew-lines, flying-jib down-haul--Smith,
let go that royal-sheet" were given, it would be very mortifying, as
well as dangerous, if he had to answer, "I don't know where it is, Sir."

The boys, assisted by a few able sea-men, form the crew of the ship.
They stand watch, make, reef, and take in sail; do all the dirty work,
tarring down, painting, scraping, and slushing. They stand watch and
watch, keep at night a look-out on the cat-heads, gangways, quarters,
and halliards, where they are required to "sing out" their stations
every half hour, to be sure that they are awake. Many are the instances
of boys falling asleep, and being awakened by a lurch of the ship,
singing out at t