as the sufferer had from friends of the Lilly
family! The beautiful belle Miss Lilian Love spent many hours over a
dainty quilt of silk and lace to adorn the sick-bed. A glorious poet
sent in a box of agreeable medicine, with a note running like this:

"MY DEAR MRS. LILLY,--I send you a little book for your sick
child, and some medicine for her poor broken back. The peculiarity
of this medicine is that in order to produce any good effect it
must be taken by the nurse. This is rather hard upon the nurse;
but if she is a good nurse she will not mind it much."

Jane Jumper was the nurse really; but while the medicine lasted Mrs.
Lilly herself took entire charge, and administered the sweet doses to
herself, without one word from Katharine Kirk.

[Illustration]

It may have occurred by this time to some shrewd little reader that
under no circumstance was any member of this household apt to give
utterance to silver speech. Shall I confess? Or, my dear children, have
you guessed that Katharine Kirk and all the cherished fourteen belonged
to the beloved, the beautiful, the _dumb_, family of--Dolls?

[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]

VIAREGGIO, ITALY.

I am nearly six years old. I would like to have a tea party on my
birthday. After my birthday has come I will write again, and tell
you all about it.

In Rome I have a big play horse and two kitties. My little cat is
gray and white, and is called Bimbo. He walks on his toes, and
makes a long face. Papa's cat's name is Cavaliere. He is a big
Maltese cat.

In Rome we have a nice house and a nice garden, and in the garden
there is a straw hut.

We are finishing the summer at Viareggio, and we have nice
sea-baths.

IMOGEN R.

* * * * *

SMITH'S HILL, FEATHER RIVER, CALIFORNIA.

I enjoy the letters in YOUNG PEOPLE, especially those that tell of
birds and flowers I have not seen. There are mocking-birds here in
summer, and a beautiful bird called goldfinch. There are also
robins, bluebirds, and many varieties of sparrows. The bluebirds
and robins stay here all winter. It is too bad to take eggs from
the birds to give away in exchange. The pitcher-plant grows in a
valley not far from here.

My sister Bell went to Lassens Peak last week. It is 10,600 feet
high. There is no snow on the mountain now