"St. Nicholas, Vol. 13, No. 12, October 1886" by Various is a late 19th-century literary magazine collection. The content ranges from poetry and short stories to serialized fiction, natural history articles, and historical biographies, all tailored primarily to young readers and family audiences. The magazine offers a broad palette of engaging and instructive pieces designed to both entertain and educate, touching on themes from nature and adventure to history and personal development. The opening of the magazine features a vibrant mix of works: it begins with a gentle poem about the longing for connection between seasons and one’s inner self, followed by the concluding chapters of "Little Lord Fauntleroy," highlighting the resolution of the protagonist's fortunes and familial bonds. Articles delve into diverse subjects like the shipbuilding behavior of spiders and resourceful mariners in nature, while captivating short stories like "Nan’s Revolt" recount the growth and camaraderie of a group of young women. The inclusion of an accessible historical biography of George Washington marks the magazine’s commitment to bringing history alive for its readers. Altogether, the opening establishes St. Nicholas as a rich blend of literary entertainment and educational content, with stories, nature study, and history all woven together to delight and inform a young audience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)