Daddy Long Legs

1. Sylvia, because she was born in the woods.

2. Lesbia, after the Lesbia in Catullus.

3. Sallie.

4. Julia--a spotted, nondescript animal.

5. Judy, after me.

6. Daddy-Long-Legs. You don't mind, do you, Daddy? He's pure Jersey

and has a sweet disposition. He looks like this--you can see how

appropriate the name is.

I haven't had time yet to begin my immortal novel; the farm keeps me

too busy.

Yours always,

Judy

PS. I've learned to make doughnuts.

PS. (2) If you are thinking of raising chickens, let me recommend Buff

Orpingtons. They haven't any pin feathers.

PS. (3) I wish I could send you a pat of the nice, fresh butter I

churned yesterday. I'm a fine dairy-maid!

PS. (4) This is a picture of Miss Jerusha Abbott, the future great

author, driving home the cows.

Sunday Dear Daddy-Long-Legs, Isn't it funny? I started to write to you yesterday afternoon, but as

far as I got was the heading, 'Dear Daddy-Long-Legs', and then I

remembered I'd promised to pick some blackberries for supper, so I went

off and left the sheet lying on the table, and when I came back today,

what do you think I found sitting in the middle of the page? A real

true Daddy-Long-Legs!

I picked him up very gently by one leg, and dropped him out of the

window. I wouldn't hurt one of them for the world. They always remind

me of you.

We hitched up the spring wagon this morning and drove to the Centre to

church. It's a sweet little white frame church with a spire and three

Doric columns in front (or maybe Ionic--I always get them mixed).

A nice sleepy sermon with everybody drowsily waving palm-leaf fans, and

the only sound, aside from the minister, the buzzing of locusts in the

trees outside. I didn't wake up till I found myself on my feet singing

the hymn, and then I was awfully sorry I hadn't listened to the sermon;

I should like to know more of the psychology of a man who would pick

out such a hymn. This was it: Come, leave your sports and earthly toys

And join me in celestial joys.

Or else, dear friend, a long farewell.

I leave you now to sink to hell.

I find that it isn't safe to discuss religion with the Semples. Their

God (whom they have inherited intact from their remote Puritan

ancestors) is a narrow, irrational, unjust, mean, revengeful, bigoted

Person. Thank heaven I don't inherit God from anybody! I am free to

make mine up as I wish Him. He's kind and sympathetic and imaginative

and forgiving and understanding--and He has a sense of humour.