"Think not that strength lies in the big round word, Or that the brief and plain must needs be weak. To whom can this be true that once has heard The cry for help, the tongue that all men speak When want or woe or fear is in the throat, So that each word gasped forth is like a shriek Pressed from the sore heart, or a strange wild note Sung by some foe or fiend. There is a strength Which dies if stretched too far or spun too fine, Which has more height than depth, more breadth than length. Let but this force of thought and speech be mine, And he that will may take the sleek fat phrase, Which glows and burns not, though it gleam and shine-- Light but not heat--a flash, but not a blaze!" Long words are not always the most "forcible," Stella,--nor, on the other hand, are they always to be avoided. Sometimes the best word for expressing our meaning may be long to spell, but easy to understand; and, again, a word may be short and yet fail to tell exactly what we wish to say. The verse you copy is not a convincing example of the power of short words, although it shows that much may be done with them. Frequently a word is chosen for its rhythmic quality--the pleasantness and ease with which its sound fits in with the context--rather than because it is long or short. Mr. Longfellow's poem, "The Three Kings" published in the last Christmas number of ST. NICHOLAS, is an example of a fine poem in simple and rhythmical language, the study of which will improve your style of writing more than any number of rules that we might give you. THE RIDDLE-BOX. HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE. The central letters, read downward, name a fashionable and beautiful pet. 1. A large reptile. 2. Idolizing. 3. A foe. 4. To stain. 5. A consonant. 6. A dandy. 7. To baffle. 8. Good news. 9. Capable of being made better. G.H.W. BLANK APOCOPES. In each of the following sentences, the second blank is to be filled with the first syllable of the word used in the first blank. 1. From some ---- we made a portion of our ----. 2. The ---- was extinguished when we made a ---- for the door. 3. On the second shelf of the ---- you will find some ----. 4. It was of a bright ---- color, the ---- that he had. C.D. EASY BEHEADINGS.