between these wheels, with one end in a notch, and the iron is bent double, bringing the two ends together, making it look somewhat like a clothes-pin, except that the clothes-pin should have a hole at the head, like in the piece of iron, for a handle.  The ends of the bent iron are next hammered together, after which the coming ax is again heated.  It is then taken to the steam hammers.  The first hammer joins the parts of the iron firmly together, while the second, having on its face the mold of an ax, gives the iron the same shape.  The sides are then made straight and even by a circular saw.

But an ax in this shape could never be used to much effect, for cast-iron cannot be ground down to a fine enough edge.  Steel can be ground, however, and so a piece of steel must be added to our iron ax.  Two workmen take hold of the blade with pincers, and while one holds a sharp tool on the broad edge, the other strikes with a sledge.  Into this split thus made, a piece of steel is slipped, and a steam hammer joins them firmly.

    After this, the ax is tempered, sharpened and polished; and, when
    the blade is furnished with a handle, the ax is ready for
    sale.—­Yours truly,

    “THE DOCTOR.”

* * * * *

The following is sent to us as written, without help, by a little girl nine years old.

    THE HISTORY OF A CAT.

I am the family cat.  I am not so very pretty, but they all like me very much.  I have a pretty baby-kitten, and I have a daughter named Tortoise-shell.  She is a pretty and good cat.  She also has a baby-kitten prettier than mine.  Mine has such big eyes that its little face does not look as cunning as my daughter’s baby-kitten’s face.  My mistress is very good to me sometimes, but sometimes she pulls my tail and makes me mad, and I scratch her and then she slaps me back; but when she is good to me, and pets me, and gives me cake, then I purr to her.

    Once my mistress’ brother had a dog given to him.  This dog’s name
    was “Captain.”  I did not like him one bit.

    My mistress’ brother’s friend tried to set the dog on me, but he
    would not come near me; so the boy let him alone.

When my mistress went to get my daughter’s baby-kitten, Captain went with her.  My mistress did not know that Captain went into the room with her.  Tortoise-shell was tending her kitten, but, as soon as she saw the dog, she jumped up and scratched his nose good for him.  He did not stay very long.  He was given to my mistress’ brother on Saturday.  The next day, which was Sunday, my mistress and the rest of the family were at church; the dog got out, I don’t know how, but when my mistress came home from church she looked all about, but could not find him anywhere.  She was very sorry, but I was not sorry one bit; I was glad.  So now we’ve come to the end.

    G.M.M.