_Ned_ and _Willie_ from "Home." Well, my dear boys, that was what you said; and glad am I that you can date your letters from home, but I wish I knew in what State it was! I might have looked at the envelope, it is true, but I "forgot" and threw it away. Never mind, _you_ know where you live, and I hope will never forget that it is the best place in the world. What a comfort to think of the hats and satchels, and all the other school belongings carefully put away, instead of being tossed on a chair, or under the table, or anywhere. Oh! I know all about it. A boy of my acquaintance pitched his hat into the milk pitcher the other day! Neither the hat nor the boy felt so well afterwards. As for that habit of "exaggerating" it is astonishing as well as sad, to think how it will grow. Not long ago I repeated a remark which a lady made, who had called on me; I was at once asked where I heard it, and I mentioned the lady's name. "Oh," said my friend, "that is probably not true; I have not heard of it, and I think I certainly should have, if it had been so. As for Miss ----, you cannot credit anything she says." Then noticing my astonished look, she added earnestly: "I am sorry to tell you so; but it is the truth. Not that I think she intends to be false, but she has such a sad habit of exaggerating, that really no one pretends to believe her stories." Think of it! _Florence_ from Pennsylvania. A "grumbler" is a very uncomfortable person, certainly. By all means let us uproot the weed from our Pansy Beds. Thank your dear mamma for her kind words. _Willie_ from Minnesota. Oh! I understand all about that habit; it causes a great deal of annoyance in this world. Only a few minutes ago, a boy rushed into the room where his mother was engaged with callers, and shouted, "Mamma, may I go to the lake a little while?" The question broke into the midst of this sentence which the caller was trying to say: "What a gentlemanly boy you have, Mrs. ----. I admire his manners very much!" Don't you think both she and the mother must have _admired_ him at that moment? I congratulate your mother on the pledge you have taken. _Mattie_ from New Hampshire. There are a great many faults to struggle against, it is true; but those who overcome are always those who earnestly wish to do so. Certainly our Pansies have a great many ill-treated fingernails! We are glad to hear of improvements in that direction. _Belle_ from New York. You have a hard task before you, my dear; I know by experience how easy it is to speak cross words. But when we remember how they sting, and what harm they often do, which can never be undone, we will surely try to give only "soft answers."