THE TRAILING ARBUTUS.

Johnstown, Pa., March, 1878.

DEAR JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Some of your other chicks may like to hear
what my uncle has just told me about the mayflower, or trailing
arbutus, so as to know where to hunt for it as soon as spring
comes. It grows chiefly in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania,
and is always to be found among mountains, hills, and high lands.
Late in March or early in April, under the brown and withered
leaves of last year, you will find it--cool, shiny, fragrant, with
clusters of star-like blossoms, the color being of all shades of
pink from very deep to a pinkish white. Yet farther under the
leaves you will find the trailing stems. I hope many will join in
the search for this first sweet flower of spring.--Your true
friend, AMANDA S. K.

MIRA IN CYGNUS.

On clear nights, during the first half of this month, my dears, the star
called Mira, in the constellation Cygnus (or "The Swan"), can be seen in
full luster. This is what the owl tells me; and he adds that it is one of
those strange stars which vary in brightness. It shines for about a
fortnight very brightly indeed; then by degrees it fades away, until, at
the end of three months, it cannot be seen. After remaining five months
out of sight, it gradually brightens up again. May be you've heard all
about this before; but now is your time to see Mira twinkle her bright eye
at you. I'll take a peep at her from my pulpit, myself, if I can manage to
catch sight of her.

A RARE SPECIMEN.

Brookline, Mass.

DEAR JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Did you ever hear this story about
Agassiz? If not, please show it to the other boys and girls.--Yours
truly, NELLIE CHASE.

One day, a man put together parts of various insects and submitted
them to Agassiz as a rare specimen. He also pretended not to know
to what species it belonged, and asked the professor to tell him.
It was April Fools' Day. Agassiz gave a single glance at the object
and, looking up, said "Hum-bug."

A SARDONIC GRIN.

Here's a bit of advice which Deacon Green once gave to the boys of the red
school-house. It came back to me all at once the other day as I was
watching a plump little dark