came back the tide was in, and the sad sea
waves had washed away Pyramids, Sfinks, Lucille, and all! Oh, the
despair we were in! Poor Fanny jumped right up and down, and screeched,
and then sinking down upon the sand, as the story-books say, "she buried
her face in her hands, and wept as if her heart would break." All at
once I saw something bobbing around, and if there wasn't Lucille about
four feet from the shore, fastened to a rock by the flounce of her pink
satin dress! Fanny shrieked aloud, but Dora and I seized a pole, and
after working a long, long time, we managed to fish her out of the
water. Here is a picture that I have drawn to show you how we looked in
our awful excitement.

[Illustration]

Lucille is frightfully pale to-day, and her curls are gone forever. She
is a bald-headed "faded beauty," as a gentleman truly said when he saw
her this morning. When I look at her, and remember how fine she used to
think herself, I can't help saying, "Well, my dear, 'pride must have a
fall.'" I pity her, though, from the very bottom of my heart, for it
must be dreadful to be so changed, and all of a sudden, too. I guess we
sha'n't have to be so particular any more about calling her
"Mademoiselle."

I can not be thankful enough that I left you at home, my sweet Clytie.
The sea-shore is a lovely place for children who know how to take care
of themselves, but 'tis dreadful dangerous for _dolls_.

And now good-night, my pet.

Your loving mamma,
BESSIE MAYNARD.

P.S.--Dora has just come in to say that Fanny has changed Mademoiselle's
name, and hereafter she is to be called "Jane." Poor thing!

[Illustration: A BABE IN THE WOODS--"I 'ANT TO DO HOME!"]

[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]

SYRACUSE, NEBRASKA.

We have taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since it was published, and we
like it very much. I think "The History of Photogen and Nycteris"
was the best story of all, but sister Addie likes "Across the
Ocean" best, because it teaches her geography.

I have no brother, but three sisters. Addie is thirteen, Mabel is
nine, and Sadie is five. I was eleven yesterday.

I live on a farm in Eastern Nebraska, and I take care of the
little chickens and turkeys for mamma. I like to do it, for they
are so cunning.

I think that the Tree Album would be nice, and I am going to make
one. There are a great many trees here. And we have many birds and