This is a quiet old town, with beautiful scenery all around it. There are no mountains, but it lies between two high hills, in a little valley. Washington used to live here, and his house is only a square from ours. Mary Washington's monument is quite near, and we often go there. I have often climbed the heights where the battle of Fredericksburg was fought. It overlooks the quiet little town, peacefully slumbering, and it is hard to realize that once the shells and balls were flying across it from hill to hill. I have lived most of my life here, and I think it the nicest place in the world. I fear I have tired you with my long letter. So now, good-bye, dear old ST. NICHOLAS. I look forward already to your next coming. I remain, your devoted reader, CARRIE B. * * * * * FORT SILL, I. T. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I have a brother who is nearly seventeen years old. He had the first number of ST. NICHOLAS, and we have taken it most of the time ever since. I have a year's subscription for my birthday. I am always glad when the time comes for you. Your reader, SARAH B. H. * * * * * NORTH LEOMINSTER, MASS. DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I am a little girl eleven years old, and take your magazine. I am deeply interested in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "George Washington," and hope they will be continued for a long time. I have a number of pets; among them are nine cats, which I like better than all the others. One is very large; he weighs eleven and a half pounds. He stays in the house 'most all the time. His name is Toddlekins, and he goes to bed with my brother every night. We live on a farm, and keep five horses. In summer we go to ride almost every day. I have a pair of wooden horses, which I will describe to you, as it may interest some of your little readers. You take a keg and bore four holes in the side of it, and then take short round handles and put four of them into the holes. Then take two shingles and drive them into one end of the keg (for a neck); then take another shingle and cut to the shape of a horse's head, and put it between the two shingles that have been driven on to the top of the keg; then put a feather duster in the other end, and you have a horse complete; when done, they are comical-looking enough. I like to read the letters in the Letter-box. I hope you will print my letter, as I have not written one before. Your interested reader, M. C. B. * * * * * OUR PRESIDENTS. BY G. MACLOSKEE. _A help for memorizing United States History_.