1869 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
105 
“OUR YOUNG FOLKS” 
AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY-MAGAZINE 
FOR 
BOYS AMD GIRLS* 
Tlie January and February numbers of “OUR, YOUNG- FOLKS ” liave been commended by tile Press In tlie most enthusiastic terms. Its 
Stories, by MR. ALDRICH, MRS. STOWE, MRS. DIAZ, SOPHIE MAY, “AUNT FANNY ;” Its Poems, by LUCY LARCOM, HARRIET PRESCOTT 
SPOFFORD, MISS MULOCK, and C. A. BARRY ; MR. TROWBRIDGE’S graphic and instructive description of Glass-Making; MR. PAR- 
TON’S interesting account of tlie Invention of the Compass ; and MRS. AGASSIZ’S attractive opening paper of her scries about “ The World 
we Live on ’’—all these are recognized as giving to the Magazine ill due proportion tlie two essential dualities of healthful entertainment 
and practical value ; and as having sucli variety of character, such literary excellence, and so high a moral tone, as to make the Magazine 
all that can reasonably be demanded. 
“ The Story of a Bad Boy,” by T. B. ALDRICH, has excited general attention, by its genuineness, its graphic delineations of boy character, 
and the sustained interest of the incidents. In the February number of the Agriculturist, the opening chapter was given. 
As illustrating the great interest that lias been manifested by the readers of this Story, and MR. TROWBRIDGE’S excellent articles, we 
copy from Our Letter Box in the March number of “ OUR YOUNG FOLKS ” the following extract. 
We print this little note just as it came to us, because it 
isa specimen of many which testify to tlie growing interest 
in our Magazine, and because it contains a question about 
one of our most valuable contributors. 
“Peak Young Folks: 
“Papamade Jamie and me a Christmas present of ‘Our 
Young Folks' for 1SG9; and as we have the January and 
February numbers, we want to tell you how delighted we 
are with our Magazine. 
“ I like to read Mr. Trowbridge’s pieces on Glass-Making, 
because I have often wondered how glass was made, and I 
never could understand how they could use potash and 
sand in making it, as I have been told they did. 
“Jamie thinks Tom Bailey is going to be the right sort 
of a hoy after all, and I like to read about such a hoy, too. 
Jamie is 12 and I am 14. 
“ Jamie wants me to ask who Mr. Aldrich is, and if he is 
Tom Bailey; and where Kivermouth is. We can’t find it at 
all, and we have looked on our map all along the coast of 
Massachusetts.” 
We thank our little friend for her kind words, and we are 
gratified to know that she is pleased with the stories she 
mentions. 
When Mr. Trowbridge comes to speak of Goal-Mining 
and Ship-Building, we have no doubt that she and many 
besides will be as much interested as they have been in 
Glass-Making. Before preparing his papers on Coal-Min¬ 
ing, which are soon to appear, lie visited the coal regions 
of Pennsylvania, and saw tlie miners at their work. In 
describing the manner of carrying on this great business 
lie will have.mucli to tell about these miners, and tlie little 
“slate pickers,” and tlie cats and rats in tlie mines, and 
other curious and interesting things. 
But about Mr. Aldrich and his story,—Well, Mr. Aldrich 
is widely known as a poet. Those who do not own the 
dainty blue-and-gold volume of bis poems may yet remem¬ 
ber tlie graceful sweetness of his “ Bahie Bell," which so 
delighted children and grown-up people a few years since. 
He writes prose sketches, as well as poems, for the “Atlan¬ 
tic.” “ A Young Desperado,” published in that Magazine 
for December, 18GT, is probably not unknown to some of 
our readers. Mr. Aldrich is also the Editor of “Every Sat¬ 
urday.” 
In proposing to write a story for “ Our Young Folks,” 
lie said lie wanted to give the history of a real, natural boy, 
such as all wide-awake, hearty hoys are, everywhere, and 
asked if he could have the liberty of doing so. He was as¬ 
sured that he could. 
“Well,” said Mr. Aldrich, “such a story as I have in 
mind will he an honest one, hut do you think it will do to 
publish?” “ Why not?” he was asked. "Because the hoy 
I am thinking of is not what is called a good hoy. He is 
full of mischief and fond of fun; and, what is worse, per¬ 
haps lie will fight, if it is necessary for him to fight. On 
the other hand, lie is generous and honest, and won’t do a 
mean tiling. And” said he, “I don’t think such boys are 
fully appreciated.” 
Tlie Editors, bearing in mind the thousands of brave, gen¬ 
erous boys who constantly read this Magazine,—boys not 
impossibly faultless, but who hate meanness as thoroughly 
as they love fun,—replied, “ It is just tlie story we want." 
“ Very well,” said Mr. Aldrich, “ you shall have it on this 
condition, that you call it ‘ Tlie Story of a Bad Boy ’; fori 
don't wisli any one to read it under false impressions.” 
So you sec, dear young folks, why Tom Bailey is called a 
bad boy. 
We don’t wonder that many of our friends have hunted 
over their maps in vain for Kivermouth. It would be hardly 
fair play on our part to tell the reader what town is really 
meant by Kivermouth. It may be Lynn, or Portsmouth, or 
Ncwburyport, — our correspondent “Edgar” positively 
declares it is Salem,—but we are not going to settle tlie 
question. Every boy or girl who knows anything of our 
New England coast will see at a glance that Kivermouth Is 
a faithful picture of a real seaport town, and that must suf¬ 
fice for the present. 
The March number of “OUR YOUNG FOLKS,” in addition to the “Story of a Bad Boy,” has a very interesting article by MR. TROW¬ 
BRIDGE on Glass-Cntting and Ornamenting ; The Physical History of Florida, by MRS. PROFESSOR AGASSIZ, showing liow Florida was 
built by Coral Insects ; MR. PARTON’S account of Who First Used the Mariner’s Compass ; an exceedingly valuable article. How to Talk, 
by EDWARD EVERETT HALE, pointing out the errors of conversation into which young persons are most likely to fall, and telling in his 
fascinating way how all may learn to talk well; the ninth packet of the charming William Henry Letters, by MRS. A. M. DIAZ ; a spirited 
declamation, Hannibal at tlie Altar, by ELIJAH KELLOGG; and other attractive and valuable articles, all copiously illustrated by the 
best artists. 
I 
53?“ TERMS: $3.00 a year, in advance; 3 copies, $5 ; 5 copies $8 • 10 copies, #15; and $1.50 for each additional copy. 
A copy of “ OUR YOUNG FOLKS ” for the first four months of 1869 wiU be sent free to any one who wishes to examine the Magazine, on 
application to the Publishers, 
FIELDS, OSGOOD & CO., 
(Successors to Ticknor & Fields,) 
124 Tremont Street, Boston. 
