There’ssomethingaboutthoseBrontesthatfascinatesme。
　　Theirbooks，theirlives，theirspirit。Wheredidtheygetit？
　　WhenIwasreadingaboutlittleJane’stroublesinthecharityschool，IgotsoangrythatIhadtogooutandtakeawalk。
　　Iunderstoodexactlyhowshefelt。HavingknownMrs。Lippett，IcouldseeMr。Brocklehurst。
　　Don’tbeoutraged，Daddy。IamnotintimatingthattheJohnGrierHomewasliketheLowoodInstitute。Wehadplentytoeatandplentytowear，sufficientwatertowashin，andafurnaceinthecellar。
　　Buttherewasonedeadlylikeness。Ourliveswereabsolutelymonotonousanduneventful。Nothingniceeverhappened，exceptice-creamonSundays，andeventhatwasregular。InalltheeighteenyearsIwasthereIonlyhadoneadventure——whenthewoodshedburned。
　　Wehadtogetupinthenightanddresssoastobereadyincasethehouseshouldcatch。Butitdidn’tcatchandwewentbacktobed。
　　Everybodylikesafewsurprises;it’saperfectlynaturalhumancraving。
　　ButIneverhadoneuntilMrs。LippettcalledmetotheofficetotellmethatMr。JohnSmithwasgoingtosendmetocollege。
　　Andthenshebrokethenewssograduallythatitjustbarelyshockedme。
　　Youknow，Daddy，Ithinkthatthemostnecessaryqualityforanypersontohaveisimagination。Itmakespeopleabletoputthemselvesinotherpeople’splaces。Itmakesthemkindandsympatheticandunderstanding。Itoughttobecultivatedinchildren。
　　ButtheJohnGrierHomeinstantlystampedouttheslightestflickerthatappeared。Dutywastheonequalitythatwasencouraged。
　　Idon’tthinkchildrenoughttoknowthemeaningoftheword;
　　it’sodious，detestable。Theyoughttodoeverythingfromlove。
　　WaituntilyouseetheorphanasylumthatIamgoingtobetheheadof！It’smyfavouriteplayatnightbeforeIgotosleep。
　　Iplanitouttothelittlestdetail——themealsandclothesandstudyandamusementsandpunishments;forevenmysuperiororphansaresometimesbad。
　　Butanyway，theyaregoingtobehappy。Ithinkthateveryone，nomatterhowmanytroubleshemayhavewhenhegrowsup，oughttohaveahappychildhoodtolookbackupon。AndifIeverhaveanychildrenofmyown，nomatterhowunhappyImaybe，Iamnotgoingtoletthemhaveanycaresuntiltheygrowup。
　　（Theregoesthechapelbell——I’llfinishthislettersometime）。
　　ThursdayWhenIcameinfromlaboratorythisafternoon，Ifoundasquirrelsittingontheteatablehelpinghimselftoalmonds。Thesearethekindofcallersweentertainnowthatwarmweatherhascomeandthewindowsstayopen——
　　SaturdaymorningPerhapsyouthink，lastnightbeingFriday，withnoclassestoday，thatIpassedanicequiet，readableeveningwiththesetofStevensonthatIboughtwithmyprizemoney？Butifso，you’veneverattendedagirls’college，Daddydear。Sixfriendsdroppedintomakefudge，andoneofthemdroppedthefudge——whileitwasstillliquid——
　　rightinthemiddleofourbestrug。Weshallneverbeabletocleanupthemess。
　　Ihaven’tmentionedanylessonsoflate;butwearestillhavingthemeveryday。It’ssortofareliefthough，togetawayfromthemanddiscusslifeinthelarge——ratherone-sideddiscussionsthatyouandIhold，butthat’syourownfault。Youarewelcometoanswerbackanytimeyouchoose。
　　I’vebeenwritingthisletteroffandonforthreedays，andIfearbynowvousetesbienbored！
　　Goodbye，niceMr。Man，JudyMr。Daddy-Long-LegsSmith，SIR：Havingcompletedthestudyofargumentationandthescienceofdividingathesisintoheads，Ihavedecidedtoadoptthefollowingformforletter-writing。Itcontainsallnecessaryfacts，butnounnecessaryverbiage。
　　I。Wehadwrittenexaminationsthisweekin：
　　A。Chemistry。
　　B。History。
　　II。Anewdormitoryisbeingbuilt。
　　A。Itsmaterialis：
　　（a）redbrick。
　　（b）greystone。
　　B。Itscapacitywillbe：
　　（a）onedean，fiveinstructors。
　　（b）twohundredgirls。
　　（c）onehousekeeper，threecooks，twentywaitresses，twentychambermaids。
　　III。Wehadjunketfordesserttonight。
　　IV。IamwritingaspecialtopicupontheSourcesofShakespeare’sPlays。
　　V。LouMcMahonslippedandfellthisafternoonatbasketball，andshe：
　　A。Dislocatedhershoulder。
　　B。Bruisedherknee。
　　VI。Ihaveanewhattrimmedwith：
　　A。Bluevelvetribbon。
　　B。Twobluequills。
　　C。Threeredpompoms。
　　VII。Itishalfpastnine。
　　VIII。Goodnight。
　　Judy2ndJuneDearDaddy-Long-Legs，Youwillneverguessthenicethingthathashappened。
　　TheMcBrideshaveaskedmetospendthesummerattheircampintheAdirondacks！Theybelongtoasortofclubonalovelylittlelakeinthemiddleofthewoods。Thedifferentmembershavehousesmadeoflogsdottedaboutamongthetrees，andtheygocanoeingonthelake，andtakelongwalksthroughtrailstoothercamps，andhavedancesonceaweekintheclubhouse——JimmieMcBrideisgoingtohaveacollegefriendvisitinghimpartofthesummer，soyouseeweshallhaveplentyofmentodancewith。
　　Wasn’titsweetofMrs。McBridetoaskme？ItappearsthatshelikedmewhenIwasthereforChristmas。
　　Pleaseexcusethisbeingshort。Itisn’tarealletter;it’sjusttoletyouknowthatI’mdisposedofforthesummer。
　　Yours，InaVERYcontentedframeofmind，Judy5thJuneDearDaddy-Long-Legs，YoursecretarymanhasjustwrittentomesayingthatMr。SmithprefersthatIshouldnotacceptMrs。McBride’sinvitation，butshouldreturntoLockWillowthesameaslastsummer。
　　Why，why，WHY，Daddy？
　　Youdon’tunderstandaboutit。Mrs。McBridedoeswantme，reallyandtruly。I’mnottheleastbitoftroubleinthehouse。
　　I’mahelp。Theydon’ttakeupmanyservants，andSallieanIcandolotsofusefulthings。It’safinechanceformetolearnhousekeeping。
　　Everywomanoughttounderstandit，anIonlyknowasylum-keeping。
　　Therearen’tanygirlsourageatthecamp，andMrs。McBridewantsmeforacompanionforSallie。Weareplanningtodoalotofreadingtogether。Wearegoingtoreadallofthebooksfornextyear’sEnglishandsociology。TheProfessorsaiditwouldbeagreathelpifwewouldgetourreadingfinishedinthesummer;andit’ssomucheasiertorememberitifwereadtogetherandtalkitover。
　　JusttoliveinthesamehousewithSallie’smotherisaneducation。
　　She’sthemostinteresting，entertaining，companionable，charmingwomanintheworld;sheknowseverything。ThinkhowmanysummersI’vespentwithMrs。LippettandhowI’llappreciatethecontrast。
　　Youneedn’tbeafraidthatI’llbecrowdingthem，fortheirhouseismadeofrubber。Whentheyhavealotofcompany，theyjustsprinkletentsaboutinthewoodsandturntheboysoutside。It’sgoingtobesuchanice，healthysummerexercisingoutofdoorseveryminute。
　　JimmieMcBrideisgoingtoteachmehowtoridehorsebackandpaddleacanoe，andhowtoshootand——oh，lotsofthingsIoughttoknow。
　　It’sthekindofnice，jolly，care-freetimethatI’veneverhad;
　　andIthinkeverygirldeservesitonceinherlife。OfcourseI’lldoexactlyasyousay，butplease，PLEASEletmego，Daddy。I’veneverwantedanythingsomuch。
　　Thisisn’tJerushaAbbott，thefuturegreatauthor，writingtoyou。
　　It’sjustJudy——agirl。
　　9thJuneMr。JohnSmith，SIR：Yoursofthe7thinst。athand。Incompliancewiththeinstructionsreceivedthroughyoursecretary，IleaveonFridaynexttospendthesummeratLockWillowFarm。
　　Ihopealwaystoremain，（Miss）JerushaAbbottLOCKWILLOWFARM，3rdAugustDearDaddy-Long-Legs，IthasbeennearlytwomonthssinceIwrote，whichwasn’tniceofme，Iknow，butIhaven’tlovedyoumuchthissummer——youseeI’mbeingfrank！
　　Youcan’timaginehowdisappointedIwasathavingtogiveuptheMcBrides’camp。OfcourseIknowthatyou’remyguardian，andthatIhavetoregardyourwishesinallmatters，butIcouldn’tseeanyREASON。Itwassodistinctlythebestthingthatcouldhavehappenedtome。IfIhadbeenDaddy，andyouhadbeenJudy，Ishouldhavesaid，`Blessyomychild，runalongandhaveagoodtime;seelotsofnewpeopleandlearnlotsofnewthings;
　　liveoutofdoors，andgetstrongandwellandrestedforayearofhardwork。’
　　Butnotatall！JustacurtlinefromyoursecretaryorderingmetoLockWillow。
　　It’stheimpersonalityofyourcommandsthathurtsmyfeelings。
　　Itseemsasthough，ifyoufeltthetiniestlittlebitformethewayIfeelforyou，you’dsometimessendmeamessagethatyou’dwrittenwithyourownhand，insteadofthosebeastlytypewrittensecretary’snotes。Ifthereweretheslightesthintthatyoucared，I’ddoanythingonearthtopleaseyou。
　　IknowthatIwastowritenice，long，detailedletterswithouteverexpectinganyanswer。You’relivinguptoyoursideofthebargain——
　　I’mbeingeducated——andIsupposeyou’rethinkingI’mnotlivinguptomine！
　　But，Daddy，itisahardbargain。Itis，really。I’msoawfullylonely。
　　YouaretheonlypersonIhavetocarefor，andyouaresoshadowy。
　　You’rejustanimaginarymanthatI’vemadeup——andprobablytherealYOUisn’tabitlikemyimaginaryYOU。Butyoudidonce，whenIwasillintheinfirmary，sendmeamessage，andnow，whenIamfeelingawfullyforgotten，Igetoutyourcardandreaditover。
　　Idon’tthinkIamtellingyouatallwhatIstartedtosay，whichwasthis：
　　Althoughmyfeelingsarestillhurt，foritisveryhumiliatingtobepickedupandmovedaboutbyanarbitrary，peremptory，unreasonable，omnipotent，invisibleProvidence，still，whenamanhasbeenaskindandgenerousandthoughtfulasyouhaveheretoforebeentowardsme，Isupposehehasarighttobeanarbitrary，peremptory，unreasonable，invisibleProvidenceifhechooses，andso——
　　I’llforgiveyouandbecheerfulagain。ButIstilldon’tenjoygettingSallie’slettersaboutthegoodtimestheyarehavingincamp！
　　However——wewilldrawaveiloverthatandbeginagain。
　　I’vebeenwritingandwritingthissummer;fourshortstoriesfinishedandsenttofourdifferentmagazines。SoyouseeI’mtryingtobeanauthor。IhaveaworkroomfixedinacorneroftheatticwhereMasterJervieusedtohavehisrainy-dayplayroom。
　　It’sinacool，breezycornerwithtwodormerwindows，andshadedbyamapletreewithafamilyofredsquirrelslivinginahole。
　　I’llwriteanicerletterinafewdaysandtellyouallthefarmnews。
　　Weneedrain。
　　Yoursasever，Judy10thAugustMr。Daddy-Long-Legs，SIR：Iaddressyoufromthesecondcrotchinthewillowtreebythepoolinthepasture。There’safrogcroakingunderneath，alocustsingingoverheadandtwolittle`devildownheads’
　　dartingupanddownthetrunk。I’vebeenhereforanhour;
　　it’saverycomfortablecrotch，especiallyafterbeingupholsteredwithtwosofacushions。Icameupwithapenandtablethopingtowriteanimmortalshortstory，butI’vebeenhavingadreadfultimewithmyheroine——ICAN’TmakeherbehaveasIwanthertobehave;
　　soI’veabandonedherforthemoment，andamwritingtoyou。
　　（Notmuchreliefthough，forIcan’tmakeyoubehaveasIwantyouto，either。）
　　IfyouareinthatdreadfulNewYork，IwishIcouldsendyousomeofthislovely，breezy，sunshinyoutlook。ThecountryisHeavenafteraweekofrain。
　　SpeakingofHeaven——doyourememberMr。KelloggthatItoldyouaboutlastsummer？——theministerofthelittlewhitechurchattheCorners。
　　Well，thepooroldsoulisdead——lastwinterofpneumonia。Iwenthalfadozentimestohearhimpreachandgotverywellacquaintedwithhistheology。Hebelievedtotheendexactlythesamethingshestartedwith。Itseemstomethatamanwhocanthinkstraightalongforforty-sevenyearswithoutchangingasingleideaoughttobekeptinacabinetasacuriosity。Ihopeheisenjoyinghisharpandgoldencrown;hewassoperfectlysureoffindingthem！There’sanewyoungman，veryconsequential，inhisplace。Thecongregationisprettydubious，especiallythefactionledbyDeaconCummings。
　　Itlooksasthoughtherewasgoingtobeanawfulsplitinthechurch。
　　Wedon’tcareforinnovationsinreligioninthisneighbourhood。
　　DuringourweekofrainIsatupintheatticandhadanorgyofreading——Stevenson，mostly。Hehimselfismoreentertainingthananyofthecharactersinhisbooks;Idaresayhemadehimselfintothekindofherothatwouldlookwellinprint。Don’tyouthinkitwasperfectofhimtospendallthetenthousanddollarshisfatherleft，forayacht，andgosailingofftotheSouthSeas？
　　Heliveduptohisadventurouscreed。Ifmyfatherhadleftmetenthousanddollars，I’ddoit，too。ThethoughtofVailimamakesmewild。Iwanttoseethetropics。Iwanttoseethewholeworld。
　　Iamgoingtobeagreatauthor，orartist，oractress，orplaywright——
　　orwhateversortofagreatpersonIturnouttobe。Ihaveaterriblewanderthirst;theverysightofamapmakesmewanttoputonmyhatandtakeanumbrellaandstart。`IshallseebeforeIdiethepalmsandtemplesoftheSouth。’
　　Thursdayeveningattwilight，sittingonthedoorstep。
　　Veryhardtogetanynewsintothisletter！Judyisbecomingsophilosophicaloflate，thatshewishestodiscourselargelyoftheworldingeneral，insteadofdescendingtothetrivialdetailsofdailylife。ButifyouMUSThavenews，hereitis：
　　OurnineyoungpigswadedacrossthebrookandranawaylastTuesday，andonlyeightcameback。Wedon’twanttoaccuseanyoneunjustly，butwesuspectthatWidowDowdhasonemorethansheoughttohave。
　　Mr。Weaverhaspaintedhisbarnandhistwosilosabrightpumpkinyellow——
　　averyuglycolour，buthesaysitwillwear。
　　TheBrewershavecompanythisweek;Mrs。Brewer’ssisterandtwoniecesfromOhio。
　　OneofourRhodeIslandRedsonlybroughtoffthreechicksoutoffifteeneggs。Wecan’timaginewhatwasthetrouble。
　　RhodeislandReds，inmyopinion，areaveryinferiorbreed。
　　IpreferBuffOrpingtons。
　　ThenewclerkinthepostofficeatBonnyriggFourCornersdrankeverydropofJamaicagingertheyhadinstock——sevendollars’
　　worth——beforehewasdiscovered。
　　OldIraHatchhasrheumatismandcan’tworkanymore;heneversavedhismoneywhenhewasearninggoodwages，sonowhehastoliveonthetown。
　　There’stobeanice-creamsocialattheschoolhousenextSaturdayevening。Comeandbringyourfamilies。
　　IhaveanewhatthatIboughtfortwenty-fivecentsatthepostoffice。
　　Thisismylatestportrait，onmywaytorakethehay。
　　It’sgettingtoodarktosee;anyway，thenewsisallusedup。
　　Goodnight，JudyFridayGoodmorning！Hereissomenews！Whatdoyouthink？You’dnever，never，neverguesswho’scomingtoLockWillow。AlettertoMrs。
　　SemplefromMr。Pendleton。He’smotoringthroughtheBerkshires，andistiredandwantstorestonanicequietfarm——ifheclimbsoutatherdoorstepsomenightwillshehavearoomreadyforhim？
　　Maybehe’llstayoneweek，ormaybetwo，ormaybethree;he’llseehowrestfulitiswhenhegetshere。
　　Suchaflutteraswearein！Thewholehouseisbeingcleanedandallthecurtainswashed。IamdrivingtotheCornersthismorningtogetsomenewoilclothfortheentry，andtwocansofbrownfloorpaintforthehallandbackstairs。Mrs。Dowdisengagedtocometomorrowtowashthewindows（intheexigencyofthemoment，wewaiveoursuspicionsinregardtothepiglet）。Youmightthink，fromthisaccountofouractivities，thatthehousewasnotalreadyimmaculate;
　　butIassureyouitwas！WhateverMrs。Semple’slimitations，sheisaHOUSEKEEPER。
　　Butisn’titjustlikeaman，Daddy？Hedoesn’tgivetheremotesthintastowhetherhewilllandonthedoorsteptoday，ortwoweeksfromtoday。Weshallliveinaperpetualbreathlessnessuntilhecomes——
　　andifhedoesn’thurry，thecleaningmayallhavetobedoneoveragain。
　　There’sAmasaiwaitingbelowwiththebuckboardandGrover。
　　Idrivealone——butifyoucouldseeoldGrove，youwouldn’tbeworriedastomysafety。
　　Withmyhandonmyheart——farewell。
　　JudyPS。Isn’tthataniceending？IgotitoutofStevenson’sletters。
　　SaturdayGoodmorningagain！Ididn’tgetthisENVELOPEDyesterdaybeforethepostmancame，soI’lladdsomemore。Wehaveonemailadayattwelveo’clock。Ruraldeliveryisablessingtothefarmers！
　　Ourpostmannotonlydeliversletters，butherunserrandsforusintown，atfivecentsanerrand。Yesterdayhebroughtmesomeshoe-stringsandajarofcoldcream（IsunburnedalltheskinoffmynosebeforeIgotmynewhat）andablueWindsortieandabottleofblackingallfortencents。Thatwasanunusualbargain，owingtothelargenessofmyorder。
　　AlsohetellsuswhatishappeningintheGreatWorld。
　　Severalpeopleontheroutetakedailypapers，andhereadsthemashejogsalong，andrepeatsthenewstotheoneswhodon’tsubscribe。
　　SoincaseawarbreaksoutbetweentheUnitedStatesandJapan，orthepresidentisassassinated，orMr。RockefellerleavesamilliondollarstotheJohnGrierHome，youneedn’tbothertowrite;
　　I’llhearitanyway。
　　NosignyetofMasterJervie。Butyoushouldseehowcleanourhouseis——andwithwhatanxietywewipeourfeetbeforewestepin！
　　Ihopehe’llcomesoon;Iamlongingforsomeonetotalkto。
　　Mrs。Semple，totellyouthetruth，getsrathermonotonous。
　　Sheneverletsideasinterrupttheeasyflowofherconversation。
　　It’safunnythingaboutthepeoplehere。Theirworldisjustthissinglehilltop。Theyarenotabituniversal，ifyouknowwhatImean。It’sexactlythesameasattheJohnGrierHome。
　　Ourideastherewereboundedbythefoursidesoftheironfence，onlyIdidn’tminditsomuchbecauseIwasyounger，andwassoawfullybusy。BythetimeI’dgotallmybedsmadeandmybabies’
　　faceswashedandhadgonetoschoolandcomehomeandhadwashedtheirfacesagainanddarnedtheirstockingsandmendedFreddiePerkins’strousers（hetorethemeverydayofhislife）andlearnedmylessonsinbetween——Iwasreadytogotobed，andIdidn’tnoticeanylackofsocialintercourse。Butaftertwoyearsinaconversationalcollege，Idomissit;andIshallbegladtoseesomebodywhospeaksmylanguage。
　　IreallybelieveI’vefinished，Daddy。Nothingelseoccurstomeatthemoment——I’lltrytowritealongerletternexttime。
　　Yoursalways，JudyPS。Thelettucehasn’tdoneatallwellthisyear。Itwassodryearlyintheseason。
　　25thAugustWell，Daddy，MasterJervie’shere。Andsuchanicetimeaswe’rehaving！AtleastIam，andIthinkheis，too——hehasbeenheretendaysandhedoesn’tshowanysignsofgoing。ThewayMrs。Semplepampersthatmanisscandalous。Ifsheindulgedhimasmuchwhenhewasababy，Idon’tknowhowheeverturnedoutsowell。
　　HeandIeatatalittletablesetonthesideporch，orsometimesunderthetrees，or——whenitrainsoriscold——inthebestparlour。
　　HejustpicksoutthespothewantstoeatinandCarrietrotsafterhimwiththetable。Thenifithasbeenanawfulnuisance，andshehashadtocarrythedishesveryfar，shefindsadollarunderthesugarbowl。
　　Heisanawfullycompanionablesortofman，thoughyouwouldneverbelieveittoseehimcasually;helooksatfirstglancelikeatruePendleton，butheisn’tintheleast。Heisjustassimpleandunaffectedandsweetashecanbe——thatseemsafunnywaytodescribeaman，butit’strue。He’sextremelynicewiththefarmersaroundhere;hemeetstheminasortofman-to-manfashionthatdisarmsthemimmediately。Theywereverysuspiciousatfirst。
　　Theydidn’tcareforhisclothes！AndIwillsaythathisclothesareratheramazing。Hewearsknickerbockersandpleatedjacketsandwhiteflannelsandridingclotheswithpuffedtrousers。
　　Wheneverhecomesdowninanythingnew，Mrs。Semple，beamingwithpride，walksaroundandviewshimfromeveryangle，andurgeshimtobecarefulwherehesitsdown;sheissoafraidhewillpickupsomedust。
　　Itboreshimdreadfully。He’salwayssayingtoher：
　　`Runalong，Lizzie，andtendtoyourwork。Youcan’tbossmeanylonger。I’vegrownup。’
　　It’sawfullyfunnytothinkofthatgreatbig，long-leggedman（he’snearlyaslong-leggedasyou，Daddy）eversittinginMrs。Semple’slapandhavinghisfacewashed。Particularlyfunnywhenyouseeherlap！
　　Shehastwolapsnow，andthreechins。Buthesaysthatonceshewasthinandwiryandspryandcouldrunfasterthanhe。
　　Suchalotofadventureswe’rehaving！We’veexploredthecountryformiles，andI’velearnedtofishwithfunnylittlefliesmadeoffeathers。Alsotoshootwitharifleandarevolver。Alsotoridehorseback——there’sanastonishingamountoflifeinoldGrove。
　　Wefedhimonoatsforthreedays，andheshiedatacalfandalmostranawaywithme。
　　WednesdayWeclimbedSkyHillMondayafternoon。That’samountainnearhere;
　　notanawfullyhighmountain，perhaps——nosnowonthesummit——butatleastyouareprettybreathlesswhenyoureachthetop。Thelowerslopesarecoveredwithwoods，butthetopisjustpiledrocksandopenmoor。
　　Westayedupforthesunsetandbuiltafireandcookedoursupper。
　　MasterJerviedidthecooking;hesaidheknewhowbetterthanmeandhedid，too，becausehe’susedtocamping。Thenwecamedownbymoonlight，and，whenwereachedthewoodtrailwhereitwasdark，bythelightofanelectricbulbthathehadinhispocket。
　　Itwassuchfun！Helaughedandjokedallthewayandtalkedaboutinterestingthings。He’sreadallthebooksI’veeverread，andalotofothersbesides。It’sastonishinghowmanydifferentthingsheknows。
　　Wewentforalongtrampthismorningandgotcaughtinastorm。
　　Ourclothesweredrenchedbeforewereachedhomebutourspiritsnotevendamp。YoushouldhaveseenMrs。Semple’sfacewhenwedrippedintoherkitchen。
　　`Oh，MasterJervie——MissJudy！Youaresoakedthrough。Dear！Dear！
　　WhatshallIdo？Thatnicenewcoatisperfectlyruined。’
　　Shewasawfullyfunny;youwouldhavethoughtthatweweretenyearsold，andsheadistractedmother。Iwasafraidforawhilethatweweren’tgoingtogetanyjamfortea。
　　SaturdayIstartedthisletteragesago，butIhaven’thadasecondtofinishit。
　　Isn’tthisanicethoughtfromStevenson？
　　Theworldissofullofanumberofthings，Iamsureweshouldallbeashappyaskings。
　　It’strue，youknow。Theworldisfullofhappiness，andplentytogoround，ifyouareonlywillingtotakethekindthatcomesyourway。ThewholesecretisinbeingPLIABLE。Inthecountry，especially，therearesuchalotofentertainingthings。
　　Icanwalkovereverybody’sland，andlookateverybody’sview，anddabbleineverybody’sbrook;andenjoyitjustasmuchasthoughIownedtheland——andwithnotaxestopay！
　　It’sSundaynightnow，abouteleveno’clock，andIamsupposedtobegettingsomebeautysleep，butIhadblackcoffeefordinner，so——nobeautysleepforme！
　　Thismorning，saidMrs。SempletoMr。Pendleton，withaverydeterminedaccent：
　　`Wehavetoleavehereataquarterpastteninordertogettochurchbyeleven。’
　　`Verywell，Lizzie，’saidMasterJervie，`youhavethebuggyready，andifI’mnotdressed，justgoonwithoutwaiting。’’We’llwait，’
　　saidshe。
　　`Asyouplease，’saidhe，`onlydon’tkeepthehorsesstandingtoolong。’
　　Thenwhileshewasdressing，hetoldCarrietopackupalunch，andhetoldmetoscrambleintomywalkingclothes;andweslippedoutthebackwayandwentfishing。
　　Itdiscommodedthehouseholddreadfully，becauseLockWillowofaSundaydinesattwo。Butheordereddinneratseven——heordersmealswheneverhechooses;youwouldthinktheplacewerearestaurant——
　　andthatkeptCarrieandAmasaifromgoingdriving。Buthesaiditwasallthebetterbecauseitwasn’tproperforthemtogodrivingwithoutachaperon;andanyway，hewantedthehorseshimselftotakemedriving。Didyoueverhearanythingsofunny？
　　AndpoorMrs。SemplebelievesthatpeoplewhogofishingonSundaysgoafterwardstoasizzlinghothell！Sheisawfullytroubledtothinkthatshedidn’ttrainhimbetterwhenhewassmallandhelplessandshehadthechance。Besides——shewishedtoshowhimoffinchurch。
　　Anyway，wehadourfishing（hecaughtfourlittleones）andwecookedthemonacamp-fireforlunch。Theykeptfallingoffourspikedsticksintothefire，sotheytastedalittleashy，butweatethem。
　　Wegothomeatfourandwentdrivingatfiveandhaddinneratseven，andattenIwassenttobedandhereIam，writingtoyou。
　　Iamgettingalittlesleepy，though。
　　Goodnight。
　　HereisapictureoftheonefishIcaught。
　　ShipAhoy，Cap’nLong-Legs！
　　Avast！Belay！Yo，ho，ho，andabottleofrum。GuesswhatI’mreading？
　　Ourconversationthesepasttwodayshasbeennauticalandpiratical。
　　Isn’tTreasureIslandfun？Didyoueverreadit，orwasn’titwrittenwhenyouwereaboy？Stevensononlygotthirtypoundsfortheserialrights——Idon’tbelieveitpaystobeagreatauthor。
　　MaybeI’llbeaschool-teacher。
　　ExcusemeforfillingmyletterssofullofStevenson;mymindisverymuchengagedwithhimatpresent。HecomprisesLockWillow’slibrary。
　　I’vebeenwritingthisletterfortwoweeks，andIthinkit’saboutlongenough。Neversay，Daddy，thatIdon’tgivedetails。
　　Iwishyouwerehere，too;we’dallhavesuchajollytimetogether。
　　Ilikemydifferentfriendstoknoweachother。IwantedtoaskMr。PendletonifheknewyouinNewYork——Ishouldthinkhemight;
　　youmustmoveinaboutthesameexaltedsocialcircles，andyouarebothinterestedinreformsandthings——butIcouldn’t，forIdon’tknowyourrealname。
　　It’sthesilliestthingIeverheardof，nottoknowyourname。
　　Mrs。Lippettwarnedmethatyouwereeccentric。Ishouldthinkso！
　　Affectionately，JudyPS。Onreadingthisover，Ifindthatitisn’tallStevenson。
　　ThereareoneortwoglancingreferencestoMasterJervie。
　　10thSeptemberDearDaddy，Hehasgone，andwearemissinghim！Whenyougetaccustomedtopeopleorplacesorwaysofliving，andthenhavethemsnatchedaway，itdoesleaveanawfullyempty，gnawingsortofsensation。
　　I’mfindingMrs。Semple’sconversationprettyunseasonedfood。
　　CollegeopensintwoweeksandIshallbegladtobeginworkagain。
　　Ihaveworkedquitealotthissummerthough——sixshortstoriesandsevenpoems。ThoseIsenttothemagazinesallcamebackwiththemostcourteouspromptitude。ButIdon’tmind。It’sgoodpractice。
　　MasterJerviereadthem——hebroughtinthepost，soIcouldn’thelphisknowing——andhesaidtheywereDREADFUL。TheyshowedthatIdidn’thavetheslightestideaofwhatIwastalkingabout。
　　（MasterJerviedoesn’tletpolitenessinterferewithtruth。）
　　ButthelastoneIdid——justalittlesketchlaidincollege——
　　hesaidwasn’tbad;andhehadittypewritten，andIsentittoamagazine。They’vehadittwoweeks;maybethey’rethinkingitover。
　　Youshouldseethesky！There’sthequeerestorange-colouredlightovereverything。We’regoingtohaveastorm。
　　Itcommencedjustthatmomentwithtremendouslybigdropsandalltheshuttersbanging。Ihadtoruntoclosethewindows，whileCarrieflewtotheatticwithanarmfulofmilkpanstoputundertheplaceswheretheroofleaksandthen，justasIwasresumingmypen，IrememberedthatI’dleftacushionandrugandhatandMatthewArnold’spoemsunderatreeintheorchard，soIdashedouttogetthem，allquitesoaked。Theredcoverofthepoemshadrunintotheinside;
　　DoverBeachinthefuturewillbewashedbypinkwaves。
　　Astormisawfullydisturbinginthecountry。Youarealwayshavingtothinkofsomanythingsthatareoutofdoorsandgettingspoiled。
　　ThursdayDaddy！Daddy！Whatdoyouthink？Thepostmanhasjustcomewithtwoletters。
　　1st。Mystoryisaccepted。$50。
　　ALORS！I’manAUTHOR。
　　2nd。Aletterfromthecollegesecretary。I’mtohaveascholarshipfortwoyearsthatwillcoverboardandtuition。Itwasfoundedfor`markedproficiencyinEnglishwithgeneralexcellencyinotherlines。’AndI’vewonit！IappliedforitbeforeIleft，butIdidn’thaveanideaI’dgetit，onaccountofmyFreshmanbadworkinmathsandLatin。ButitseemsI’vemadeitup。Iamawfullyglad，Daddy，becausenowIwon’tbesuchaburdentoyou。
　　ThemonthlyallowancewillbeallI’llneed，andmaybeIcanearnthatwithwritingortutoringorsomething。
　　I’mLONGINGtogobackandbeginwork。
　　Yoursever，JerushaAbbott，AuthorofWhentheSophomoresWontheGame。Forsaleatallnewsstands，pricetencents。
　　26thSeptemberDearDaddy-Long-Legs，Backatcollegeagainandanupperclassman。Ourstudyisbetterthaneverthisyear——facestheSouthwithtwohugewindowsandoh！
　　sofurnished。Julia，withanunlimitedallowance，arrivedtwodaysearlyandwasattackedwithafeverforsettling。
　　Wehavenewwallpaperandorientalrugsandmahoganychairs——
　　notpaintedmahoganywhichmadeussufficientlyhappylastyear，butreal。It’sverygorgeous，butIdon’tfeelasthoughIbelongedinit;I’mnervousallthetimeforfearI’llgetaninkspotinthewrongplace。
　　And，Daddy，Ifoundyourletterwaitingforme——pardon——Imeanyoursecretary’s。
　　WillyoukindlyconveytomeacomprehensiblereasonwhyIshouldnotacceptthatscholarship？Idon’tunderstandyourobjectionintheleast。Butanyway，itwon’tdotheslightestgoodforyoutoobject，forI’vealreadyaccepteditandIamnotgoingtochange！
　　Thatsoundsalittleimpertinent，butIdon’tmeanitso。
　　Isupposeyoufeelthatwhenyousetouttoeducateme，you’dliketofinishthework，andputaneatperiod，intheshapeofadiploma，attheend。
　　Butlookatitjustasecondfrommypointofview。IshallowemyeducationtoyoujustasmuchasthoughIletyoupayforthewholeofit，butIwon’tbequitesomuchindebted。Iknowthatyoudon’twantmetoreturnthemoney，butnevertheless，Iamgoingtowanttodoit，ifIpossiblycan;andwinningthisscholarshipmakesitsomucheasier。
　　Iwasexpectingtospendtherestofmylifeinpayingmydebts，butnowIshallonlyhavetospendone-halfoftherestofit。
　　Ihopeyouunderstandmypositionandwon’tbecross。TheallowanceIshallstillmostgratefullyaccept。ItrequiresanallowancetoliveuptoJuliaandherfurniture！Iwishthatshehadbeenrearedtosimplertastes，orelsethatshewerenotmyroom-mate。
　　Thisisn’tmuchofaletter;Imeanttohavewrittenalot——butI’vebeenhemmingfourwindowcurtainsandthreeportieres（I’mgladyoucan’tseethelengthofthestitches），andpolishingabrassdesksetwithtoothpowder（veryuphillwork），andsawingoffpicturewirewithmanicurescissors，andunpackingfourboxesofbooks，andputtingawaytwotrunkfulsofclothes（itdoesn’tseembelievablethatJerushaAbbottownstwotrunksfullofclothes，butshedoes！）
　　andwelcomingbackfiftydearfriendsinbetween。
　　Openingdayisajoyousoccasion！
　　Goodnight，Daddydear，anddon’tbeannoyedbecauseyourchickiswantingtoscratchforherself。She’sgrowingupintoanawfullyenergeticlittlehen——withaverydeterminedcluckandlotsofbeautifulfeathers（allduetoyou）。
　　Affectionately，Judy30thSeptemberDearDaddy，Areyoustillharpingonthatscholarship？Ineverknewamansoobstinate，andstubbornandunreasonable，andtenacious，andbull-doggish，andunable-to-see-other-people’s-point-of-view，asyou。
　　YoupreferthatIshouldnotbeacceptingfavoursfromstrangers。
　　Strangers！——Andwhatareyou，pray？
　　IsthereanyoneintheworldthatIknowless？Ishouldn’trecognizeyouifImetyouinthestreet。Now，yousee，ifyouhadbeenasane，sensiblepersonandhadwrittennice，cheeringfatherlyletterstoyourlittleJudy，andhadcomeoccasionallyandpattedheronthehead，andhadsaidyouweregladshewassuchagoodgirl——Then，perhaps，shewouldn’thavefloutedyouinyouroldage，butwouldhaveobeyedyourslightestwishlikethedutifuldaughtershewasmeanttobe。
　　Strangersindeed！Youliveinaglasshouse，Mr。Smith。
　　Andbesides，thisisn’tafavour;it’slikeaprize——Iearneditbyhardwork。IfnobodyhadbeengoodenoughinEnglish，thecommitteewouldn’thaveawardedthescholarship;someyearstheydon’t。Also——
　　Butwhat’stheuseofarguingwithaman？Youbelong，Mr。Smith，toasexdevoidofasenseoflogic。Tobringamanintoline，therearejusttwomethods：onemusteithercoaxorbedisagreeable。
　　IscorntocoaxmenforwhatIwish。Therefore，Imustbedisagreeable。
　　Irefuse，sir，togiveupthescholarship;andifyoumakeanymorefuss，Iwon’tacceptthemonthlyallowanceeither，butwillwearmyselfintoanervouswrecktutoringstupidFreshmen。
　　Thatismyultimatum！
　　Andlisten——Ihaveafurtherthought。SinceyouaresoafraidthatbytakingthisscholarshipIamdeprivingsomeoneelseofaneducation，Iknowawayout。YoucanapplythemoneythatyouwouldhavespentformetowardseducatingsomeotherlittlegirlfromtheJohnGrierHome。
　　Don’tyouthinkthat’saniceidea？Only，Daddy，EDUCATEthenewgirlasmuchasyouchoose，butpleasedon’tLIKEheranybetterthanme。
　　Itrustthatyoursecretarywon’tbehurtbecauseIpaysolittleattentiontothesuggestionsofferedinhisletter，butIcan’thelpitifheis。He’saspoiledchild，Daddy。I’vemeeklygivenintohiswhimsheretofore，butthistimeIintendtobeFIRM。
　　Yours，Withamind，CompletelyandIrrevocablyandWorld-without-EndMade-up，JerushaAbbott9thNovemberDearDaddy-Long-Legs，IstarteddowntowntodaytobuyabottleofshoeblackingandsomecollarsandthematerialforanewblouseandajarofvioletcreamandacakeofCastilesoap——allverynecessary;Icouldn’tbehappyanotherdaywithoutthem——andwhenItriedtopaythecarfare，IfoundthatIhadleftmypurseinthepocketofmyothercoat。
　　SoIhadtogetoutandtakethenextcar，andwaslateforgymnasium。
　　It’sadreadfulthingtohavenomemoryandtwocoats！
　　JuliaPendletonhasinvitedmetovisitherfortheChristmasholidays。
　　Howdoesthatstrikeyou，Mr。Smith？FancyJerushaAbbott，oftheJohnGrierHome，sittingatthetablesoftherich。
　　Idon’tknowwhyJuliawantsme——sheseemstobegettingquiteattachedtomeoflate。Ishould，totellthetruth，verymuchprefergoingtoSallie’s，butJuliaaskedmefirst，soifI
　　goanywhereitmustbetoNewYorkinsteadoftoWorcester。
　　I’mratherawedattheprospectofmeetingPendletonsENMASSE，andalsoI’dhavetogetalotofnewclothes——so，Daddydear，ifyouwritethatyouwouldpreferhavingmeremainquietlyatcollege，Iwillbowtoyourwisheswithmyusualsweetdocility。
　　I’mengagedatoddmomentswiththeLifeandLettersofThomasHuxley——
　　itmakesnice，lightreadingtopickupbetweentimes。Doyouknowwhatanarchaeopteryxis？It’sabird。Andastereognathus？
　　I’mnotsuremyself，butIthinkit’samissinglink，likeabirdwithteethoralizardwithwings。No，itisn’teither;I’vejustlookedinthebook。It’samesozoicmammal。
　　I’veelectedeconomicsthisyear——veryilluminatingsubject。
　　WhenIfinishthatI’mgoingtotakeCharityandReform;then，Mr。Trustee，I’llknowjusthowanorphanasylumoughttoberun。
　　Don’tyouthinkI’dmakeanadmirablevoterifIhadmyrights？
　　Iwastwenty-onelastweek。Thisisanawfullywastefulcountrytothrowawaysuchanhonest，educated，conscientious，intelligentcitizenasIwouldbe。
　　Yoursalways，Judy7thDecemberDearDaddy-Long-Legs，ThankyouforpermissiontovisitJulia——Itakeitthatsilencemeansconsent。
　　Suchasocialwhirlaswe’vebeenhaving！TheFounder’sdancecamelastweek——thiswasthefirstyearthatanyofuscouldattend;
　　onlyupperclassmenbeingallowed。
　　IinvitedJimmieMcBride，andSallieinvitedhisroom-mateatPrinceton，whovisitedthemlastsummerattheircamp——anawfullynicemanwithredhair——andJuliainvitedamanfromNewYork，notveryexciting，butsociallyirreproachable。HeisconnectedwiththeDelaMaterChichesters。Perhapsthatmeanssomethingtoyou？Itdoesn’tilluminatemetoanyextent。
　　However——ourguestscameFridayafternoonintimeforteaintheseniorcorridor，andthendasheddowntothehotelfordinner。
　　Thehotelwassofullthattheysleptinrowsonthebilliardtables，theysay。JimmieMcBridesaysthatthenexttimeheisbiddentoasocialeventinthiscollege，heisgoingtobringoneoftheirAdirondacktentsandpitchitonthecampus。
　　Atseven-thirtytheycamebackforthePresident’sreceptionanddance。
　　Ourfunctionscommenceearly！Wehadthemen’scardsallmadeoutaheadoftime，andaftereverydance，we’dleavethemingroups，undertheletterthatstoodfortheirnames，sothattheycouldbereadilyfoundbytheirnextpartners。JimmieMcBride，forexample，wouldstandpatientlyunder`M’untilhewasclaimed。（Atleast，heoughttohavestoodpatiently，buthekeptwanderingoffandgettingmixedwith`R’s’and`S’s’andallsortsofletters。）
　　Ifoundhimaverydifficultguest;hewassulkybecausehehadonlythreedanceswithme。Hesaidhewasbashfulaboutdancingwithgirlshedidn’tknow！
　　Thenextmorningwehadagleeclubconcert——andwhodoyouthinkwrotethefunnynewsongcomposedfortheoccasion？It’sthetruth。
　　Shedid。Oh，Itellyou，Daddy，yourlittlefoundlingisgettingtobequiteaprominentperson！
　　Anyway，ourgaytwodaysweregreatfun，andIthinkthemenenjoyedit。
　　Someofthemwereawfullyperturbedatfirstattheprospectoffacingonethousandgirls;buttheygotacclimatedveryquickly。
　　OurtwoPrincetonmenhadabeautifultime——atleasttheypolitelysaidtheyhad，andthey’veinvitedustotheirdancenextspring。
　　We’veaccepted，sopleasedon’tobject，Daddydear。
　　JuliaandSallieandIallhadnewdresses。Doyouwanttohearaboutthem？Julia’swascreamsatinandgoldembroideryandsheworepurpleorchids。ItwasaDREAMandcamefromParis，andcostamilliondollars。
　　Sallie’swaspalebluetrimmedwithPersianembroidery，andwentbeautifullywithredhair。Itdidn’tcostquiteamillion，butwasjustaseffectiveasJulia’s。
　　Minewaspalepinkcrepedechinetrimmedwithecrulaceandrosesatin。
　　AndIcarriedcrimsonroseswhichJ。McB。sent（Salliehavingtoldhimwhatcolourtoget）。Andweallhadsatinslippersandsilkstockingsandchiffonscarfstomatch。
　　Youmustbedeeplyimpressedbythesemillinerydetails。
　　Onecan’thelpthinking，Daddy，whatacolourlesslifeamanisforcedtolead，whenonereflectsthatchiffonandVenetianpointandhandembroideryandIrishcrochetaretohimmereemptywords。
　　Whereasawoman——whethersheisinterestedinbabiesormicrobesorhusbandsorpoetryorservantsorparallelogramsorgardensorPlatoorbridge——isfundamentallyandalwaysinterestedinclothes。
　　It’stheonetouchofnaturethatmakesthewholeworldkin。
　　（Thatisn’toriginal。IgotitoutofoneofShakespeare’splays）。
　　However，toresume。DoyouwantmetotellyouasecretthatI’velatelydiscovered？Andwillyoupromisenottothinkmevain？
　　Thenlisten：
　　I’mpretty。
　　Iam，really。I’dbeanawfulidiotnottoknowitwiththreelooking-glassesintheroom。
　　AFriendPS。Thisisoneofthosewickedanonymouslettersyoureadaboutinnovels。
　　20thDecemberDearDaddy-Long-Legs，I’vejustamoment，becauseImustattendtwoclasses，packatrunkandasuit-case，andcatchthefour-o’clocktrain——butIcouldn’tgowithoutsendingawordtoletyouknowhowmuchIappreciatemyChristmasbox。
　　IlovethefursandthenecklaceandtheLibertyscarfandtheglovesandhandkerchiefsandbooksandpurse——andmostofallIloveyou！
　　ButDaddy，youhavenobusinesstospoilmethisway。I’monlyhuman——
　　andagirlatthat。HowcanIkeepmymindsternlyfixedonastudiouscareer，whenyoudeflectmewithsuchworldlyfrivolities？
　　IhavestrongsuspicionsnowastowhichoneoftheJohnGrierTrusteesusedtogivetheChristmastreeandtheSundayice-cream。
　　Hewasnameless，butbyhisworksIknowhim！Youdeservetobehappyforallthegoodthingsyoudo。
　　Goodbye，andaverymerryChristmas。
　　Yoursalways，JudyPS。Iamsendingaslighttoken，too。Doyouthinkyouwouldlikeherifyouknewher？
　　11thJanuaryImeanttowritetoyoufromthecity，Daddy，butNewYorkisanengrossingplace。
　　Ihadaninteresting——andilluminating——time，butI’mgladIdon’tbelongtosuchafamily！IshouldtrulyratherhavetheJohnGrierHomeforabackground。Whateverthedrawbacksofmybringingup，therewasatleastnopretenceaboutit。IknownowwhatpeoplemeanwhentheysaytheyareweigheddownbyThings。Thematerialatmosphereofthathousewascrushing;Ididn’tdrawadeepbreathuntilIwasonanexpresstraincomingback。Allthefurniturewascarvedandupholsteredandgorgeous;thepeopleImetwerebeautifullydressedandlow-voicedandwell-bred，butit’sthetruth，Daddy，Ineverheardonewordofrealtalkfromthetimewearriveduntilweleft。Idon’tthinkanideaeverenteredthefrontdoor。
　　Mrs。Pendletonneverthinksofanythingbutjewelsanddressmakersandsocialengagements。ShedidseemadifferentkindofmotherfromMrs。McBride！IfIevermarryandhaveafamily，I’mgoingtomakethemasexactlyliketheMcBridesasIcan。NotforallthemoneyintheworldwouldIeverletanychildrenofminedevelopintoPendletons。
　　Maybeitisn’tpolitetocriticizepeopleyou’vebeenvisiting？
　　Ifitisn’t，pleaseexcuse。Thisisveryconfidential，betweenyouandme。
　　IonlysawMasterJervieoncewhenhecalledatteatime，andthenIdidn’thaveachancetospeaktohimalone。
　　Itwasreallydisappointingafterournicetimelastsummer。
　　Idon’tthinkhecaresmuchforhisrelatives——andIamsuretheydon’tcaremuchforhim！Julia’smothersayshe’sunbalanced。
　　He’saSocialist——except，thankHeaven，hedoesn’tlethishairgrowandwearredties。Shecan’timaginewherehepickeduphisqueerideas;
　　thefamilyhavebeenChurchofEnglandforgenerations。Hethrowsawayhismoneyoneverysortofcrazyreform，insteadofspendingitonsuchsensiblethingsasyachtsandautomobilesandpoloponies。
　　Hedoesbuycandywithitthough！HesentJuliaandmeeachaboxforChristmas。
　　Youknow，IthinkI’llbeaSocialist，too。Youwouldn’tmind，wouldyou，Daddy？They’requitedifferentfromAnarchists;
　　theydon’tbelieveinblowingpeopleup。ProbablyIamonebyrights;
　　Ibelongtotheproletariat。Ihaven’tdeterminedyetjustwhichkindIamgoingtobe。IwilllookintothesubjectoverSunday，anddeclaremyprinciplesinmynext。
　　I’veseenloadsoftheatresandhotelsandbeautifulhouses。
　　Mymindisaconfusedjumbleofonyxandgildingandmosaicfloorsandpalms。I’mstillprettybreathlessbutIamgladtogetbacktocollegeandmybooks——IbelievethatIreallyamastudent;
　　thisatmosphereofacademiccalmIfindmorebracingthanNewYork。
　　Collegeisaverysatisfyingsortoflife;thebooksandstudyandregularclasseskeepyoualivementally，andthenwhenyourmindgetstired，youhavethegymnasiumandoutdoorathletics，andalwaysplentyofcongenialfriendswhoarethinkingaboutthesamethingsyouare。Wespendawholeeveninginnothingbuttalk——
　　talk——talk——andgotobedwithaveryupliftedfeeling，asthoughwehadsettledpermanentlysomepressingworldproblems。Andfillingineverycrevice，thereisalwayssuchalotofnonsense——justsillyjokesaboutthelittlethingsthatcomeupbutverysatisfying。
　　Wedoappreciateourownwitticisms！
　　Itisn’tthegreatbigpleasuresthatcountthemost;it’smakingagreatdealoutofthelittleones——I’vediscoveredthetruesecretofhappiness，Daddy，andthatistoliveinthenow。
　　Nottobeforeverregrettingthepast，oranticipatingthefuture;
　　buttogetthemostthatyoucanoutofthisveryinstant。
　　It’slikefarming。Youcanhaveextensivefarmingandintensivefarming;well，Iamgoingtohaveintensivelivingafterthis。
　　I’mgoingtoenjoyeverysecond，andI’mgoingtoKNOWI’menjoyingitwhileI’menjoyingit。Mostpeopledon’tlive;theyjustrace。
　　Theyaretryingtoreachsomegoalfarawayonthehorizon，andintheheatofthegoingtheygetsobreathlessandpantingthattheyloseallsightofthebeautiful，tranquilcountrytheyarepassingthrough;
　　andthenthefirstthingtheyknow，theyareoldandwornout，anditdoesn’tmakeanydifferencewhetherthey’vereachedthegoalornot。I’vedecidedtositdownbythewayandpileupalotoflittlehappinesses，evenifIneverbecomeaGreatAuthor。
　　DidyoueverknowsuchaphilosopheressasIamdevelopinginto？
　　Yoursever，JudyPS。It’srainingcatsanddogstonight。Twopuppiesandakittenhavejustlandedonthewindow-sill。
　　DearComrade，Hooray！I’maFabian。
　　That’saSocialistwho’swillingtowait。Wedon’twantthesocialrevolutiontocometomorrowmorning;itwouldbetooupsetting。
　　Wewantittocomeverygraduallyinthedistantfuture，whenweshallallbepreparedandabletosustaintheshock。
　　Inthemeantime，wemustbegettingready，byinstitutingindustrial，educationalandorphanasylumreforms。
　　Yours，withfraternallove，JudyMonday，3rdhour11thFebruaryDearD-L-L。，Don’tbeinsultedbecausethisissoshort。Itisn’taletter;
　　it’sjustaLINEtosaythatI’mgoingtowritealetterprettysoonwhenexaminationsareover。ItisnotonlynecessarythatIpass，butpassWELL。Ihaveascholarshiptoliveupto。
　　Yours，studyinghard，J。A。
　　5thMarchDearDaddy-Long-Legs，PresidentCuylermadeaspeechthiseveningaboutthemoderngenerationbeingflippantandsuperficial。Hesaysthatwearelosingtheoldidealsofearnestendeavourandtruescholarship;
　　andparticularlyisthisfalling-offnoticeableinourdisrespectfulattitudetowardsorganizedauthority。Wenolongerpayaseemlydeferencetooursuperiors。
　　Icameawayfromchapelverysober。
　　AmItoofamiliar，Daddy？OughtItotreatyouwithmoredignityandaloofness？——Yes，I’msureIought。I’llbeginagain。
　　MyDearMr。Smith，YouwillbepleasedtohearthatIpassedsuccessfullymymid-yearexaminations，andamnowcommencingworkinthenewsemester。Iamleavingchemistry——havingcompletedthecourseinqualitativeanalysis——
　　andamenteringuponthestudyofbiology。Iapproachthissubjectwithsomehesitation，asIunderstandthatwedissectanglewormsandfrogs。
　　AnextremelyinterestingandvaluablelecturewasgiveninthechapellastweekuponRomanRemainsinSouthernFrance。Ihaveneverlistenedtoamoreilluminatingexpositionofthesubject。
　　WearereadingWordsworth’sTinternAbbeyinconnectionwithourcourseinEnglishLiterature。Whatanexquisiteworkitis，andhowadequatelyitembodieshisconceptionsofPantheism！
　　TheRomanticmovementoftheearlypartofthelastcentury，exemplifiedintheworksofsuchpoetsasShelley，Byron，Keats，andWordsworth，appealstomeverymuchmorethantheClassicalperiodthatprecededit。Speakingofpoetry，haveyoueverreadthatcharminglittlethingofTennyson’scalledLocksleyHall？
　　Iamattendinggymnasiumveryregularlyoflate。Aproctorsystemhasbeendevised，andfailuretocomplywiththerulescausesagreatdealofinconvenience。Thegymnasiumisequippedwithaverybeautifulswimmingtankofcementandmarble，thegiftofaformergraduate。Myroom-mate，MissMcBride，hasgivenmeherbathing-suit（itshranksothatshecannolongerwearit）
　　andIamabouttobeginswimminglessons。
　　Wehaddeliciouspinkice-creamfordessertlastnight。
　　Onlyvegetabledyesareusedincolouringthefood。Thecollegeisverymuchopposed，bothfromaestheticandhygienicmotives，totheuseofanilinedyes。
　　Theweatheroflatehasbeenideal——brightsunshineandcloudsinterspersedwithafewwelcomesnow-storms。Iandmycompanionshaveenjoyedourwalkstoandfromclasses——particularlyfrom。
　　Trusting，mydearMr。Smith，thatthiswillfindyouinyourusualgoodhealth，Iremain，Mostcordiallyyours，JerushaAbbott24thAprilDearDaddy，Springhascomeagain！Youshouldseehowlovelythecampusis。
　　Ithinkyoumightcomeandlookatitforyourself。MasterJerviedroppedinagainlastFriday——buthechoseamostunpropitioustime，forSallieandJuliaandIwerejustrunningtocatchatrain。
　　Andwheredoyouthinkweweregoing？ToPrinceton，toattendadanceandaballgame，ifyouplease！Ididn’taskyouifImightgo，becauseIhadafeelingthatyoursecretarywouldsayno。Butitwasentirelyregular;wehadleave-of-absencefromcollege，andMrs。
　　McBridechaperonedus。Wehadacharmingtime——butIshallhavetoomitdetails;theyaretoomanyandcomplicated。
　　SaturdayUpbeforedawn！Thenightwatchmancalledus——sixofus——andwemadecoffeeinachafingdish（youneversawsomanygrounds！）
　　andwalkedtwomilestothetopofOneTreeHilltoseethesunrise。
　　Wehadtoscrambleupthelastslope！Thesunalmostbeatus！
　　Andperhapsyouthinkwedidn’tbringbackappetitestobreakfast！
　　Dearme，Daddy，Iseemtohaveaveryejaculatorystyletoday;
　　thispageispepperedwithexclamations。
　　Imeanttohavewrittenalotaboutthebuddingtreesandthenewcinderpathintheathleticfield，andtheawfullessonwehaveinbiologyfortomorrow，andthenewcanoesonthelake，andCatherinePrentisswhohaspneumonia，andPrexy’sAngorakittenthatstrayedfromhomeandhasbeenboardinginFergussenHallfortwoweeksuntilachambermaidreportedit，andaboutmythreenewdresses——
　　whiteandpinkandbluepolkadotswithahattomatch——butIamtoosleepy。Iamalwaysmakingthisanexcuse，amInot？Butagirls’
　　collegeisabusyplaceandwedogettiredbytheendoftheday！
　　Particularlywhenthedaybeginsatdawn。
　　Affectionately，Judy15thMayDearDaddy-Long-Legs，Isitgoodmannerswhenyougetintoacarjusttostarestraightaheadandnotseeanybodyelse？
　　Averybeautifulladyinaverybeautifulvelvetdressgotintothecartoday，andwithouttheslightestexpressionsatforfifteenminutesandlookedatasignadvertisingsuspenders。
　　Itdoesn’tseempolitetoignoreeverybodyelseasthoughyouweretheonlyimportantpersonpresent。Anyway，youmissalot。
　　Whileshewasabsorbingthatsillysign，Iwasstudyingawholecarfullofinterestinghumanbeings。
　　Theaccompanyingillustrationisherebyreproducedforthefirsttime。
　　Itlookslikeaspiderontheendofastring，butitisn’tatall;
　　it’sapictureofmelearningtoswiminthetankinthegymnasium。
　　Theinstructorhooksaropeintoaringinthebackofmybelt，andrunsitthroughapulleyintheceiling。Itwouldbeabeautifulsystemifonehadperfectconfidenceintheprobityofone’sinstructor。
　　I’malwaysafraid，though，thatshewilllettheropegetslack，soIkeeponeanxiouseyeonherandswimwiththeother，andwiththisdividedinterestIdonotmaketheprogressthatI
　　otherwisemight。
　　Verymiscellaneousweatherwe’rehavingoflate。ItwasrainingwhenIcommencedandnowthesunisshining。SallieandIaregoingouttoplaytennis——therebygainingexemptionfromGym。
　　AweeklaterIshouldhavefinishedthisletterlongago，butIdidn’t。Youdon’tmind，doyou，Daddy，ifI’mnotveryregular？Ireallydolovetowritetoyou;itgivesmesucharespectablefeelingofhavingsomefamily。Wouldyoulikemetotellyousomething？
　　YouarenottheonlymantowhomIwriteletters。Therearetwoothers！IhavebeenreceivingbeautifullonglettersthiswinterfromMasterJervie（withtypewrittenenvelopessoJuliawon’trecognizethewriting）。Didyoueverhearanythingsoshocking？
　　Andeveryweekorsoaveryscrawlyepistle，usuallyonyellowtabletpaper，arrivesfromPrinceton。AllofwhichIanswerwithbusiness-likepromptness。Soyousee——Iamnotsodifferentfromothergirls——Igetletters，too。
　　DidItellyouthatIhavebeenelectedamemberoftheSeniorDramaticClub？Veryrechercheorganization。Onlyseventy-fivemembersoutofonethousand。DoyouthinkasaconsistentSocialistthatIoughttobelong？
　　Whatdoyousupposeisatpresentengagingmyattentioninsociology？
　　Iamwriting（figurezvous！）apaperontheCareofDependentChildren。
　　TheProfessorshuffleduphissubjectsanddealtthemoutpromiscuously，andthatfelltome。C’estdrolecan’estpas？
　　Theregoesthegongfordinner。I’llpostthisasIpassthebox。
　　Affectionately，J。
　　4thJuneDearDaddy，Verybusytime——commencementintendays，examinationstomorrow;
　　lotsofstudying，lotsofpacking，andtheoutdoorworldsolovelythatithurtsyoutostayinside。
　　Butnevermind，vacation’scoming。Juliaisgoingabroadthissummer——
　　itmakesthefourthtime。Nodoubtaboutit，Daddy，goodsarenotdistributedevenly。Sallie，asusual，goestotheAdirondacks。
　　AndwhatdoyouthinkIamgoingtodo？Youmayhavethreeguesses。
　　LockWillow？Wrong。TheAdirondackswithSallie？Wrong。
　　（I’llneverattemptthatagain;Iwasdiscouragedlastyear。）
　　Can’tyouguessanythingelse？You’renotveryinventive。
　　I’lltellyou，Daddy，ifyou’llpromisenottomakealotofobjections。
　　Iwarnyoursecretaryinadvancethatmymindismadeup。
　　IamgoingtospendthesummerattheseasidewithaMrs。CharlesPatersonandtutorherdaughterwhoistoentercollegeintheautumn。
　　ImetherthroughtheMcBrides，andsheisaverycharmingwoman。