I'm glad to see you all so gay On little Trottie's third birthday; She's happy as a little queen, And wants her presents to be seen; She's got a doll that laughs and cries, Opens her mouth, and winks her eyes; A silver bird with painted wings, And lots of other pretty things. And all of us are very gay, Because we have a holiday. [Illustration] Our Johnny has a fishing-pole That reaches up so high That I'm afraid 'twill make a hole Right through the clear blue sky. It reaches up so very far, If he'd come out at night, And go a-fishing for a star, He'd catch one, so he might. [Illustration] Through the sparkling, dewy grass To the water's rim, See my downy duckies run For a merry swim. Mother duck, as well as I, Knows they can not drown, And the water will not even Wet the yellow down. [Illustration] They sat in the circus, all six in a row, And thought that they never had seen such a show; They laughed at the clowns and their comical tricks, And all went home a-laughing, that party of six. [Illustration] [Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX] We offer a few suggestions to our young exchangers, which we hope they will read and remember. In the first place, be very careful to prepay postage on letters and packages, otherwise they will be sent to the Dead-letter Office. The correspondent to whom they are directed will be notified, but he is not obliged to send for them unless he wishes to do so. If he does not, you will blame him for not answering you, when the fault is wholly your own. Many of our correspondents find this matter of sending to the Dead-letter Office for unpaid packages very burdensome, and we see no reason why they should do it. As it is through the carelessness of the sender that the postage is not paid, the loss and the trouble should fall on him. When you send specimens of minerals, pressed flowers, or any other natural curiosity, mark each distinctly, stating the name, if you know it, and the locality where it was found. Always be sure to give your full address, distinctly written; and do not neglect to pay attention to the suggestion to note down the letters you receive, which we gave you in the Post-office Box of No. 78. If you have only a very few specimens to exchange--perhaps only one arrow-head--we would advise you not to ask for an exchange through YOUNG PEOPLE, for you will receive a large quantity of letters, and as you have but one thing to dispose of, you will be in trouble, and very sadly out of your spending money, which will all go for postage, because if boys and girls send you things you have asked for, you must return them unless you can send a fair equivalent.