Now, the birds tell me that in the island called Sardinia there used to grow a plant with a very disagreeable taste; and whenever a piece of it was put into anybody's mouth, it made his face pucker up into a broad, unwilling smile--made him "laugh the wrong side of his mouth," as I've heard boys say. Well, in course of time, the name of the island was given to the plant, and then, with a slight change, it was used to describe the wry face the taster made. So you see, my dears, some words are like puzzles. By the way, I'd like to know what you yourselves can find out about this same word "sardonic," for it may be that those chattering little friends of mine, the birds, have been trying to make an April fool of your Jack,--perhaps, just to see if I can smile a "sardonic" smile when I find out what they've done. A POSER FROM THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM. This letter, and the picture I give you with it, have just come to me. Now let's see what your wits are worth, my dears. The Red School-house. MY DEAR JACK: I have a favor to ask of you. Will you please show to your chicks a copy of the picture which I now send to you, and ask them to give you the one word which will express the meaning of it. You can tell them, as a clue, if you like, that by means of what the picture means they can find out what it means.--Truly your friend, THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM. [Illustration] GREENLAND. Letters have come from Andrew A. Bateman, Frank Polley, M. E. Andrews, Edward Liddon Patterson, Bessie B. Roelafson, and Horatio Warren, all telling much the same story--that a man named Eric sailed from Iceland in the year 983, and, reaching the west coast of Greenland, saw there large herds of reindeer browsing on the meadows. This pleased him, and he called the country "Greenland." The Little Schoolma'am says that this is correct, and adds that in some parts Greenland is much colder than it used to be. She wants to know if you can give any reason why. THE FEAST OF KITES. In Japan, the 23d of April is a splendid day for boys, I should think. I'm told that the Feast of Kites is held on that day, with kite-fights and kite-dances, and all sorts of good fun. Who knows anything more about this? ANSWERS to the "Tobacco" and "Cares" riddles were sent by W. P., N. E., W. L. and F. H. Amerman, Nellie J. Towle, A. B. Easton, "Ned," L. C. L., E. E. B., Nessie E. Stevens, "Mione," Mary H. Barnett, "Bessie," "Lucy and Annie," A. R. S., and Wm. V. F. Several sent amended versions of both riddles, but no one has given a satisfactory answer to Archbishop Whately's rhymed puzzle. "Lucy and Annie" send this verse as the solution: "To him who cons the matter o'er, A little thought reveals,-- He heard it first who went before Two pair of _soles_ and _'eels_."