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BY JEAN WEBSTER
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Daddy Long-Legs
By
This
JEAN WEBSTER
the
is
appealing,
story of "Judy,"
who grows up
to seven-
Home
For Or-
teen in the John Greer
Then
phans.
reality
unforgettable
a wealthy unknown, in
one of the directors of the home,
pretty
sends her to college, with plenty of
and pocket money, and Judy
clothes
good times and culture with
takes to
enthusiasm.
Her
her
letters
to
"Daddy Long-Legs,"
unknown benefactor
romance
of his life
wealthy unknown
adorable Judy,
and
hers.
falls in
now
kindle
When
the
the
love with the
a cultured
lady, she too discovers that
he
is
young
some-
thing more than just a mysterious benefactor
a very human and lovable man.
GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers

New York 10, N. Y.
JEAN WEBSTER
GROSSET
&
DUNLAE
Fublishers
NEW YORK
Copyright, 191 2, by
TfeE Century Coa^pany

Copyright, 1940, by
Jean McKinney Conner

Copyright, 191 2, by
The Curtis PuBusHiNG Company

All rights reserved. This bookj or parts
thereofy must not be reproduced in any
form ivithout permission of the publisher.
BOSTON PilBMC LIBRARy
larr
wtth d. APPLBTON-oBimrRT oomi>A]S y

XNIED IN
U^^
TO YOU
^>nl&n^
Introduction
Blue Wednesday
The
to
11
...
21
Letters of Miss Jerusha Abbott
Mr. Daddy-Long-Legs Smith
31
Introduction
JEAN WEBSTER
Being descended from
vious disadvantages.
illustrious
One
of these
people has
is
its
ob-
the difficulty of
winning recognition for one's work entirely apart
from consideration of the conspicuous name of one's

ancestors.
Jean Webster had the distinction of be-
longing to a famous family, but she constantly

that such an inheritance stood in the
on her own
way
felt
of achieving
Her mother, Annie Clemens, was

a niece of Mark Twain and her father, Charles Luther
Webster, was a member of the publishing firm to
which Mark Twain once belonged. Bom and reared
in a literary
rally
merits.
atmosphere of
came by the
this sort,
gift of telling a
course the quality of
she rather natu-
good
story,
and of
humor which permeates her
writing was inherent in her.
Her mother was
a south-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
emer and her father a New Englander of British and
German lineage. Among her eminent forebears were
also Daniel
Boone and
Whitney.
Eli
Jean Webster's real name was Alice Jane Chandler
Webster, the Jane being after
When she went to college,

also Alice, so
Mark Twain's mother.
her room-mate's
name was
Miss Webster was asked to take her
second name. But since to her Jane seemed a
little
old-
went
fashioned, she changed
it
by
bom in Fredonia, New York,
that name. She
July 24,
was
to Jean and ever after
1876, and her early school days were spent
Later she attended
there.
Binghamton,
New
at
York, from which she was gradu-
At Vassar
ated in 1896.
Lady Jane Grey School
College,
where she took her
degree in 190 1, she proved herself an able student but
a poor
Once upon being asked by

"On what authority do you spell
speller.
teacher,
a horrified
thus?" she
repUed, "Webster."
She learned early to write
easily
and well. At college
she majored in English and economics and there began

to
fit
herself for a literary career.
While
a student, she
was not only correspondent for Poughkeepsie newspapers but also a contributor of stories to the Vasstrr
Miscellany.
Her work
institutions for
visits
in economics
meant
visits
to
delinquent and destitute children
which impressed her greatly and directed her

[12]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
imagination in her writing.
Once while
writing for
away with
the newspaper, her imagination quite ran

her,
and she converted some fanciful information into
a practical joke
She had great
which nearly cost her the

difficulty in getting
her
job.
earliest stories
recognized, but once she had succeeded her fame

rapidly grew. After being graduated from college, she
became an independent
was
and her
writer,
to pubhsh a collection of stories
written as a student.
Fatty
series
Went
The book
first
which she had
bore the
title
in this field.
much
Miss Webster traveled widely, spending
where during donkey
periences resulted also in

is
said to
The Wheat
Her Italian
Princess
ex-
which
have written while living with some nuns
in a convent in the Sabine Mountains.

piest
time
rides in the mountains
she found the setting for Jerry Junior,
she
When
and began the famous Patty
to College,
which remains unmatched
in Italy
venture
But her hap-
and most productive days were probably spent

Street,
New York,
in touch with life in
Greenwich
in an old house at 55
for here she
Village
came
where the
and to love
West Tenth
social
workers came to
know
her
her.
During these days she was an indefatigable worker,

and the charm of her
stories
is
due quite as much to
her ardor for application as to innate
[-5]
ability.
She
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
spent long periods in writing her stories and then cut
them down
to desired length. Concerning her at the
beginning of her Hterary career in

critic said:
way,
"She was a sane and hopeful
was
it
was
humanitarian.
and
diligent
wrote profusely, and cut
fact
illustrated
used to
by
on her
was already
literary disci-
practical; she experienced di-
rectly,
is
Her
York one
realist
predicted, to leadership, and
felt indirectly as a
pline
New
This
ruthlessly."
the story of the Itahan
last
boy who
work about Miss Webster's home and with
whom she used to enjoy talking in his native language.

Upon
being asked
if
he had read Daddy -Long-Legs,
he repHed that he had, but

really
it
was discovered
that he
had read what the author had thrown into the
scrap basket.
Of
course
Daddy -Long-Legs was
inspired
by Miss
Webster's love for children which was the basis for

her serious and
charm and
critical
humanity.
interest in
friendliness of her personaUty carried great
influence to positions of importance

stantly held.
life in
The
Her
particular interest
orphanages, a concern which
which she con-
was
is
in improving
manifest in Dear
Enevty, and she likewise served on special committees
having to do with children and prison reform.
work among
creditable.
the prisoners at Sing Sing
Here she made
is
Her
particularly
friends with the prisoners
1^4]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
whom she
often invited to call on her
freed, jestingly
when they were
warning them that her
silver
was but
"plate."
On
September
7,
19 15, Miss
Glenn Ford McICinney,
to
life
alternated
York and
a lawyer, after
which her
between her Central Park home in
a country estate in
New
Tyringham, Massachu-
where she and her husband enjoyed the mutual
setts,
hobby of
career
died
Webster was married
raising
was not destined
on June
riage,
ducks and pheasants. Her promising

to continue, however, for she
11, 19 16, less
than a year after her mar-
and a day or two after the birth of her infant

In her
daughter.
endowed
room
York and
bed
memory
at the Girls' Service
at the
League in
New
County branch of the New York
Orthopedic Hospital near White
The
were appropriately
there
Plains.
following passages help to
make an
interesting
picture of the character and habits of Jean Webster:
Jean Webster was in no sense a reformer. Daddy-
Long-Legs was the spontaneous creation of her

inspired,
As
brain,
no doubt, by her passionate love for children.
a play, even
more than
good than a thousand

institutional reforms.
in
book form,
it
did
tracts in pointing the
Its effect
was
more
need of
so immediate and
so widespread that the author found herself at the
Us]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
As
center of a reform movement.
her
published work, Dear
last
a result she wrote
Enemy, which, beneath
the light, engaging love-story that plays about the

surface, presents the last
ent children
a book
word
in the care of depend-
more
destined to do
effective
service in behalf of these unfortunates than

treatises
ality
pen.
yet published. Such
when combined with a

The names of her
the
all
the magic of person-
is
seeing eye and a singing
whimsically
characters,
enough, she usually chose from the telephone-book,
but the characters themselves, were always taken from

life
both in her fiction and in her play-writing.
She had evolved a thorough technic; she was master

of the tools she wrought with; and at the time of her
death she lacked only complete maturity of mind and

experience to achieve the great things she was potentially
capable of.
the test of time,
Only
tions
few
As
it is,
what she
I believe, as
intimates
left
the best of
know
us will stand
its
kind.
of the wide benefac-
and the generous giving of time and thought
that filled the days of her busy
But those
life.
who
have caught in her writings the friendliness and good
humor
to
of her attitude toward
know
life will
that she lived as she wrote.
poignant pathos in the fact that
who
not be surprised
did so
much
this
And
there
is
sturdy optimist
in her later years for the cause of
[i6]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
childhood should at the
last
have given her
for a
life
The Century Magazine^
[D. Z. D. in
little child.
No-
vember, 19 16.]
matter of opinion whether her writer's art
It is a
was more
effective in the
form of the
form of the novel or the
But certain
play.
it is
that she
was
crafts-
man enough to convert the one medium into the

and with a
skill
that
showed mastery of both.
true that the dramatic
more quickly
in her later work, to
form came to her mind the
it
it
was her custom,
into the novel.
in this wise that
It is
fashioned.
has been said of a distinguished
was too
at least
her plot as a play, and
first cast
Daddy -Long-Legs was

It
It is
for she had been a close student of the
technique of the drama, and
then convert
other,
modem
that he
self-conscious to find the straight path to the
heart of a friend.
The
converse of this almost epito-
mizes Jean Webster's habit of thought, and habit of

action.
in
Whatever her plan or purpose, whether
work
or friendship,
the
straight
it
was
path without
shadow of self-consciousness was the one she followed.
And
it
was
this characteristic that
knew her best

far
feel that all the
was constructive and
straight path led to
wider
work
made
[^7]
who
she had done thus
substantial,
fields,
those
but that the
and that her next ten
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
years
would have revealed the
purpose to which
real
she had directed herself.
To
faith,
transilluminate the
life
so that
hope, and love shone through was Jean Webster's
special gift.
was
commonplace of
Her
dailyness revealed this,
in starting the
whether
it
machinery of her household; in
giving counsel to varied types of friends, for she
dom-
inated whatever group she stayed among; in further-
ing some alleviation of another's sorrow, or securing
an adjustment for better ways in

vision carried through
situation she
gether
made
number. In
saw
social conditions, her
any darkness, and
in every
that this age-long trinity linked to-
for the largest happiness to the greatest

short, her philosophy of life.
[Elizabeth
Gushing in The Vassar Quarterly, November, 19 16.]
The
memory
following sonnet in
of Jean Webster
appeared in The Century Magazine, November, 19 16.
TO
J.
W.
Ruth Comfort Mitchell

Jean Webster went in golden glowing June,
Upon
a full-pulsed,
With
rich achievement luring her to stay.
warm-breathed,
vital day,
Putting her keen, kind pen aside too soon
In the ripe promise of her ardent noon.

Yet, sturdy-souled and whimsical and gay,
I
think she
would have chosen
[18]
it
that
way,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
On
the high-hill note of her
life's
clear tune.
And while gray hearts grow green again with mirth,

And wakened joy and beauty go to find
The small, blue-ginghamed lonely ones of earth,
While charm and cheer and color work
In the glad gospel that she
She will be
living,
left
their will
behind,
laughing with us
still.
JEAN Webster's works
When Patty Went to

The Wheat
College, 1903.
Princess, 1905.
Jerry Junior, 1907.
The Four-Pools Mystery,
Much Ado About

Just Patty, 191
1.
Daddy -Long-Legs,
Asa
1908.
Peter, 1909.
91
(a play), 19 14.
Dear Enemy,
1915.
Pipes of Palestrina (an unpublished comedy).
[^9]
Wednesday
''Blue
The
Wednesday
first
Awful Day
fectly
in every
month was
a Per-
day to be awaited with dread,
endured with courage and forgotten with
Every
floor
must be
every chair
spotless,
haste.
dustless,
and
every bed without a wrinkle. Ninety-seven squirming
orphans must be scrubbed and combed and but-
little
toned into freshly starched ginghams; and
all
ninety-
seven reminded of their manners, and told to say,

"Yes,
It
sir,"
was a
"No,
sir,"
whenever a Trustee spoke.
distressing time;
and poor Jerusha Abbott,
being the oldest orphan, had to bear the brunt of
But
this particular first
sors, finally
dragged
Wednesday,
itself
it.
like its predeces-
to a close. Jerusha escaped
from the pantry where she had been making sandwiches for the asylum's guests, and turned upstairs
to accomplish her regular work.
room
F,
where eleven
occupied eleven
sembled
frocks,
her
wiped
little
charges,
little tots,
Her
special care
from four to seven,
cots set in a row.
straightened
their noses,
and
[21]
was
Jerusha as-
their
started
rumpled
them
in an
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
orderly and willing line toward the dining-room to
engage themselves for a blessed half hour with bread
and milk and prune pudding.
Then
she dropped
down on
the
window
leaned throbbing temples against the cool
had been on her feet since
five that
seat
and
She
glass.
morning, doing
everybody's bidding, scolded and hurried by a nervous

matron. Mrs. Lippett, behind the scenes, did not
ways maintain
that calm
al-
and pompous dignity with
which she faced an audience of Trustees and lady

visitors.
Jerusha gazed out across a broad stretch of
frozen lawn, beyond the
tall
the confines of the asylum,
iron paling that
down
marked
undulating ridges
sprinkled with country estates, to the spires of the

village rising
from the midst of bare
The day was ended quite

she knew. The Trustees and
trees.
successfully, so far as
the visiting committee
had made their rounds, and read their reports, and
drunk
their tea,
and
now were
hurrying
home
to their
own cheerful firesides, to forget their bothersome little

charges for another month. Jerusha leaned forward
and a touch of wistfulness

the stream of carriages and automobiles that rolled
watching with curiosity
out of the asylum gates. In imagination she followed

first
one equipage then another to the big houses
dotted along the
hillside.
She pictured herself
[22]
in a fur
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
coat and a velvet hat trimmed with feathers leaning
back in the
and nonchalantly murmuring "Home"
seat
But on the
to the driver.
picture
grew
door-sill of her
home
the
blurred.
an imagination,
Jerusha had an imagination
Lippett told her, that would get her into trouble

didn't take care
but keen
as
it
was,
it
Mrs.
if
she
could not carry
her beyond the front porch of the houses she would

enter.
Poor, eager, adventurous
little
Jerusha, in
all
her seventeen years, had never stepped inside an ordi-
nary house; she could not picture the daily routine of

those other
human
beings
who
carried
on
their lives
undiscommoded by orphans.
Je-TU-sha Ab-bott
You
are ivan-ted
In the of-fice,
And I think you'd

Better hurry up!
Tommy
singing
who had joined the choir, came

stairs and down the corridor, his chant
Dillon
up the
growing louder
wrenched
herself
troubles of
"Who
as
he approached room F.
Jerusha
from the window and refaced the
life.
wants me?" she cut into Tommy's chant
with a note of sharp anxiety.
[25]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Mrs. Lippett in the
And I
office^
think she^s mad.
Ah-a-men!
Tommy
piously intoned, but his accent was not
entirely malicious.
orphan
the most hardened
sympathy for an erring
felt
summoned
Even
to the office to face an
sister
Tommy
jerk
him by the arm and nearly scrub
liked Jerusha even if she did sometimes

his
nose
Jerusha went without comment, but with
on her brow.
she wondered.
Were
who was
annoyed matron;
and
allel lines
Were
What could
one
own room F
The
par-
have gone wrong,
the sandwiches not thin enough?
there shells in the nut cakes?
horrors!
off.
two
Had
a lady visitor
seen the hole in Susie Hawthorn's stocking?
little
of the cherubic
little
Had
babes in her
"sassed" a Trustee?
long lower hall had not been lighted, and as she
came downstairs,
a last Trustee stood,
on the point of
departure, in the open door that led to the porte-
cochere. Jerusha caught only a fleeting impression of

the
man
ness.
and the impression consisted entirely of
He was
waving
his
arm toward an automobile
waiting in the curved drive.
As
it
and approached, head on for an

headlights threw his
tall-
sprang into motion

instant, the glaring
shadow sharply
against the wall
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
The shadow
inside.
legs
pictured grotesquely elongated
and arms that ran along the floor and up the wall
of the corridor.
looked, for
It
all
the world, Hke a
huge, wavering daddy-long-legs.
frown gave place to quick laugh-
Jerusha's anxious
ter.
She was by nature
snatched the
tiniest
sunny
soul,
and had always
excuse to be amused. If one could
derive any sort of entertainment out of the oppressive

fact of a Trustee,
it
was something unexpected
She advanced to the
good.
office quite
to the
cheered by
the tiny episode, and presented a smiling face to Mrs.
To
Lippett.
her surprise the matron was
also, if
exactly smiling, at least appreciably affable; she
an expression almost
as pleasant as the one she
not
wore
donned
for visitors.
down, Jerusha,
"Sit
have something to say to
you."
Jerusha dropped into the nearest chair and waited
with a touch of breathlessness. iVn automobile flashed

past the
window; Mrs. Lippett glanced
after
"Did you notice the gentleman who has

"I
saw
"He
is
his
one of our most
am
just
gone?"
back."
given large sums of

port.
it.
not
at
affluential Trustees,
money toward
and has
the asylum's sup-
Hberty to mention his name; he ex-
pressly stipulated that he
was
[^5]
to remain
unknown."
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Jerusha's eyes
widened
slightly; she
customed to being summoned to the
was not
ac-
office to discuss
the eccentricities of Trustees with the matron.
"This gentleman has taken an interest in several of
Freize?
You remember Charles Benton and Henry

They were both sent through college by Mr.
and both have repaid with hard
our boys.
er
this Trustee,
work and
success the
Heretofore
wish.
money
that
his philanthropies
rected solely toward the boys;
him
to interest
girls in
so generously
may tell
no matter how
you, care for
seemed to be expected
di-
have never been able
any of the
He
deserving.
girls."
"No, m.a'am," Jerusha murmured,
"To-day
have been
in the slightest degree in
the institution,
does not,
was
Other payment the gentleman does not
expended.
since
some reply
at this point.
at the regular meeting, the question of
your future was brought up."

Mrs. Lippett allowed a
moment
of silence to
fall,
then resumed in a slow, placid manner extremely trying to her hearer's suddenly tightened nerves.
"Usually, as
you know,
the children are not kept
after they are sixteen, but an exception
your
case.
You had
must
say, in
in
finished our school at fourteen,
and having done so well in your studies

I
was made
your conduct
[26]
it
not always,
was determined
to
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
let
you go on in
finishing that,
sponsible
Now you are
the village high school.
and of course the asylum cannot be
any longer for your support. As
re-
you
it is,
have had two years more than most."

Mrs. Lippett overlooked the fact that Jerusha had
wôrked hard for her board during those two years,
come
that the convenience of the asylum had
and her education second; that on days

she was kept at
"As
home
first
like the present
to scrub.
say, the question of your future
up and your record was discussed
was brought
^thoroughly
dis-
cussed."
Mrs. Lippett brought accusing eyes to bear upon

the prisoner in the dock, and the prisoner looked
guilty because
she could
it
seemed to be expected
remember any
^not
because
strikingly black pages in her
record.
*'Of course the usual disposition of one in
place
would be
to put
you
in a position
your
where you
could begin to work, but you have done well in school

in certain branches;
it
seems that your work in English
has even been brilliant. Miss Pritchard

visiting
committee
is
also
who
is
on our
on the school board; she
has been talking with your rhetoric teacher, and
made
a speech in your favor. She also read aloud an essay

"
that you had written entitled, *Blue Wednesday.'
[=7]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
was not
Jerusha's guilty expression this time
as-
sumed.
"It
seemed to
up
in holding
so
I
much
doubt
me
that
Kttle gratitude
to ridicule the institution that has done
Had you not managed to be funny

you would have been forgiven. But fortu-
for you.
if
nately for you, Mr.
has just gone
that
is,
the gentleman
who
appears to have an immoderate sense of
On the strength of that impertinent paper,
humor.
has offered to send
"To
you showed
you
he
to college."
college?" Jerusha's eyes
grew
big.
Mrs. Lippett nodded.
"He
waited to discuss the terms with me.
unusual.
The
gentleman,
may
say, is erratic.
you have originality, and he

educate you to become a writer."
believes that
to
"A
writer?"
Jerusha's
They
is
are
He
planning
mind was numbed.
She
could only repeat Mrs. Lippett's words.
"That
it,
is
his wish.
Whether anything
the future will show.
He
giving
is
liberal allowance, almost, for a girl
any experience
in taking care of
But he planned the matter in

free to
make any
suggestions.
who
come of
you a very
will
has never had
money, too
detail,
You
and
liberal.
did not feel
are to remain here
through the summer, and Miss Pritchard has kindly

offered to superintend your outfit.
[28]
Your board and
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
tuition will be paid directly to the college,
and you
will receive in addition during the four years you are
an allowance of thirty-five dollars a month.
there,
This will enable you to enter on the same standing

the other students.
The money
will
as
be sent to you by
the gentleman's private secretary once a month, and

in return,
you
will write a letter of
once a month. That
is
acknowledgment
^you are not to thank him for
the money; he doesn't care to have that mentioned,
but you are to write a
your
studies
such a
and the
letter as
they were
"These
letter telling of the progress in

details of
your daily
Hfe.
Just
you would write to your parents
if
living.
letters will
be addressed to Mr. John Smith
and will be sent in care of the secretary. The gentleman's name
is
not John Smith, but he prefers to re-
main unknown.
To you
he will never be anything
but John Smith. His reason in requiring the

is
letters
that he thinks nothing so fosters facility in literary
expression as letter-writing. Since
with
whom
in this
way;
progress.
you have no family
to correspond, he desires you to write
He
also,
he wishes to keep track of your
will never
answer your
letters,
nor in
the slightest particular take any notice of them.

detests letter-writing,
come
a burden.
If
He
and does not wish you to be-
any point should ever
arise
where
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
an answer would seem to be imperative
such
the event of your being expelled, which
as in
will
I trust
not occur^you may correspond with Mr. Griggs,

secretary.
ligatory
that
These monthly
on your
Mr. Smith
part; they are the only
requires, so
in sending
them
paying.
hope that they
though
as
you must be
it
were
payment
as punctilious
a bill that
you were
will always be respectful in
tone and will reflect credit on your training.
must remember that you

the John Grier
You
are writing to a Trustee of
Home."
Jerusha's eyes longingly sought the door.
was
his
ob-
letters are absolutely
in a whirl of excitement,
Her head
and she wished only to
escape from Mrs. Lippett's platitudes, and think. She

rose and took a tentative step backwards.
pett detained her with a gesture;
it
was an
Mrs. Liporatorical
opportunity not to be slighted.

"I trust that
rare
you
good fortune
girls in
are properly grateful for this very
that has befallen
your position ever have such an opportunity
to rise in the world.

"I
you? Not many
ye,
You must always remember
ma'am, thank you.
must go and sew
a patch
think,
on Freddie
if that's all, I
Perkins's trou-
sers."
The door
closed behind her,
and Mrs. Lippett
watched it with dropped jaw, her peroration
130]
in midair.
THE LETTERS OF
MISS
JERUSHA ABBOTT
to
MR. DADDY-LONG-LEGS SMITH
Fergussen Hall,
September 24th.
Dear Kind-Trustee-Who-Sends-Orphans-to-College^
Here
a train.
am!
It's
traveled yesterday for four hours in
funny sensation
isn't it?
never rode in
one before.
College
get lost
is
the biggest, most bewildering place
whenever
description later
I
will tell
But
when
you about
Monday
until
leave
my room.
I'm feeling
my
wanted to write a
will write
less
you
muddled;
also
Classes don't begin
lessons.
morning, and
this is
Saturday night.
letter first just to get ac-
quainted.
It
seems queer to be writing
you don't know.
letters at all
four in
my
It
I've
life,
letters to
seems queer for
me
somebody
to be writing
never written more than three or
so please overlook
it if
these are not
a model kind.
Before leaving yesterday morning, Mrs. Lippett and

I
had
very serious
talk.
She told
[55]
me how
to behave
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
all
the rest of
my
life,
and
toward the kind gentleman

for me.
But
how
especially
who
must take care to be
is
Very
to behave
doing so
much
Respectful.
how can one be very respectful to
a person
who
Why
couldn't
you
wishes to be called John Smith?
have picked out a name with a Httle personality?
might
as well write letters to
Dear Hitching-Post or
Dear Clothes-Pole.
I
have been thinking about you a great deal
summer; having somebody take an
makes
these years,
all
a sort of family.
must
my
it's
imagination has very
are
when
little
are just three things that I
L You
IL You
IIL You
me after
had found
belonged to
a very comfortable sensation.
however, that
say,
though
feel as
seems as though
It
somebody now, and
me
interest in
this
to
think about you,
work upon. There
know:
tail.
are rich.
hate
suppose
girls.
might
call
you Dear Mr. Girl-Hater.
Only that's sort of insulting to me. Or Dear Mr. RichMan, but that's insulting to you, as though money
were the only important thing about you.
being rich
is
won't stay rich
all
your
up
in
Wall
get smashed
Besides,
Maybe you
very clever men
such a very external quality.

life; lots
Street.
[34]
of
But
at least
you
will
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
stay
tall all
your
life!
Daddy-Long-Legs.
So
I've decided to call
you Dear
hope you won't mind.
a private pet name^we vôn't
tell
It's just
Mrs. Lippett.
The ten o'clock bell is going to ring in two minutes.

Our day is divided into sections by bells. We eat and
sleep
and study by
bells.
It's
very enlivening;
There
like a fire horse all of the time.
out.
Good
goes!
Lights
night.
Observe with what precision
my
it
I feel
training in the
John Grier
obey
rules
due to
Home.
Yours most
respectfully,
Jerusha Abbott.
To Mr, Daddy-Long-Legs Smith
[35]
October
1st.
Dear Daddy -Long-Legs,

I
love college and
love
you
for sending
very, very happy, and so excited every
time that
different
it
can
is
scarcely sleep.
You
here; I
when you were
My room
tower
am
how
never
in the world.
I'm
and
who
isn't a girl
sure the college
you attended
boy
couldn't have been so nice.
up
in a
tower that used to be the conbuilt the
are three other girls
of the
ward before they
tagious
There
is
who
everybody
feeling sorry for
come
moment
Î'm
can't imagine
from the John Grier Home.
dreamed there was such a place
can't
me
a Senior
who
on the same
infirmary.
floor of the
wears spectacles and
asking us please to be a
Freshmen named
new
Sallie
little
more
McBride and
is
always
quiet,
and two
Julia
Rutledge
Pendleton. Sallie has red hair and a turn-up nose and

is
quite friendly; Julia
comes from one of the
first
me
yet.
families in
New
They room
together and the Senior and
York and
[36]
hasn't noticed
I
have
singles.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Usually Freshmen can't get singles; they are very
one without even asking.
scarce, but I got
the registrar didn't think
suppose
vôuld be right to ask a
it
room with
properly brought-up girl to
You
a foundling.
see there are advantages!
My
room
on the northwest corner with two
is
windows and
After you've lived in a ward
a view.
for eighteen years with twenty room-mates,

ful to
be alone. This
is
the
first
chance I've ever had
to get acquainted with Jerusha Abbott.
going to
rest-
it is
think I'm
like her.
Do you
think
you
are?
Tuesday.
They
and
are organizing the
there's just
Freshman
a chance that
I shall
basket-ball
make
I'm
it.
team
little
of course, but terribly quick and wiry and tough.
While the
others are hopping about in the
dodge under
their feet
fun practising
noon with the
out
and grab the
ball.
can
air, I
It's
loads of
in the athletic field in the after-
trees all red
and yellow and the
air full
of the smell of burning leaves, and everybody laughing and shouting. These are the happiest girls
and
saw
I
am
the happiest of
meant to write a long
ever
all!
letter
and
things I'm learning (Mrs. Lippett said
know) but yth hour
tell
you
all
the
you wanted
to
has just rung, and in ten minutes
[37]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Fm
due
at the athletic field in
Don't you hope
I'll
gymnasium
clothes.
make the team?

Yours always,
Jerusha Abbott.
P.S. (9 o'clock.)
McBride
Sallie
This
is
"Fm
you
I
what she
just
poked her head in
smiled a
through.
Fve escaped!
sick, did
door.
simply can't stand
it.
Do
way?"
little
At
my
said:
so homesick that
feel that
at
and
least
I
said no, I
homesickness
thought
is
could pull
one disease that
never heard of anybody being asylum-
you?
[?^j
October 10th.
Did you ever hear of Michael Angelo?
He was
Middle
a famous
know
laughed because
sounds
who
Everybody
Ages.
seemed to
artist
lived in Italy in the
English
in
about him and the whole
is
that
you
things that
them up
I
of, I just
girls talk
keep
the
first
was a Freshman. That joke has gone

But anyway, I'm
about
and look
all
Somebody
asked
if
she
over college.
just as bright in class as
any of the
and brighter than some of them!
Do you care to know how I've

a
still
day.
mentioned Maurice Maeterlinck, and
It's
very embar-
in the encyclopedia.
made an awful mistake
others
The trouble
know such
It's
But now, when the
never heard
He
are expected to
a lot of things you've never learned.

rassing at times.
class
thought he was an archangel.
an archangel, doesn't he?
like
with college
Literature
symphony
in
brown and
{39]
furnished
yellow.
my room?
The
wall was
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and
tinted buff,
cushions and a
I've
bought yellow denim curtains and
mahogany desk (second hand
for three
and a rattan chair and a brown rug with an
dollars)
ink spot in the middle.
The windows
an ordinary
are
seat.
up
But
stand the chair over the spot.
you
high;
I
unscrewed the looking-glass
from the back of the bureau, upholstered the
moved
it
up
window
height for a
like steps
against the
window.
seat.
You
It's just
to shop
and pay with a
and get some change
all
at the
her
life
what
can't imagine
real five-dollar bill
^when you've never had more
than a nickel in your

I
the right
pull out the drawers
and knows about furnishing. You

it is
and
and walk up. Very comfortable!
Senior auction. She has lived in a house
fun
top,
McBride helped me choose the things
SalHe
from
can't look out
life.
assure you,
Daddy
dear,
do appreciate that allowance.

most entertaining person in the world
Sallie is the
and
Julia
Rutledge Pendleton the
what a mixture the

of room-mates.
registrar
Sallie thinks
and
least so.
It's
queer
can make in the matter

everything
is
funny
at everything.
She
never makes the slightest effort to be amiable.
She
even flunking
beheves that
admits
you
tion. Julia
you
if
Julia
is
bored
are a Pendleton, that fact alone
to heaven without
and
were
any further examina-
bom to be enemies.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
And now
suppose you've been waiting very im-
patiently to hear
Latin:
am
learning?
Second Punic war.
forces pitched
They
what
camp
at
Hannibal and
Lake Trasimenus
his
last night.
prepared an ambuscade for the Romans, and
a battle took place at the fourth watch this morning.
Romans
in retreat.
IL French: 24 pages of the "Three Musketeers"
and third conjugation, irregular verbs.

IIL Geometry:
Finished
cylinders;
now
doing
cones.
IV. English: Studying exposition.
My
style im-
proves daily in clearness and brevity.
V. Physiology: Reached the
digestive system. Bile
and the pancreas next time. Yours, on the
way
being educated.
Jerusha Abbott.
P.S.
It
hope you never touch alcohol. Daddy?
does dreadful things to your
un
liver.
to
Wednesday.
Fve changed
I'm
still
my
name.
"Jerusha" in the catalogue, but I'm "Judy"
every place
else.
It's
sort of too bad, isn't
to give yourself the only pet

I
didn't quite
make up
the
Freddie Perkins used to
it,
to have
name you ever had?
Judy though. That's what
call
me
before he could talk
plain.
I
ity
wish Mrs. Lippett would use a
little
more ingenu-
about choosing babies' names. She gets the
last
you'll find Abbott
names out of the telephone book
on the
first
page
and she picks the Christian names
up anywhere; she got Jerusha from a tombstone.

always hated
name.
little
It
but
rather like Judy.
belongs to the kind of
girl
It's
such a
I'm not
blue-eyed thing, petted and spoiled by
family,
cares.
it;
who romps
Wouldn't
faults I
it
her
way through
be nice to be
life
accuse
a sweet
all
the
without any
like that?
may have, no one can ever
I've
silly
Whatever
me
of having
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
my
been spoiled by
family!
But
it's
sort of
fun to
pretend I've been. In the future please always address
me
as
Judy.
Do you want
to
know
pairs of kid gloves. I've
something?
have three
had kid mittens before from
the Christmas tree, but never real kid gloves with five
fingers.
while.
take
them out and try them on every
It's all I
(Dinner
can do not to wear them to
little
classes.
Good-by.)
bell.
Friday.
What do you
tor said that
think,
my
Daddy? The English
instruc-
paper shows an unusual amount
last
of originality. She did, truly. Those were her words.

It
doesn't seem possible, does
it,
considering the eight-
een years of training that I've had?
John Grier
ily
Home
approve of)
is
(as
you
doubtless
The aim of the

know and heart-
to turn the ninety-seven orphans
into ninety-seven twins.
The
unusual
developed
at
artistic ability
hope that
exhibit,
was
an early age through drawing chalk pic-
tures of Mrs. Lippett

I
which
on the woodshed door.
don't hurt your feeHngs
cize the
my youth?
hand,
for
home of
you know,
if I
when
I criti-
But you have the upper
become too impertinent, you
can always stop payment on your checks. That
[43]
isn't
AUY ORPHAN
Fyont Elevation
Rear Elevation.
a very polite thing to say

to have
^but
you
can't expect
any manners; a foundling asylum
me
isn't
a young
that
is
ladies' finishing school.
You know, Daddy,

to be hard in college.
don't
know what
it
isn't
It's
the
work
going
the play. Half the time I
the girls are talking about; their
jokes seem to relate to a past that every one but

has shared.
I'm a foreigner in the world and
understand the language.
had
it all
my
life.
At
It's
don't
a miserable feeling. I've
the high school the girls
[44]
me
would
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
stand in groups and just look at me.
different
Grier
and everybody knew
Home"
charitable ones
written on
my
it.
was queer and
could feel "John
And
face.
then a few
would make a point of coming up and
saying something polite. / hated every one of them

the charitable ones most of
Nobody
asylum.
father
here
knows
told SaUie
were dead, and
all.
was brought up in an
that I
McBride
but
don't
want you
do want to be
Dreadful
mother and
is
was
entirely true so far
am
to think I
a coward,
like the other girls,
and that
Home looming over my childhood is the one
great big difference.
If I
just as desirable as
any
real,
Anyway,
my
can turn
and shut out the remembrance,
there's
my
that a kind old gentleman
sending me to college ^which

as it goes.
that
any other
back on that
think
girl.
might be
don't believe
underneath difference, do you?
Sallie
McBride
likes
me!
Yours
ever,
Judy Abbott.
(Nee Jerusha.)
Saturday morning.
I've just
been reading
this letter
pretty un-cheerful. But can't
[45]
over and
you guess
it
sounds
that I have
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
a special topic
in
Monday morning and a review
due
geometry and a very sneezy cold?

Sunday.
I forgot to mail this
yesterday so
We
dignant postscript.
I will
had a bishop
add an
this
in-
morning,
and ivhat do you think he said?
"The most
is this,
beneficent promise
made us in the Bible
'The poor ye have always with you.' They
were put here in order to keep us charitable."
The
poor, please observe, being a sort of useful
domestic animal. If
lady, I should have
him what
hadn't
grown
into such a perfect
gone up after service and told
thought.
[46]
October 25th.
Dear Daddy -Long-Legs
I've
made
hogany with
on
my
little
left shoulder.
see
It's
blue and
to
ma-
streaks of orange. Julia Pendleton
tried for the team, but she didn't
You
you ought
the basket-ball team and
see the bruise
what a mean
make
it.
Hooray!
disposition I have.
College gets nicer and nicer.
I like
the girls and
the teachers and the classes and the campus and the
Ju d
Basket
\^
at
Ball
U7^
/(
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
things to eat.
we
You
We
have ice-cream twice a week and
never have corn-meal mush.
didn't
only wanted to hear from
And
you?
every few days!

these
new
I've
But
I've
and you're the only one

I'll
settle
once a month,
been peppering you w4th
adventures that
exuberance;
me
letters
been so excited about

I
Trmst talk to
know.
Please excuse
pretty soon. If
my
all
somebody;
letters
my
bore
you, you can always toss them into the waste-basket.

I
promise not to write another
till
the middle of
November.
Yours most loquaciously,
Judy Abbott.
[m
November
15th.

Listen to
The
what
I've learned to-day:
area of the convex surface of the frustum of a
regular pyramid
perimeters of
is
its
half the product of the
bases
by
sum
of the
the altitude of either of
its
trapezoids.
It
doesn't sound true, but
it is
You've never heard about
Daddy?
for
me
Six dresses,
not
my
new and
all
Î
can prove
clothes,
it!
have you,
beautiful and
bought
handed down from somebody bigger.
Perhaps you don't realize what a climax that marks
You gave them to me,

much obliged. It's a fine
in the career of an orphan?
and
am
very, very, very
thing to be educated
^but
nothing compared to the
dizzying experience of owning six

Pritchard
them out
who
is
on the
visiting
new
dresses.
committee picked
not Mrs. Lippett, thank goodness.
an evening
dress,
beautiful in that),
pink mull over
silk
and a blue church
[49]
Miss
have
(I'm perfectly
dress,
and a din-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
ner
of red veiling with
dress
(makes
me
colored
challis,
day
Oriental trimming
look like a Gipsy) and another of rose-
and a gray
dress for classes.
street suit,
and an every-
That wouldn't be an awfully
big wardrobe for Julia Rutledge Pendleton, perhaps,
but for Jerusha Abbott
Oh, my!
suppose you're thinking
shallow,
little
beast she
is,
now what
a frivolous,
and what a waste of money
to educate a girl?
But,
hams
Daddy,
all
when
your
if
you'd been dressed in checked gingI feel.
And
to the high school, I entered
upon
life,
I started
you'd appreciate
how
another period even worse than the checked ginghams.
The poor box.

You can't know how
in those miserable
sure to be put
owned
my
and point
it
dreaded appearing in school
poor-box
down
dress,
dresses.
was perfectly
in class next to the girl
who
first
and she would whisper and giggle
out to the others.
The
bitterness of
wearing your enemies' cast-off clothes eats into your

soul.
I
If I
wore
don't beheve
silk
stockings for the rest of
could obliterate the
[50]
scar.
my
life,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
LATEST
WAR
News from
At
BULLETIN!
the scene of Action.
the fourth watch on Thursday the 13th of
No-
vember, Hannibal routed the advance guard of the
Romans and
led the Carthaginian forces over the
A cohort
mountains into the plains of Casilinum.
tus Fabius
ing.
of
armed Numidians engaged the infantry of Quin-
light
Maximus.
Romans
battles
and
light skirmish-
repulsed with heavy losses.
have the honor of being,
Your
Two
special correspondent
from the
front
J.
P.S. I
and
I've
tions,
know Fm
not to expect any
Abbott.
letters in return,
been warned not to bother you with ques-
but
tell
me. Daddy,
awfully old or just a

bald or just a
little
little
bald?
just this
old?
It is
once
âre
you
And are you perfectly

very
difficult
thinking
about you in the abstract like a theorem in geometry.
Given
a tall rich
man who
hates girls, but
generous to one quite impertinent

look like?
R.S.V.P.
[31]
girl,
is
very
what does he
December
19th.
You
never answered
my
question and
it
was very
important.
ARE YOU BALD?

I
have
you look
it
like
planned exactly what
^very satisfactorily
your head,
until I reach the top of
and then
am
stuck. I can't decide
whether you have white hair or

black hair or sort of sprinkly gray
hair or
Here
maybe none
is
your
all.
portl'ait:
But the problem
some
at
is,
shall I
add
hair?
Would you
like to
color your eyes are?
[52]
know what
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
They're gray, and your eyebrows stick out
porch roof
(beetling, they're called
your mouth
is
down
comers. Oh, you
at the
like
in novels) and
a straight line with a tendency to turn
know! You're a
see, I
snappy old thing with a temper.

(Chapel
bell.)
9.45 P.M.
have a
at night
study
are
new
coming
books
unbreakable rule: never, never to
no matter how many written reviews
in the morning. Instead, I read just plain
have
to,
you know, because
een blank years behind me.
You wouldn't
Daddy, what an abyss of ignorance

just realizing the depths myself.
girls
my
The
mind
believe,
is; I
am
things that most
with a properly assorted family and a home and
friends and a library
heard
I
there are eight-
know by absorption, I have never
For example:
of.
never read "Mother Goose" or "David Copper-
field" or
'Ivanhoe" or "Cinderella" or "Blue Beard"
or "Robinson Crusoe" or "Jane Eyre" or "AHce in
Wonderland" or
know
that
Henry
word
of
Rudyard
the Eighth
Kipling.
I didn't
was married more than
once or that Shelley was a poet.
I didn't
know
that
people used to be monkeys and that the Garden of
Eden was
a beautiful
myth.
I didn't
know that R.L.S.
stood for Robert Louis Stevenson or that George Eliot
[55]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
was a
lady. I
Lisa" and
had never seen a picture of the "Mona
(it's
you won't
true but
believe it) I
had
never heard of Sherlock Holmes.
Now,
besides,
And
up.
know all
oh, but
it's
evening, and then
and get into

and
of these things and a lot of others
how much
but you can see
fun!
look forward
my nice red bath robe
read and read.
need to catch
day to
all
put an "engaged" on the door
behind
pile all the cushions
light the brass student
lamp
One book
at
and furry
me on
slippers
the couch and
my elbow, and read and
isn't
enough.
have four
going at once. Just now, they're Tennyson's poems
and "Vanity Fair" and Kipling's "Plain Tales" and
don't laugh"Little Women."
only
girl in college
Women."
stamp me
it
who
as queer).
my
find that I
anybody though
I just
last
quietly
(that
(Ten
is
the
would
went and bought
month's allowance; and the
next time somebody mentions pickled limes,
what she
am
wasn't brought up on "Little
haven't told
with $1.12 of
I'll
know
talking about!
o'clock
bell.
This
is
ter.)
[54]
very interrupted
let-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Saturday.
have the honor to report fresh explorations in the
field of
geometry.
On
Friday
last
we abandoned
our
former works in parallelopipeds and proceeded to

truncated prisms.
and very
We
are finding the road rough
uphill.
Sunday.
The
week and
the
are so cluttered that
you
Christmas holidays begin next
trunks are up.
The corridors
can hardly get through, and everybody

over with excitement that studying
is
is
so bubbling
getting left out.
I'm going to have a beautiful time in vacation; there's

another Freshman
and
we
who
lives in
Texas staying behind,
are planning to take long walks
and
if
there's
Then there
the whole
learn to
library to be read and three empty weeks to do
any
skate.
ice
is still
it in!
Good-by, Daddy,
happy
as I
hope that you are feeling
am.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
[53]
as
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
P. S. Don't forget to answer
don't
my
question. If
you
want the trouble of writing, have your secretary
telegraph.
He
can
just say:
Mr. Smith
is
quite bald,
or
Mr. Smith
not bald,
is
or
Mr. Smith has white
And you
my
hair.
can deduct the twenty-five cents out of
allowance.
Good-by
till
and
January
[56]
merry Christmas!
Toward
the end of
the Christmas vacation.
Exact date unknown.

snowing where you are? All the world that
Is it
see
my
from
tower
is
draped in white and the flakes
are coming down
as big as pop-corn.
noon
just setting (a
^the
sun
is
behind some colder violet
window
Your
hills,
and
five
me
I like
I.
You
have already
such
I
III.
lots
of things
silver
everything
don't quite feel that
them
wrist and get

II.
my
Fm not used
just the same.
bought with
in
gold pieces were a surprise!
that
what
am up
seat using the last light to write to you.
know
But
It's late after-
cold yellow color)
to receiving Christmas presents.
given
watch
me
have,
you
deserve extras.
Do you want
to
know
my money?
in a leather case to
to recitations
on
Matthew Arnold's poems.
A hot water bottle.

[57]
time.
wear on
my
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
A steamer rug. (My tower
IV.
V. Five hundred
(Fm going
per.
to
cold.)
is
sheets of yellow manuscript pa-
commence being an author
pretty
soon.)
VL A
(To
dictionary of synonyms.
enlarge the
author's vocabulary.)
Vn.
but
(I don't
much
A pair of silk stockings.
I will.)
And now, Daddy,

It
like to confess this last item,
never say
was a very low motive,

prompted the
that
cross legged
to
on the couch and wears
as
and
I shall
You
silk stockings.
knew
am
already,
from
perfect, didn't
you?
To
go
in
see.
on her couch
sit
I'm honest; and you
way
my seven presents.
wasn't
the English instruc-
I'm
self that
they came in a box from
fornia.
The watch
from
in
Daddy, the miserable
tor begins every other sentence),
is
stockings
asylum record, that
recapitulate (that's the
obliged for
silk
sits
soon as she gets back
^but at least
my
it,
Julia Pendleton
do geometry, and she
from vacation
creature that
tell all!
you must know
if
every night. But just wait
my
don't
stockings.
silk
my room
comes into
am
much
pretending to myI
my
father,
very
family in Calithe rug from
mother, the hot water bottle from grandmother
who
is
always worrying for fear
[55]
I shall
catch cold
in
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
this climate
and
brother Harry.
My
sister Isobel
gave
my
me
little
the silk
and Aunt Susan the Matthew Arnold
stockings,
poems; Uncle Harry
(little
gave
me
the dictionary.
lates,
but
You
from
the yellow paper
insisted
Harry
He
is
named
for him)
wanted to send choco-
on synonyms.
don't object,
do you, to playing the part of a
composite family.?
And now,
you only interested

you appreciate the
such."
The
one so
in
my
the latest addition to
from Texas
funny
is
my
or are
I
hope
meaning in "as
delicate shade of
girl
as
my vacation,
education as such?
It is
(Almost
not so
you about
shall I tell
vocabulary.
named Leonora Fenton.
as Jerusha, isn't it?
I like her,
but
much as SaUie McBride; I shall never like any

much as Sallie except you. I must always like
you the
best of
roiled into one.
all,
because you're
Leonora and
my
whole family
and two Sophomores
have walked 'cross country every pleasant day and

explored the whole neighborhood, dressed in short
skirts
and knit jackets and caps, and carrying shinny
sticks to
whack
things with.
Once we walked
four milesand stopped
town
the college girls go for dinner.

cents)
and for
dessert,
at a restaurant
into
where
Broiled lobster (35
buckwheat cakes and maple
syrup (15 cents). Nourishing and cheap.
[59]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
was such a
It
was
lark!
Especially for me, because
from the asylum
so awfully different
an escaped convict every time

Before
thought,
experience
back.
I
Fm
know.
didn't have
We
given
grabbed
by
it
me
its tail
not to
a very confiding soul
you
to
tell
what an
and pulled
everything
tell
by
it
nature;
if I
things to, I'd burst.
had a molasses candy pull
by
feel like
the campus.
I leave
to tell the others
I started
awfully hard for
It's
Î
was having. The cat was almost out of
when
the bag
it
last
Friday evening,
the house matron of Fergussen to the left-
behinds in the other
There were twenty-two of
halls.
us altogether, Freshmen and Sophomores and Juniors
and Seniors
kitchen
in
all
united
amicable
in
The
accord.
huge, with copper pots and kettles hanging
is
rows on the stone wall
them about the

girls live in
size
the
littlest
casserole
among
of a wash boiler. Four hundred
Fergussen.
The
chef, in a white cap
and
apron, fetched out twenty-two other white caps and
aprons
we
turned ourselves into cooks.
all
It
was
When
it
can't imagine
where he got
so
many
and
great fun, though I have seen better candy.
was
finally finished,
kitchen and the doorknobs
organized a procession and
all
still
and ourselves and the

thoroughly sticky,
in our caps
and aprons,
each carrying a big fork or spoon or frying pan,
[60]
we
we
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
marched through the empty corridors to the
officers'
parlor where half-a-dozen professors and instructors
were passing
a tranquil evening.
We serenaded
They
with college songs and offered refreshments.

accepted politely but dubiously.
them
We left them suck-
ing chunks of molasses candy, sticky and speechless.
So you
see,
Daddy,
my
education progresses!
Don't you really think that
ought to be an
artist
instead of an author?
Vacation will be over in two days and

glad to see the girls again.
lonely;
when
built for four
but
this to
when
tower
is
be
just a trifle
nine people occupy a house that was
hundred, they do
Eleven pages
meant
My
I shall
rattle
around a
poor Daddy, you must be
be
just a short little
get started
bit.
tired!
thank-you note
seem to have a ready pen.
[6i]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Good-by, and thank you for thinking of me
should be perfectly happy except for one
ening cloud on the horizon.
little
Î
threat-
Examinations come in
February.
Yours with
love,
Judy.
P. S.
Maybe
please excuse.
proper to send love? If
it isn't,
must love somebody and
there's
it isn't
But
only you and Mrs. Lippett to choose between, so you

see
cause
^you'll
I
have to put up with
can't love her.
[62]
it,
Daddy
dear, be-
On the Eve.
You
way
should see the
this college is studying!
We've forgotten we ever had
a vacation. Fifty-seven
irregular verbs have I introduced to
Fm only hoping
past four days
my
brain in the
they'll stay
till
after
examinations.
Some
of the girls
sell their
through with them, but

after I've graduated
row
in a
any
keep
it
Julia
in
shall
can turn to
So much
easier
it
my
Then
whole education
and when
without the
need to use
slightest hesita-
and more accurate than trying to
your head.
and stayed
She wanted to
this
evening to pay a
soHd hour. She got started on
the subject of family, and
was
have
Pendleton dropped in
social call,
they're
intend to keep mine.
in the bookcase,
detail, I
tion.
when
text-books
couldnh switch her
know what my
mother's maiden
off.
name
did you ever hear such an impertinent question
to ask of a person
from a foundling asylum?

[63]
didn't
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
have the courage to say
erably plumped on the
that
I didn't
first
name
know,
so
I just
could think
of,
mis-
and
was Montgomery. Then she wanted to know
whether
belonged to the Massachusetts Montgom-
erys or the Virginia
Her mother was
Montgomerys.
The
a Rutherford.
family came
over in the ark, and were connected by marriage with
Henry
the
VIIL
further than
On
her father's side they date back
Adam. On
the topmost branches of her
family tree there's a superior breed of monkeys, with
very fine silky hair and extra long

I
meant to write you
letter to-night,
Freshman's lot
tails.
a nice, cheerful, entertaining
and scared.
but I'm too sleepy

is
not a happy one.
Yours, about to be examined,
Judy Abbott.
[64]
The
Sunday.
Daddy -Long-Legs,
Dearest
I
but
have some awful, awful, awful news to

I
won't begin with
humor
it; I'll
try to get
you
tell
you,
in a
good
first.
commenced to be an author.
"From my Tower," appears in the
Jerusha Abbott has
poem
entitled,
February Monthly
on the
first
great honor for a Freshman.
stopped
me on
and said
it
Let
Oh,
copy
to slide
out from chapel
in case
you
care to read
very
last night,
I will
send
it.
else pleasant
I'm learning to skate, and can glide about

all
by myself. Also
down a rope from
can vault a bar three feet and
had a very
I've learned
how
the roof of the gymnasium,
hope shortly to pull up to four
We
feet.
me see if I can't think of something

yes!
is
English instructor
which had too many
quite respectably
and
way
My
which
was a charming piece of work except for
the sixth line,
you
the
page,
inspiring
six inches
high
feet.
sermon
this
morning
preached by the Bishop of Alabama. His text was:
"Judge not that ye be not judged."
[65]
It
was about
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
the necessity of overlooking mistakes in others, and
not discouraging people by harsh judgments.
you might have heard

This
with
the sunniest, most blinding winter afternoon,
is
icicles
dripping from the
world bending under

and
Fm
wish
it.
fir trees
weight of snow
and
all
the
except me,
bending under a weight of sorrow.
Now for the newscourage, Judy! you must tell.

Are you
surely in a
good humor?
matics and Latin prose.
am
Fm
month.
you're disappointed, but otherwise
bit
flunked mathe-
tutoring in them, and
will take another examination next

if
sorry
don't care a
because Fve learned such a lot of things not men-
Fve read seventeen novels
tioned in the catalogue.
and bushels of poetry
really necessary novels like
"Vanity Fair" and "Richard Feverel" and "Alice in
Wonderland." Also Emerson's "Essays" and Lockhart's "Life of Scott"
and the
"Roman Empire" and

"Life"
^wasn't
out and casually
So you
if
Fd
once
see,
half
kill
Daddy,
man
volume of Gibbon's
of Benvenuto Cellini's
he entertaining?
He
used to saunter
before breakfast.
Fm much
just stuck to Latin.

if I
first
more
intelligent than
Will you forgive
me
promise never to flunk again?
Yours
in sackcloth,
Judy.
[66]
this
NEWS
of the
MONTH
Jud^
learns
to sKate
She receives
and 5k<dS
man^
tears
8ut promises
to study
T
[67J
HARD

This
an extra
is
Vm
because
of lonely
sort
stormy; the snow
can't
my
tower.
All
drank black
sleep.
this
evening consisting of
and Leonora Fenton
Julia
awfully-
It's
on the campus, but

go to
had a supper party
and
tonight.
beating against
is
the lights are out

coffee and
middle of the month
letter in the
and
Sallie
sardines
and
toasted muffins and salad and fudge and coffee. Julia
had a good time, but
said she'd
wash the
I
Sallie
stayed to help
dishes.
might, very usefully, put some time on Latin
to-night
^but,
there's
languid Latin scholar.
Senectute and are
(pronounced
Damn
Should you mind,
you
are
my
no doubt about
We've
now
finished
engaged with
have;
it's
Livy and
De
just for a little while,
De
Amicitia
pretending
SalHe has one and Julia
grandmother?
to-night.
I'm a very
Icitia).
and Leonora each two, and they were
them
it,
all
comparing
can't think of anything I'd rather
such a respectable relationship. So,
really don't object ^When
[68]
went
into
town
if
you
yester-
day,
saw the sweetest cap of Cluny
with lavender ribbon.

present of
it
am
trimmed
lace
going to make you a
on your eighty-third birthday.
!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's the clock in the chapel tower striking twelve.
I
believe
am
sleepy after
Good
all.
night,
I
love
Granny.
you
dearly,
Judy.
The
Dear D. L.
I
L.,
am studying Latin
studying
it.
Ides of March.
prose composition.
be studying
I shall
have been studying
it.
My
whole and happy and
I shall
be about to
reexamination comes the
7th hour next Tuesday, and I
BUST. So you may
it.
have been
am
going to pass or
me
expect to hear from

free
from
next,
conditions, or in frag-
ments.
I
will write a respectable letter
night
when
it's
over.
To-
have a pressing engagement with the Ablative
Absolute.
Yours
in evident haste,
J.
[6p]
A.
March
26th.
Mr, D, L. L. S7mth,
You
Sir:
show
never answer any questions; you never
tees,
all
you
are
those horrid Trus-
and the reason you are educating
cause
You
the slightest interest in anything I do.
probably the horridest one of
care a bit about me, but
me
is,
not be-
from a sense of
Duty.
I don't know a single thing about you.
know your name. It is very uninspiring
Thing.
haven't a doubt but that
letters into the
Hereafter
My
last
don't even
you throw
my
waste-basket without reading them.
shall write
writing to a
only about work.
reexaminations in Latin and geometry came
week.
passed
them both and am now
free
from
conditions.
Yours
truly,
Jerusha Abbott.
[70]
April 2d.
I
am
BEAST.
Please forget about that dreadful letter

last
week
was
feeling terribly lonely
and sore-throaty the night

but
and
was
lots
just
and have been here for
The head
about
let
nurse
it all
wrote.
coming down with
Fm
of things mixed.
they would
me
is
sit
sent
and miserable
didn't
tonsillitis
know
up and have
is
it,
and grippe
in the infirmary
six days; this
you
the
now,
first
time
pen and paper.
very bossy. But I've been thinking
the time and
shan't get well until
you
forgive me.
Here
tied
is
a picture of the
around
my head
way
I look,
in rabbit's ears.
[7/]
with a bandage
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Doesn't that arouse your sympathy?
And IVe
sublingual gland swelling.
physiology
all
lingual glands.
I can't
sit
am
having
been studying
the year without ever hearing of sub-
How futile a thing is education!
write any more;
up too
long.
get sort of shaky
Please forgive
pertinent and ungrateful. I
me
when
for being im-
was badly brought up.

Yours with
love,
Judy Abbott.
[7^]
The
Infirmary.
April 4th.
Dearest
Daddy -Long-Legs,
when
Yesterday evening just toward dark,

sitting
up
bed looking out
in
awfully bored with
at the rain
was
and feeling
great institution, the nurse
life in a
appeared with a long white box addressed to me, and

filled
nicer
with the
still, it
loveliest
pink rosebuds.
And much
contained a card with a very polite mes-
sage written in a funny
little
back hand (but
uphill
one which shows a great deal of character). Thank
Your
you, Daddy, a thousand times.

the
If
true present
first real,
you want
to
know what
and cried because
Now
that
am
them much more
ever received in
a
baby
am,
make
my
I lay
life.
down
was so happy.
sure
you read
my
letters, I'll
interesting, so they'll
take out that dreadful one and burn
you ever read
it
over.
[75]
it
make
be worth keep-
ing in a safe with red tape around them
think that
flowers
only
please
up. I'd hate to
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Thank you
Freshman
for
making
a very sick, cross, miserable
cheerful. Probably
you have
family and friends, and you don't

like to
But
be alone.
Good-by
because
I'll
now
lots
of loving
know what
it
feels
do.
promise never to be horrid again,
know
you're a real person; also
I'll
promise never to bother you with any more questions.
Do you still
hate girls?
Yours forever,
Judy.
[7^]
8th hour,
Monday.

hope you
I
It
went off
who
aren't the Trustee
was
told
with quite
sat
on the toad?
a pop, so
probably
he was a fatter Trustee.
Do you remember
gratings over
the
little
dugout places with
them by the laundry windows
in the
John Grier Home? Every spring when the hoptoad

season opened
we
and keep them

ally
used to form a collection of toads
in those
they would
spill
a very pleasurable
window
holes;
and occasion-
over into the laundry, causing
commotion on wash
were severely punished for our
days.
We
activities in this di-
rection, but in spite of all discouragement the toads
would
And
lars
collect.
one day
well,
won't bore you with particu-
but somehow, one of the
fattest, biggest, juiciest
toads got into one of those big leather
arm
chairs in the
Trustees' room, and that afternoon at the Trustees'
meeting
But
dare say
you were
there and recall
the rest?
Looking back dispassionately
[75]
after a period of time,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
I will say that
punishment was merited, and
member
adequate.
rightly
don't
know why
am
îf
in such a reminiscent
I re-
mood
except that spring and the reappearance of toads
ways awakens the old

thing that keeps
no
fact that
me from
starting a collection
rule exists against
al-
The only
acquisitive instinct.
is
the
it.
After chapel, Thursday.
What do you think

I
mean;
my favorite book?
is
Just
"Wuthering
change every three days.
Heights." Emily Bronte was quite young
wrote
it,
now,
when
she
and had never been outside of Haworth
known any men in her

a man like Heathcliffe?
churchyard. She had never

life;
how could she imagine
I couldn't
the
outside
do
it,
Fm
and
quite
John Grier Asylum
young and never
Fve
had every
chance in the world. Sometimes a dreadful fear comes

over
me
that I'm not a genius.
disappointed,
Daddy,
author? In the spring
if I
lessons,
There
It's
don't turn out to be a great
when
and green and budding,
Will you be awfully
everything
I feel like
is
so beautiful
turning
my back on
and running away to play with the weather.

are such lots of adventures out in the fields!
much more entertaining to live books than to write
them.
[7^]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Ow
That was a
shriek
which brought
Sallie
and
Julia
and (for a disgusted moment) the Senior from across
was caused by a centipede
the hall. It
only worse. Just
was thinking what

ceiling
had finished the
as I
to say next
and landed
at
my
like this:
last
sentence and
plump!
it fell
side.
the tea table in trying to get away. SaHie
with the back of
my
be able to use again

rear fifty feet ran
hair brush
and
which
off
whacked
I shall
it
never
killed the front end, but the
under the bureau and escaped.
This dormitory, owing to
its
age and ivy-covered
They
of centipedes.
walls,
is
tures.
I'd rather find a tiger
full
off the
two cups
tipped
are dreadful crea-
under the bed.
Friday, 9.30 p.m.
Such a
this
lot of troubles!
my
neck.
didn't hear the rising bell
my shoe-string while I was

dress and dropped my collar button down
morning, then
hurrying to
was
broke
late for breakfast
[77]
and
also for first-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
hour
and
recitation.
my
forgot to take any blotting paper
fountain pen leaked.
Professor and
had a disagreement touching a
On looking it up,
matter of logarithms.
was
We
right.
lunch
Nothing but
I
bills in
my
else;
kind that write). In English
had an unexpected written
my
offered Being for
He
Without
But,
That is a poem.
when we
upon
it.
family are not the
we
afternoon
This was
it:
it;
smiled.
twirled a button
a glance
madam,
That we
It
must say that
other was denied.
Brazil?
means.
the asylum.
like
class this
lesson.
The mighty merchant
it
find that she
asked no other thing,
No
I
taste
mail (though
never do get anything
little
had mutton stew and pie-plant for
'em both; they
^hate
In trigonometry the
is
my
way:
there nothing else
can show to-day?
I don't
know who wrote
it
or what
was simply printed out on the blackboard
arrived and
When
we were ordered
read the
first
verse
The Mighty Merchant was a
to
comment
thought
had
divinity
who
distributes blessings in return for virtuous deeds
^but
an idea
[78]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
when
got to the second verse and found him twirl-
ing a button,
seemed
my
changed
I hastily
in the
it
blasphemous supposition, and
The
mind.
rest of the class
same predicament; and there
we
was
sat for three
quarters of an hour with blank paper and equally
blank minds. Getting an education
is
an awfully wear-
ing process!
But
It
end the day. There's worse to come.
this didn't
rained so
gymnasium
we
couldn't play golf, but had to go to
instead.
The
elbow with an Indian

the box with
the skirt
is
club.
my new blue
was so
tight that
next to
girl
got
me banged my
home
spring dress had come, and
couldn't
sit
down. Friday
sweeping day, and the maid had mixed
my
on
desk.
gelatin
We
to find that
all
the papers
had tombstone for dessert (milk and
flavored with
vanilla).
We
were kept
in
chapel twenty minutes later than usual to listen to a
womanly women. And then just as I

was settling down with a sigh of well-earned relief to
"The Portrait of a Lady," a girl named Ackerly, a
speech about
dough-faced, deadly, unintermittently stupid

sits
(I
girl,
who
me in Latin because her name begins with A

Mrs. Lippett had named me Zabriski), came
next to
wish
to ask if
Monday's
or 70, and stayed
lesson
commenced
ONE HOUR.
Did you ever hear of such

[79]
at
She has
paragraph 69
just
gone.
a discouraging series of
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
events?
It isn't
character.
the big troubles in
Anybody can
rise
to a
life
crisis
that require
and face a
crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty
hazards of the day with a laugh
really think that
am
going to develop.
requires spirit.
the kind of character that
It's
am
must play
am
going to pretend that

as skilfully
going to shrug
all life is
and
just a
game which
fairly as I can.
If I lose,
my shoulders and laughalso if I
win.
Anyway,
hear
me
wears
am
going to be a sport.
complain again.
silk
Daddy
You
will never
dear, because
stockings and centipedes drop off the wall.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
Answer
JuHa
soon.
[80]
May
Daddy -Long-Legs,
Dear
Sir:
am
in receipt of a letter
Lippett. She hopes that
and
studies.
summer, she
work
I
for
Since
will let
my
27th.
Esq.
am
from Mrs.
doing well in deportment
probably have no place to go
me come back
to the asylum and
board until college opens.
HATE THE JOHN GRIER HOME.
Fd
rather die than go back.
Yours most
truthfully,
Jerusha Abbott.
[8i]
this
Cher Daddy 'Jambes-Longes,
Vous
etes
un
brick!
]e suis tres heureuse about the farm, parsque je

jamais been on a farm dans
ma
vie
and
nâi
I'd hate to
retourner chez John Grier, et wash dishes tout Vete,
There would be danger of quelque chose
affreuse hap-
pening, parsque fai perdue via humilite d" autre fois et

fat peur that
would
just
break out quelque jour et
smash every cup and saucer dans
Pardon brievete
peur que Monsieur
le
maison.
]e ne peux pas send des
et paper.
mes nouvelles parseque
la
je suis
dans French class et fai
Professeur
is
going to
call
on me
tout de suite.
He
did!
Au
revotr,
Je vous aime heaucoup,
Judy.
[82]
May
30th.
Did you ever
see this
rhetorical question.
campus?
Don't
let it
(That
is
merely a
annoy you.)
It is a
heavenly spot in May. All the shrubs are in blossom
and the
trees are the loveliest
old pines look fresh and new.
young green
The grass is
yellow dandelions and hundreds of

white and pink
free,
dresses.
dotted with
girls in
blue and
Everybody is joyous and
care-
for vacation's coming, and with that to look
forward
to,
examinations don't count.
Isn't that a
happy frame of mind to be
Daddy! I'm the happiest of

the asylum
all!
in?
And
oh,
Because I'm not in
any more; and I'm not anybody's nurse-
maid or typewriter or bookkeeper

been,
even the
you know, except
(I
should have
for you).
my
I'm sorry
now
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
ever slapped Freddie Perkins.
I'm sorry
ever
for
all
past badnesses.
was ever impertinent
filled
the sugar
[83]
to Mrs. Lippett.
bowl with
salt.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Fm
made
sorry I ever
faces behind the Trustees'
backs.
Fm
going to be good and sweet and kind to every-
Fm
body because
so happy.
And
this
Fm
summer
going to write and write and write and begin to be a
Oh,
great author. Isn't that an exalted stand to take?
Fm
developing a beautiful character!
under cold and
frost,
but
it
does
It
grow
droops a bit
fast
when
the
sun shines.
That's the
way with
everybody.
don't agree with
the theory that adversity and sorrow and disappoint-
ment develop moral

the ones
who
strength.
The happy
have no faith in misanthropes.

learned
it.)
people are
are bubbling over with kindliness.
You
(Fine word!
Just
are not a misanthrope, are you,
Daddy?
I
started to tell
come
for a
you about the campus.
little visit
and
let
wish you'd
me walk you
about and
say:
"That
is
the library.
This
is
The Gothic building on your left is

Tudor Romanesque beside
dear.
nasium, and the
new
it
is
the
infirmary."
Oh,
all
Daddy
the gym-
the gas plant.
Fm
fine at
showing people about.
I've
done
it
my life at the asylum, and I've been doing it all day
here.
have honestly.
[84]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
And
Man,
too!
That's a great experience. I never talked to a
man
before (except occasional Trustees, and they don't

count). Pardon, Daddy.
feelings
when
don't
abuse Trustees.
mean
fat
The
and pompous and benevolent.
your
don't consider that
You
you really belong among them.

onto the Board by chance.
to hurt
just
tumbled
Trustee, as such,
He
pats one
is
on the
head and wears a gold watch chain.
That looks
portrait of
like a
June bug, but
any Trustee except you.
[85]
is
meant to be a
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
However
I
to resume:
have been walking and talking and having tea with
And with a very superior man
man.
Pendleton of the House of

(in long, perhaps I
Jervis
her uncle, in short
Julia;
ought to say;
with Mr.
he's as tall as
you).
Being in town on business, he decided to run out to

the college and call
on
his niece.
He's her father's
know him very

when she was a
youngest brother, but she doesn't
intimately. It seems he glanced at her
baby, decided he didn't like her, and has never noticed
her since.
Anyway,
there he was, sitting in the reception
very proper with
his hat
him; and Julia and
Sallie
that they couldn't cut.
and begged
me
to
because
said I
I
and gloves beside
my
room
walk him about the campus and
when
the seventh hour was
would, obligingly but unenthusiastically,
don't care
much
But he turned out to be
human being
stick
with seventh-hour recitations
So JuHa dashed into
then deliver him to her

over.
and
room
not
tiful time; I've
for Pendletons.
sweet lamb. He's a real
a Pendleton at
all.
We had a beau-
longed for an uncle ever
mind pretending you're
my
uncle?
since.
Do you
beHeve they're
superior to grandmothers.
Mr. Pendleton reminded me
[86]
a little of you.
Daddy,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
as
you were twenty years
intimately, even
He's
tall
we
if
ago.
You
see I
know you
haven't ever met!
and thinnish with a dark face
all
over
lines,
and the funniest underneath smile that never quite
comes through but
And he
his
way of making you feel right off

though you'd known him a long time. He's very
mouth.
as
up the corners of
just wrinkles
has a
companionable.
We
walked
all
over the campus from the quad-
rangle to the athletic grounds; then he said he felt
weak and must have some
go to College Inn
walk.
said
it's
we ought
tea.
He
just off the
to
we
proposed that
campus by the pine
go back for JuHa and
Sallie,
but he said he didn't like to have his nieces drink too
much
tea; it
and had
tea
and cake
made them
nervous. So
we
just ran
away
and muffins and marmalade and ice-cream
on the balcony. The
at a nice little table out
inn was quite conveniently empty, this being the end

of the
month and allowances low.
We had the jolHest time!

train the
at all.
But he had to run for
minute he got back and he barely saw JuHa
She was furious with
me
for taking
him
off; it
seems he's an unusually rich and desirable uncle.

relieved
his
my
mind
to find he
was
things cost sixty cents apiece.
[87]
rich, for the tea
It
and
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
This morning
chocolates
came by
What do you
from
I
me
(it's
Monday now)
three boxes of
express for Julia and Sallie and me.
think of that?
To
be getting candy
man!
begin to feel like a
girl instead
of a foundling.
wish you'd come and take tea some day and

see
you. But wouldn't
if I like
didn't?
However,
Bienf
know
make you
my
it
be dreadful
le'
if 1
should.
compliments.
'^]anms je ne f oublierair
Judy.
P. S. I looked in the glass this morning and found a
perfectly
new
very curious.
dimple that I'd never seen before.
Where do you
188]
suppose
it
It's
came from?
June
9th.
Happy
day!
Physiology.
I've just finished
don't
a farm!
know what
never been on one in

at
examination
last
And now:
Three months on
I
my
kind of a thing a farm
my
life.
never even looked
I've
one (except from the car window), but
going to love
I
am
Grier
thrills
Home. Whenever I think of

chase up and down my back. I
faster
shoulder to
make
don't have to
Your nominal
you
Lippett
is
it
excited Httle
feel as
though
and keep looking over
my
sure that Mrs. Lippett isn't after
me
and
faster
me
with her arm stretched out to grab
least;
^ree.
not used even yet to being outside the John
must run
know Fm
and I'm going to love being
it,
I've
is.
mind any one
this
authority doesn't
are too far
away
dead forever, so far
to
back.
summer, do
annoy me
do any harm.
as I
am
in the
Mrs.
concerned, and
the Semples aren't expected to overlook
{89]
I?
my
moral
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
welfare, are they?
grown
I
No,
am
sure not.
am
entirely
up. Hooray!
leave
teakettles
you now to pack
a trunk,
and three boxes of
and dishes and sofa cushions and books.

Yours
ever,
Judy.
P. S.
Here
is
you could have
my
physiology exam.
passed?
[90]
Do you
think
Lock Willow Farm,

Saturday night.
Dearest
I've
Daddy -Long-Legs
only
can't wait to
square like
old.
tell
you how much
I like
farms. This
The
heavenly spot!
is
house
a
is
this:
A hundred years or so.
the side which
The
come and I'm not unpacked, but
heavenly,
heavenly,
And
just
can't
draw and
picture really doesn't do
a
it
It
has a veranda
on
sweet porch in front.

justice
those things
that look like feather dusters are maple trees, and the
prickly ones that border the drive are
[91]
murmuring
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
pines and hemlocks. It stands on the top of a
looks
way off
hill
and
over miles of green meadows to another
line of hills.
That
is
the
way
Marcelle waves; and

crest of one wave.
Connecticut goes, in a
Lock Willow Farm
The
series
just
is
on the
barns used to be across the
road where they obstructed the view, but a kind

of lightning
The
girl
flash
came from heaven and burnt them down.
people are Mr. and Mrs. Semple and a hired
and two hired men. The hired people eat in the
kitchen, and the Semples and
We
of
Judy
had ham and eggs and
in the dining-room.
biscuits
and honey and
and tea for
jelly-cake and pie and pickles and cheese
and a great deal of conversation.
supper
been so entertaining in
pears to be funny.
my
life;
suppose
have never
everything
it is
been in the country before, and
backed by an
say ap-
because Fve never
my
questions are
all-inclusive ignorance.
The room marked with
a cross
murder was committed, but the one
is
not where the
that I occupy.
It's
big and square and empty, with adorable old-fashioned
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
furniture and
windows
propped up on
that have to be
sticks
and green shades trimmed with gold that
down
if
table
you touch them. And
Fm
a big square
mahogany
my
going to spend the summer with
bows spread out on

Oh, Daddy,
to explore.
it,
8.30
now, and
can't wait
am
till
daylight
about to blow out
my candle and try to go to sleep. We rise at Rvt.

you ever know such fun?
You and
Judy.
deserve.
pay.
Fm
the
el-
writing a novel.
Fm so excited!
It's
fall
can't believe this
Good Lord
give
really
is
me more
Did
than
must be a very, very, very good person to
going to be. You'll
see.
Good
night,
Judy.
P.S.
You
pigs squeal
it
over
my
should hear the frogs sing and the
and you should
see the
right shoulder.
[93]
new moon!
little
I
saw
Lock Willow,
July 12th.
How did your secretary come to know about Lock

Willow?
(That
a rhetorical question.
isn't
For
awfully curious to know.)
listen to this:
am
Mr.
own this farm, but now he

Semple who was his old nurse.
Jervis Pendleton used to
has given
it
to Mrs.
Did you ever hear of such a funny coincidence? She

him "Master
still calls
sweet
little
curls put
Jervie" and talks about
boy he used
away
what
to be. She has one of his
in a box,
and
it's
red
or
baby
at least
reddish!
Since she discovered that I
very
much
in her opinion.
Pendleton family
is
is
him, I have risen

a
member
of the
the best introduction one can
have at Lock Willow.

family
know
Knowing
Master Jervie
And the cream

I am pleased to
of the whole
say that Julia
belongs to an inferior branch.
The farm
gets
more and more

[94]
entertaining. I rode
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
on
We
hay wagon yesterday.
and nine
They
have three big pigs
and you should see them eat.

We've oceans of little baby chickens
little piglets,
are pigs!
and ducks and turkeys and guinea
mad
be
fovi^ls.
You must
when you might
to live in a city
live
on a
I fell
off a
farm.
my
It is
beam
daily business to hunt the eggs.
in the
bam
loft yesterday,
while
was trying
And
crawl over to a nest that the black hen has stolen.
when
bound
"Dear!
came
in with a scratched knee, Mrs.
up with witch-hazel, murmuring
it
Dear!
It
all
to
Semple
the time,
seems only yesterday that Master
beam and scratched
Jervie fell off that very same
this
very same knee."
The
scenery around here
is
perfectly beautiful.
There's a valley and a river and a lot of
and
way
wooded
hills,
mountain that
in the distance a tall blue
simply melts in your mouth.
We
churn twice
in the spring house
week; and
which
is
brook running underneath.
we
made of
Some
around here have a separator, but

these new-fashioned ideas. It
keep the cream
may
stone with the
be a
don't care for

little
take care of cream raised in pans, but

better to pay.
names for
all
farmers
of the
we
harder to
it's
enough
We have six calves; and I've chosen the

of them.
[95]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
was
bom
in the
1.
Sylvia, because she
2.
Lesbia, after the Lesbia in Catullus.
woods.
3. Sallie.
a spotted, nondescript animaL
4. Julia
5.
Judy, after me.
6.
Daddy-Long-Legs.
Yovi don't mind, do you.
{96]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Daddy? He's pure Jersey and has a sweet
He
looks like this
name
I
^you
how
can see
disposition.
appropriate the
is.
haven't had time yet to begin
me
the farm keeps
my immortal novel;
too busy.
Yours always,
Judy.
P.S. I've learned to
P.S.
(2) If
you
me recommend
make doughnuts.
are thinking of raising chickens, let
Buff Orpingtons.
They
haven't any
pin feathers.
P.S.
(3)1 wish
fresh butter I
could send you a pat of the nice,
churned yesterday. I'm a
fine dairy-
maid!
P.S.
(4) This
is
a picture of Miss Jerusha Abbott,
the future great author, driving
2>\r(i'i<l
^Jrn
[97]
home
the cows.
Sunday.

Isn't it
funny?
afternoon, but
started to write to
as far as I
Daddy-Long-Legs," and then

ised to pick
and
left
remembered
some blackberries for supper, so
the sheet lying on the table, and
back to-day, what do you think

middle of the page?
found
I'd
I
prom-
went
when
oif
came
sitting in the
A real true Daddy-Long-Legs!
picked him up very gently by one
dropped him out of the window.

of
you yesterday
got was the heading, "Dear
leg,
and
wouldn't hurt one
them for the world. They always remind me
you.
[9^1
of
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
We
wagon
hitched up the spring
drove to the Center to church.
It's
this
morning and
a sweet Httle
white
frame church with a spire and three Doric columns

in front (or
maybe
always get them mixed).
sermon with everybody drowsily
nice, sleepy
waving palm-leaf
Ionic
fans,
and the only sound
from
aside
the minister, the buzzing of locusts in the trees outside.
wake up till I found myself on my feet

hymn, and then I was awfully sorry I
didn't
singing the
should like to
know
hadn't listened to the sermon;
more of the psychology of
man who would
out such a hymn. This was
Come,
your
leave
pick
it:
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
Semples. Their
tact
from
their
God (whom
they have inherited
remote Puritan ancestors)
irrational, unjust,
with the
safe to discuss religion
is
in-
a narrow,
mean, revengeful, bigoted Person.
Thank heaven I don't inherit any God from anybody!

I am free to make mine up as I wish Him. He's kind
and sympathetic and imaginative and forgiving and
and He has a sense of humor.
understanding
I
like the
Semples immensely; their practice
[99]
is
so
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
superior to their theory.
They
own God.
so
them
I told
are better than their
they are horribly
ând
am blasphemous and
troubled.
They
they
We've dropped theology from our conver-
are!
think
think
sation.
This
is
Sunday afternoon.
Amasai (hired man) in a purple
tie
and some bright
yellow buckskin gloves, very red and shaved, has

driven off with Carrie
trimmed with red
roses
(hired girl)
just
in a big hat
and a blue muslin dress and
her hair curled as tight as
it
will curl.
Amasai spent
the morning washing the buggy; and Carrie stayed
all
home from church
ostensibly to
cook the
dinner, but
really to iron the muslin dress.
two minutes more when
In
am
going to
the
attic.
down to
entitled, "On
settle
It's
across the front page in a
this letter is finished I
book which
found in
the Trail," and sprawled
funny
little-boy hand:
Jervis Pendleton
If this
Box
He
ill,
spent the
ears
and send
it
summer here once
when he was
"On the
book should ever roam,
its
home.
had been
after he
about eleven years old; and he
Trail" behind.
It
looks well read
[lOo]
^the
left
marks
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
of his grimy
hands are frequent! Also in a comer
little
of the attic there
is
water wheel and a windmill and
some bows and arrows. Mrs. Semple

stantly about
not
him
con-
talks so
that I begin to believe he really lives
grown man with
a silk hat and walking stick,
who
but a nice, dirty, tousle-headed boy
clatters
up
the stairs with an awful racket, and leaves the screen
doors open, and
is
getting them, too,
always asking for cookies.
if I
know
and
truthful.
Vm
We're going
steam engine
is
seems
and
brave
soul
little
sorry to think he
was meant for something
He
Mrs. Semple!
to have been an adventurous
is
(And
a Pendleton;
he
better.
to begin threshing oats
tomorrow; a
coming and three extra men.
It grieves me to tell you that Buttercup (the spotted

cow with one horn, mother of Lesbia) has done a dis-
graceful thing. She got into the orchard Friday eve-
ning and ate apples under the

until they
went
to her head.
Did you
and
ate
and ate
For two days she has
That
been perfectly dead drunk!

telling.
trees,
is
the truth
ever hear anything so scandalous?

Sir,
I
Your
remain,
affectionate orphan,
Judy Abbott.
[lOl]
am
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
P.S. Indians in the first chapter
in
my breath. What can the third

"Red Hawk leapt twenty feet in the air and
the second.
contain?
and highwaymen
bit the dust."
hold
That
is
the subject of the frontispiece.
Aren't Judy and Jervie having fun?
[^02]
September
15th.
Dear Daddy,
I
was weighed yesterday on the
flour scales in the
general store at the Comers. I've gained nine pounds!
Let
me recommend Lock Willow as
a health resort.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
[^03]
September 25th.
me
Behold
a Sophomore!
sorry to leave
campus
again.
It is
and in
on
in
am
really
last
Friday,
glad to see the
a pleasant sensation to
come back
am beginning to feel at home

command of the situation; I am beI
ginning, in fact, to feel at
though
came up
Lock Willow, but
to something familiar.
in college,
belonged in
home
it
in the
and had not
world
as
just crept
sufferance.
don't suppose
trying to say.
you understand
in the least
what
A person important enough to be a
Trustee can't appreciate the feelings of a person unimportant enough to be a foundHng.
And now. Daddy, listen

I am rooming with?
think
Rutledge Pendleton.
and three
Httle
It's
bedrooms
to this.
Sallie
[104]
do you
McBride and Juha
the truth.
voila!
Whom
We have a study
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Sallie
room
with
and
decided
Sallie
^why,
This
fail,
Oh,
rights,
Anyway,
to change.
late of the
here
John
for Orphans, rooming with a Pendleton.
running for
she
is
I tell
class president,
^you should see
you. Daddy,
you men
and unless
all
going to be elected. Such an atmos-
phere of intrigue
are!
word!
a democratic country.
Sallie is
signs
(fine
Home
is
can't imagine, for they are not a
Think of Jerusha Abbott,
are.
to stay
but the Pendletons are naturally conservative
and inimical
Grier
we should like to
made up her mind
together, and Julia
bit alike;
we
spring that
last
what
politicians
when we women
we
get our
will have to look alive in order to
keep
yours. Election comes next Saturday, and we're going

to have a torchlight procession in the evening,
matter
I
I've
am
who
beginning chemistry, a most unusual study.
never seen anything
Atoms
am
like it before.
are the material employed, but
tion to discuss
I
no
wins.
them more
also taking
Also French.
I'll
definitely next
be in a posimonth.
argumentation and logic.
Also history of the whole world.

Also plays of
Molecules and
WilHam
Shakespeare.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
If this
many
keeps up
years longer,
I shall
become
quite intelligent.
I
should rather have elected economics than French,
but
didn't dare, because
was
would not
elected French, the professor
was,
as it
I just
managed
examination. But
afraid that unless I relet
me
pass
to squeeze through the June
my high-school prep-
will say that
was not very adequate.
aration
There's one
French
girl in the class
who
chatters
away
in
She went abroad
as fast as she does in English.
when she was a child, and spent three

years in a convent school. You can imagine how bright
with her parents
compared with the
she
is
are
mere playthings.
me
a
into a
rest of us
wish
my
French convent when
foundling asylum. Oh, no,
then
maybe
rather
irregular verbs
parents had chucked

I
was
little
instead of
don't either!
should never have
know you
known
you.
I'd
than French.
Good-by, Daddy.
must
call
on Harriet Martin
now, and, having discussed the chemical

casually drop a
Because
situation,
few thoughts on the subject of our
next president.
Yours
in politics,
I.
[106]
Abbott.
October 17th.
Supposing the swimming tank in the gymnasium
were
to
of lemon
filled full
swim manage
We were
question
to keep
having lemon
came up.
an hour and
We
it's still
could swim in
swimmer
it,
in the
but
our
could a person trying
jelly for dessert,
discussed
am
when
the
heatedly for half
it
she
perfectly sure that the best
world would
in
sink?
Sallie thinks that
unsettled.
funny to be drowned
Two
jelly,
on top or would he
lemon
sink.
Wouldn't
it
be
jelly?
other problems are engaging the attention of
table.
I St.
Some
What shape are

of the
the
rooms
girls insist that
in
an octagon house?
they're square; but
think
they'd have to be shaped like a piece of pie. Don't
you?
2d.
Suppose there were a great big hollow sphere
made of
looking-glass and
Where would
it
you were
stop reflecting
[107]
sitting inside.
your face and begin
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
reflecting
this
see
our
your back?
The more one
You can
philosophical reflection we engage
problem, the more puzzling
with what deep
thinks about
it
becomes.
leisure!
Did
three
weeks
ever
tell
you about the
weeks ago, but so

is
ancient history.
fast
election? It
do
we
live,
happened
that three
SaUie was elected, and
we
had a torchlight parade with transparencies saying,
"McBride Forever," and a band

pieces (three
consisting of fourteen
mouth organs and eleven combs).
^ BVB R,
[io8]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
We're very important persons now in "258." Julia
and I come in for a great deal of reflected glory. It's
quite a social strain to be living in the same house with
a president.
Bonne
nuit,
cher Daddy.
Acceptez mes cojnpliments,

Tres respectueux,
Je mis,
Votre Judy.
[lop]
November
12 th.
Dear Daddy -Long-Legs^
We beat the Freshmen at basket ball yesterday.
but
course we're pleased

the Juniors!
I'd
Sallie has invited
could only beat
week in
all
a witch-hazel compress.
me to spend
the Christmas vacation
She hves in Worcester, Massachusetts.
with her.
it
we
if
be willing to be black and blue
over and stay in bed a
Wasn't
oh,
Of
nice of her?
love to go. I've never
I shall
been in a private family in
my
life,
except at
Lock
Willow, and the Semples were grown-up and old and

don't count.
children
But the McBrides have a houseful of
(anyway two or
three) and a
father and grandmother, and an
perfectly complete family!
going away
is
mother and
Angora
cat.
It's
Packing your trunk and
more fun than staying behind. I'm
terribly excited at the prospect.
Seventh hour
must run to
/n the Thanksgiving theatricals.
with a velvet tunic and yellow
rehearsal.
I'm to be
prince in a tower
curls. Isn't that a lark?
Yours,
J.A.
[no]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Saturday.
Do you want
to
know what
photograph of
all
three that Leonora Fenton took.
The
light
one
who
is
laughing
one with her nose in the
look like?
is Sallie,
air is Julia,
more
and the
and the
with the hair blowing across her face

really
is
U^^]
little
tall
one
she
Judy
beautiful than that, but the sun
eyes.
Here's a
was
is
in her
"Stone Gate,"
Worcester, Mass.,
December
31st.
Dear Daddy -Lo?ig-Legs,

I
meant to write to you before and thank you for
your Christmas check, but

hold
is
very absorbing, and
two consecutive minutes

I
just
bought
new gown
My
don't seem able to find
to spend at a desk.
one that
didn't need, but
from
been having the most beautiful vacation
visit-
She
Sallie.
my
lives in a
family just sent love.
big old-fashioned brick house
with white trimmings
set
back from the
exactly the kind of house that
curiously
when
wonder what
to see with
is
McBride house-
Christmas present this year
Daddy-Long-Legs;
ing
in the
is
wanted.
I've
life
it
was
in the
could be
street
used to look at so
John Grier Home, and
like inside.
never expected
my own eyesbut here I am!
so comfortable and restful
from room to rpom and drink
Everything
and homelike;
walk
in the furnishings.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
It
the most perfect house for children to be
is
brought up
and open
in;
with shadowy nooks for hide and seek,
fireplaces for pop-corn,
on rainy
days,
and slippery
fortable flat
knob
at the
in
kitchen, and a nice,
romp
with a com-
and an
attic to
banisters
bottom, and a great big sunny
fat,
sunny cook
who
has lived in
the family thirteen years and always saves out a piece
of dough for the children to bake. Just the sight of
such a house makes you want to be a child
all
over
again.
And
as for families!
never dreamed they could be
and mother and grand-
Sallie has a father
so nice.
mother, and the sweetest three-year-old baby
over
curls,
forgets to
brother
We
who
and a medium-sized brother
wipe
and
his feet,
named Jimmie, who
have the
oiliest
is
good-looking
big,
laughs and jokes and talks at once, and

It's
everybody
we
don't have
a relief not having to
thank Somebody for every mouthful you
eat.
say I'm blasphemous; but you'd be, too,
if
fered as
much
Such a
tell
obligatory thanks as
lot of things
we've done
children. It
was
in the long
(I
dare
you'd of-
have.)
I
can't begin to
you about them. Mr. McBride owns
and Christmas eve he had a
always
a Junior at Princeton.
times at the table
to say grace beforehand.
sister all
a factory,
tree for the employees'
packing-room which was
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
decorated with evergreens and holly. Jimmie McBride
was dressed
and
as Santa Glaus,
and
Sallie
helped him
distribute the presents.
Dear me, Daddy, but
it
was a funny
sensation!
benevolent as a Trustee of the John Grier
felt as
Home.
kissed one sweet, sticky
don't think
little
boy
but
patted any of them on the head!
And two days after Christmas,

own house for ME.
they gave a dance
at their
It
was the
first
really true ball I ever attended
college doesn't count
where we dance with
girls.
had a new white evening gown (your Christmas

present
^many
white satin
thanks)
and long white gloves and
The only drawback
slippers.
fect, utter, absolute happiness
Lippett couldn't see
me
was the
visit
the
J.
my
per-
fact that Mrs.
leading the cotillion with
Jimmie McBride. Tell her about

time you
to
it,
please, the next
G. H.
Yours
ever,
Judy Abbott.
P.S.
I didn't
Would you be
terribly displeased,
Daddy,
turn out to be a Great Author after
just a Plain Girl?
[114
all,
if
but
6.30, Saturday.
Dear Daddy ^
We
how
walk to town to-day, but mercy!
started to
it
poured.
winter to be winter with snow
I like
instead of rain.
Julia's desirable
uncle called again this afternoon
and brought a five-pound box of chocolates. There

are advantages
Our
you
see about
rooming with
Julia.
innocent prattle appeared to amuse him and
he waited over a train in order to take tea in the

study.
And
permission.
an awful
lot of trouble
we had
hard enough entertaining
It's
getting
fathers and
grandfathers, but uncles are a step worse; and as for
brothers and cousins, they are next to impossible,

Julia
had to swear that he was her uncle before
notary pubHc and then have the county clerk's
(Don't
cate attached.
even then
doubt
we
if
Dean had chanced
sandwiches.
I
told
him
He
that
know
certifi-
a lot of law?)
could have had our tea
to see
looking Uncle Jervis
Anyway, we had
how
And
if
the
youngish and good-
is.
it,
with brown bread Swiss cheese
helped
make them and then
had spent
last
["5]
summer
at
ate four.
Lock Wil-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
we
low, and
had a beautiful gossipy time about the
Semples and the horses and cows and chickens. Ail
know
the horses that he used to
are dead, except
who was a baby colt at the time of his last visit

and poor Grove now is so old he can just limp about
Grover,
the pasture.
He
asked
if
they
kept doughnuts in a yellow
still
on the bottom
crock with a blue plate over
it
of the pantryând they do!
He
there
was
still
caught a big,
wanted to know
a woodchuck's hole under the
rocks in the night pasture

fat,
shelf
and
there
gray one there
this
if
pile of
Amasai
is!
summer, the
twenty-fifth great-grandson of the one Master Jervie
caught
when he was
called
little
boy.
him "Master Jer\ae" to
didn't appear to be insulted.
his face,
but he
Julia says that she has
never seen him so amiable: he's usually pretty unapproachable. But Juha hasn't a bit of tact; and men,
I find,
them the
a
right
way and
very elegant metaphor.
amazing?
by
fit
Listen to
if
you rub
you don't. (That isn't

mean it figuratively.)
spit if
We're reading Marie

it
They purr
require a great deal.
Bashkirtseff's journal.
this:
"Last night
was
Isn't
seized
of despair that found utterance in moans, and
that finally drove
me
to
throw the dining-room clock
into the sea."
\ir6]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
It
makes me almost hope
Fm not a genius; they must
be very wearing to have about
ând
awfully destruc-
tive to the furniture.
Mercy! how
swim
it
We
shall
Yours
ever,
keeps pouring.
have to
to chapel to-night.
Judy.
i^n]
Jan. 20th.
Did you ever have

from the cradle
Maybe
am
a sweet
baby
she!
If
we were
be the denouement, wouldn't
who was stolen
in a novel, that
would
it?
know what one
really awfully queer not to
It's
sort of exciting
girl
in infancy?
and romantic. There are such
is
a lot
Maybe I'm not American; lots of people aren't. I may be straight descended from the ancient Romans, or I may be a Viking's daughter, or I
may be the child of a Russian exile and belong by
of possibilities.
rights in a Siberian prison, or
think perhaps
though
am.
maybe I'm
Gipsy
have a very iv under in g
haven't as yet had
much chance
Î
spirit,
to develop
it.
Do you know
the time
career
they punished
about that one scandalous blot in

I
me
the books free for
ran
away from
the asylum because
for stealing cookies?
any Trustee
[ii8]
my
to read.
It's
down
But
in
really,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Daddy, what could you expect?
hungry
little
When you
put a
nine-year girl in the pantry scouring
and go
knives, with the cookie jar at her elbow,
off
and leave her alone; and then suddenly pop in again,

wouldn't you expect to find her a bit crumby?
And
the elbow and box her
then
when you
ears,
and make her leave the table when the pudding
comes, and
tell all
she's a thief,
I
me
jerk her
by
the other children that
it's
because
wouldn't you expect her to run away?
only ran four miles.
They caught me and brought
back; and every day for a
naughty puppy, to
week
a stake in the
was
tied, like a
back yard while the
other children were out at recess.
Oh,
I
dear!
There's the chapel
have a committee meeting.
bell,
and
after chapel
I'm sorry because
meant to write you a very entertaining
letter this
time.
Au]
'wiedersehen
Cher Daddy
Vax
tihi!
Judy.
P.S.
There's one thing I'm perfectly sure
not a Chinaman.
["?]
of.
Fm
February 4th.
me a Princeton banner as
big as one end of the room; I am very grateful to him
for remembering me, but I don't know what on earth
to do with it. Salhe and JuHa won't let me hang it
Jimmie McBride has sent
up; our
room
this
year
can imagine what an effect we'd have

orange and black. But
felt, I
hate to waste
made
to have
it
when
was washed.
it
it's
into a bath robe?
it
be very improper
my
my
letters,
study.
It's
you what
though you might not imagine

time
is
added
My old one shrank
I've entirely omitted of late telling
learning, but
if
such a nice, warm, thick
Would
it.
you
furnished in red, and
is
it
am
from
exclusively occupied with
a very bewildering matter to get educated
in five branches at once.
"The
test
of true scholarship," says Chemistry Pro-
fessor, "is a painstaking passion for detail."
[120]
It's
the e^ri^f biVd
thM cîcbccthetbo
"Be careful not to keep your eyes glued to
detail,"
"Stand far enough away to
says History Professor.
get a perspective on the whole."
You can
sails
see
with what nicety
between chemistry and
torical
method
best.
If I
we
have to trim our
history.
I like
the his-
say that William the Con-
queror came over in 1492, and Columbus discovered
America
in iioo or 1066 or
whenever
it
was, that's
a mere detail that the Professor overlooks.
It
gives
a feeling of security and restfulness to the history

recitation, that
entirely lacking in chemistry.
is
Sixth-hour bell
look into a
I've
little
must go to the laboratory and
matter of acids and
burned a hole
chemistry apron,
salts
and
alkalis.
as big as a plate in the front
of
my
with hydrochloric
If
the
[121]
acid.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
theory worked, I ought to be able to neutralize that
hole with good strong ammonia, oughtn't L^
Examinations next week, but who's afraid?
Yours
ever,
Judy.
[122]
March
5th.
Dear Daddy -Lojtg-Legs,
March wind blowing, and the sky is filled

with heavy, black, moving clouds. The crows in the
There
is
pine trees are making such a clamor!

ing,
exhilarating,
an intoxicat-
You want
to close
off over the hills to race
with the
calling noise.
your books and be
It's
wind.
We had a paper chase last

of squashy 'cross country.
Saturday over
The
five miles
fox (composed of
three girls and a bushel or so of confetti) started half
an hour before the twenty-seven hunters.

of the twenty-seven; eight dropped
we ended
by
was one
the wayside;
The trail led over a hill, through

a cornfield, and into a swamp where we had to leap
lightly from hummock to hummock. Of course half
of us
nineteen.
went
in ankle deep.
We
kept losing the
trail,
and wasted twenty-five minutes over that swamp.
Then up
a hill through
some woods and
in at a
bam
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
The bam
window!
window was up
that fair,
doors were
high and pretty small.
and picked up the
we
circumnavigated the
where
trail
away over two
we
issued
it
low shed roof onto the top of
thought he had us there, but

straight
don't call
do you?
But we didn't go through;
bam
locked and the
all
by way of
The fox
Then
a fence.
fooled him.
miles of rolling
meadow, and
awfully hard to follow, for the confetti was getting

sparse.
The
rule
feet apart, but
is
that
it
must be
at the
they were the longest
most
six feet I
saw. Finally, after two hours of steady trotting,
Fox
tracked Monsieur
six
ever
we
into the kitchen of Crystal
Spring (that's a farm where the
girls
go in bob
sleighs
and hay wagons for chicken and waffle suppers) and
we found
honey and
the three foxes placidly eating milk and

biscuits.
They
hadn't thought
we would
get that far; they were expecting us to stick in the
barn window.
Both
sides insist that
don't you?
Because
we
they won.
think
we
did,
caught them before they got
back to the campus. Anyway,
all
nineteen of us set-
and clamored for
tled like locusts over the furniture
honey. There wasn't enough to go round, but Mrs.

Crystal Spring (that's our pet
rights a Johnson)
name
brought up a
jar
for her; she's
by
of strawberry jam
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and a can of maple syrup
three loaves of
brown
made
just
late for
week
ând
bread.
We didn't get back to college

an hour
last
till
half-past six
and we went
dinner
half
straight in with-
out dressing, and with perfectly unimpaired appetites!
Then we
all
cut evening chapel, the state of our boots
being enough of an excuse.

I
never told you about examinations.
everything with the utmost ease
now, and am never going to flunk
know
again.
passed
the secret
I
shan't be
able to graduate with honors though, because of that
beastly Latin prose
But
don't care.
and geometry Freshman year.
Wot's the hodds so long
'appy?
(That's a quotation.
English
classics.)
Speaking of
If
you
I've
I
classics,
haven't,
do
it
I've
as you're
been reading the
have you ever read "Hamlet"?
right off.
It's
perfectly corking,
been hearing about Shakespeare
my
all
had no idea he really wrote so well;
life,
but
always sus-
pected him of going largely on his reputation.

I
ago
have a beautiful play that
when
I first
learned to read.
invented a long time

I
put myself to sleep
every night by pretending I'm the person (the most

important person) in the book I'm reading at the
mo-
ment.
At
present
I'm
Ophelia
and
U^5]
such
sensible
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Ophelia!
keep Hamlet amused
the time, and pet
all
him and scold him and make him wrap up his throat
when he has a cold. I've entirely cured him of being
melancholy.
The King and Queen
are ruling in
the
Denmark without any
kingdom working
the governing, and

just
founded some
beautifully.
look after the
first-class
an
so Hamlet and
are both dead
accident at sea; no funeral necessary
He
takes care of
charities.
orphan asylums.
or any of the other Trustees would Hke to

I shall
be pleased to show you through.
might find a great
many
We have
bother.
have
If
you
visit
them,
think
you
helpful suggestions.
I
remain,
sir,
Yours most graciously,

Ophelia,
Queen of Denmark.
[126]
March
maybe the
24th.
25th.

I
don't believe
can be going to Heaven
good things
getting such a lot of

fair to get
them
hereafter, too.
here;
it
am
wouldn't be
what
Listen to
has
happened.
Jerusha Abbott has
won
the short-story contest
Monthly holds
(a twenty-five dollar prize) that the
every year.
And
she a Sophomore!
are mostly Seniors.
When
couldn't quite believe

tjo
be an author after
given
ess's,
me
such a
doesn't
Also
silly
it
was
all.
name
saw
true.
The
contestants
my name
Maybe
posted,
am
going
wish Mrs. Lippett hadn't
ît
sounds
like
an author-
it?
have been chosen for the spring dramatics
"As You Like It" out of doors. I am going to be CeHa,

own cousin to Rosalind.
And lastly: JuKa and Sallie and I are going to New
York next Friday
to
do some spring shopping and stay
[j27l
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
all
night and go to the theater the next day with "Mas-
He
ter Jervie."
home with
invited us.
Julia
her family, but
Sallie
stop at the Martha
my
life,
going to stay at
and
are going to
Washington Hotel. Did you ever
hear of anything so exciting?

hotel in
is
Fve never been in a
nor in a theater; except once when
the Catholic Church had a festival and invited the
orphans, but that wasn't a real play and
it
doesn't
going to see?
"Ham-
count.
And what do you think we're

let."
Think of
that!
in Shakespeare class
I
am
We
and
so excited over
studied
know
all
it
it
by
for four
weeks
heart.
these prospects that I can
scarcely sleep.
Good-by, Daddy.
This
is
a very entertaining world.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
P.S. I've just looked at the calendar.
Another
saw
It's
the 28th.
postscript.
a street car conductor to-day with one
eye and one blue.
Wouldn't he make a
for a detective story?
[128]
brown
nice villain
April 7th.
Mercy!
Isn't
New York big?
to
it.
Do you mean
in
all
that confusion?
cover for
days of
it.
that
you
you
all
nothing
is
actually live
don't believe that
can't begin to tell
shall re-
effect of
two
the amazing
suppose you know, though, since
live there yourself.
But
aren't the streets entertaining?
And the shops?
And the people?
never saw such lovely things
are in the windows.

life
me
months from the bewildering
things I've seen;
you
to tell
Worcester
It
as there
makes you want to devote your
to wearing clothes.
Sallie
and Julia and
went shopping together
Satur-
day morning. Julia went into the very most gorgeous

place
ever saw, white and gold walls and blue carpets
and blue
silk curtains
and
gilt chairs.
perfectly
beautiful lady with yellow hair and a long black silk
gown came to meet us with a welcoming smile,

thought we were paying a social call, and started v^
trailing
I
[I2C^]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
shake hands, but
it
She
at least Julia was.
and
tried
on a dozen, each
bought the two

I can't
down
we were only buying hats

sat down in front of a mirror
seems
lovelier than the last,
loveliest of
imagine any joy in
life
greater than sitting
and buying any hat you
in front of a mirror
choose without having
first
to consider the price!
Daddy;
New
There's no doubt about
it,
rapidly undermine this
fine, stoical
the
Home
John Grier
And
we'd
after
the
York would
character which
so patiently built up.
finished our shopping,
ter Jervie at Sherry's.

ry's?
and
all.
we met Mas-
suppose you've been in Sher-
Picture that, then picture the dining-room of
Home
John Grier
with
its
and white crockery that you
oilcloth-covered tables,
ca7t^t
break, and
handled knives and forks; and fancy the

I ate
my
fish
after
way
I felt!
with the wrong fork, but the waiter
me
very kindly gave
And
wooden-
another so that nobody noticed.
luncheon
we went
to the theater
dazzHng, marvelous, unbelievable
it
was
dream about
it
every night.
Isn't
Shakespeare wonderful?
"Hamlet"
we
analyze
is
it
so
much
better
on the
in class; I appreciated
it
stage than
when
before, but
now,
dear me!
I
think, if
you
don't mind, that I'd rather be an
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
actress than a writer.
send you a box for

at
you
man.
all
my
please, so
me to leave
And then FU
like
performances, and smile
Only wear a red
across the footlights.
your buttonhole,
if I
Wouldn't you
and go into a dramatic school?
college
I'll
rose in
surely smile at the right
would be an awfully embarrassing mistake
It
picked out the wrong one.
We came
back Saturday night and had our dinner
in the train, at
waiters.
little
tables
with pink lamps and negro
never heard of meals being served in trains
before, and
inadvertently said so.
"Where on
earth
were you brought up?"
said Julia
to me.
"In a village," said
I,
meekly to
"But didn't you ever travel?"
"Not
till I
hundred and
came
to college,
sixty miles
and
Julia.
said she to
we
me.
was only
didn't eat," said
and then
it
to her.
She's getting quite interested in me, because I say
such funny things.

out
when
the time.
try hard not to, but they do
I'm surprised
It's
and
Daddy, to
pass
Home, and then
sud-
a dizzying experience,
eighteen years in the John Grier
denly to be plunged into the
WORLD.
But I'm getting acclimated.

ful mistakes as I did;
and
pop
I'm surprised most of
don't
make such aw-
don't feel uncomfortable
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
any more with the other
girls.
ever people looked at me.

right through
my
used to squirm when-
I felt as
sham new
clothes to the checked
ginghams underneath. But I'm not
hams bother me any more.

is
though they saw
letting the ging-
Sufficient
unto yesterday
the evil thereof.
you about our flowers. Master Jervie

gave us each a big bunch of violets and lilies-of-theI
forgot to
valley.
care
tell
Wasn't that sweet of him?
much
changing
for
men
never used to
I'm
courage.
Vm
judging by Trustees
^but
my mind.
Eleven pages
^this is
letter!
Have
going to stop.
Yours always,
Judy.
[^5-]
April 10th.
Dear Mr. Rich-Man,
Here's your check for fifty dollars.
very much, but

allowance
need. I
is
am
do not
sorry that
it
However,
can keep
it.
My
sufficient to afford all of the hats that I
the millinery shop;
thing like
feel that I
Thank you
it's
wrote
all
that silly stuff about
just that I
had never seen any-
before.
I
wasn't begging!
And
not accept any more charity than
have
would
rather
to.
Sincerely yours,
Jerusha Abbott,
[^33]
April 11th.
Dearest
Daddy
Will you please forgive
you yesterday? After

tried to get
it
wouldn't give
it
me
posted
what
and
now; Fve been awake
Worm I am^what a Thouworst
that's the
can say!
door very softly into the study so
not to wake Julia and

writing to
Wormand
I've closed the
sorry,
to me.
for hours thinking
sand-legged
was
it I
back, but that beastly mail clerk
the middle of the night
It's
for the letter I wrote
Sallie,
and
am
you on paper torn out of
sitting
up
as
in bed
my history note-
book.
I just
wanted to
tell
you
kindly, and
am sorry I was SO
know you meant it
old dear to take so much
that I
impolite about your check.
think you're an
trouble for such a silly thing as a hat.
have returned
But in any
with
me
naturally
ers
it
very
case, I
much more
girls.
with any one.
it.
It's
They can
from people. They have
and aunts and uncles; but
relations
ought to
graciously.
had to return
than with other
fathers
I can't
like to
diiferent
take things
and broth-
be on any such
pretend that you
belong to me, just to play with the idea, but of course

I
know you
don't.
I'm alone, really
[^34]
^with
my
back
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
to the wall fighting the
when
think about
it.
world
I
and
put
it
get sort of gaspy
out of
keep on pretending; but don't you

can't accept
some day
as great
any more money than
be wanting to pay
I shall
an author
my
see,
have
mind, and
Daddy?
because
to,
back, and even
it
as I intend to be,
won't be able
to face a perfectly tremendous debt.

I'd love pretty hats
and
things,
but
mustn't mort-
gage the future to pay for them.

You'll forgive me, won't you, for being so rude?
I
have an awful habit of writing impulsively
first
But
if I
sometimes seem thoughtless and un-
grateful, I never
always for the
mean
life
it.
moment
I feel like
It's
heart I thank
you
and freedom and independence
you have given me.
every
my
In
My
childhood was just a
and
long, sullen stretch of revolt,
of the day that
now
am
so
can't believe
happy
it's
true.
a made-up heroine in a story-book.
a quarter past two. I'm going to tiptoe out to
the mail chute and get this off now.

it
think things, and then posting the letter beyond
recall.
that
when
in the next mail after the other, so
You'll receive
you won't have
very long time to think bad of me.
Good
I
night,
love
Daddy,
you always,
Judy.
U35]
May
4th.
Day
Field
last
occasion. First
Saturday.
It
was a very spectacular
we had a parade
everybody dressed in white
of
all
the classes, with
linen, the Seniors carry-
ing blue and gold Japanese umbrellas, and the Juniors
Our
white and yellow banners.

balloons
ways
very fetching,
getting loose and floating off
wore green
Also
class
had crimson
especially as they
were
al-
and the Freshmen
tissue-paper hats with long streamers.
we had a band in blue uniforms hired from town.
Also about a dozen funny people,

circus,
like
clowns in a
to keep the spectators entertained
between
events.
Julia
was dressed
as a fat
country
man with
a linen
duster and whiskers and baggy umbrella. Patsy Moriarty (Patricia, really.
Did you ever hear such a name?
Mrs. Lippett couldn't have done better.)
who
is tall
and thin was JuKa's wife in an absurd green bonnet
U36]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
over one
Waves
ear.
of laughter followed them the
whole length of the course.

tremely well.
display so
vie's
never dreamed that a Pendleton could
much comedy
pardon;
and
begging Master Jerhim
consider
a true Pendleton
you
a true Trustee.
weren't in the parade because
And what do you
entered for the events.
At
both won!
spirit
don't consider
though, any more than

Sallie
Julia played the part ex-
something.
least in
running broad jump and
lost;
We
think?
We
tried for the
won the polewon the fifty-
it
was great fun,
but SalHe
vaulting (seven feet tliree inches) and
we were
yard dash (eight seconds).

I
was pretty panting
with the whole
class
at the end,
but
waving balloons and cheering
and yelHng:
What's the matter with Judy Abbott?
She's
all right.
Who's all right?

Judy Ab-bott!
Then trotting back to

the dressing tent and being rubbed down with alcohol
and having a lemon to suck. You see we're very proThat, Daddy,
fessional.
class,
It's
is
true fame.
a fine thing to
win an event for your
because the class that wins the most gets the
athletic
cup for the year. The Seniors
with seven events to
year,
the winners.
late
The
their credit.
association gave a dinner in the
won
gymnasium
up
if so,
to
remember
did people talk that
The haughty Lady Blanche

Mr. Rochester
talks
means the sky; and

hyena and
wedding
veils
of
balls.
just the same,
see
how any
any
Are
sixty years ago?
says to the footman,
my
bidding."
when he
mad woman who laughs
about the metal welkin
as for the
sets fire to
and
but
especially
all
way?
"Stop your chattering, knave, and do
like a
to
half of last night reading ''J^me Eyre."
you old enough, Daddy,
And
athletic
We had fried soft-shell crabs, and choco-
ice-cream molded in the shape of basket
I sat
it this
bites
it's
bed curtains and
tears
melodrama of the
you read and read and
up
purest,
read. I can't
girl
could have written such a book,
girl
who was
brought up in a church-
[^38]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
There's something about those Brontes that
yard.
me.
fascinates
Where
little
Their books, their
did they get
When
it?
lives, their spirit.
was reading about
Jane's troubles in the charity school, I got so
angry that
had to go out and take a walk.
how
stood exactly
pett, I
she
under-
Having known Mrs. Lip-
felt.
could see Mr. Brocklehurst.
Don't be outraged, Daddy.
Home
was
had plenty to
eat
John Grier
that the
We
stitute.
sufficient
water to wash
in,
But there was one deadly
am
not intimating
like the
Lowood
In-
and plenty to wear,
and a furnace in the
likeness.
Our
lives
cellar.
were ab-
monotonous and uneventful. Nothing nice
solutely
ever happened, except ice-cream on Sundays, and even

that
I
was
only
burned.
regular. In
had one
all
the eighteen years
adventure^when
the
was there
woodshed
We had to get up in the night and dress so as

But
to be ready in case the house should catch.

didn't catch
and
Everybody
natural
we went back
likes a
human
few
craving.
Mrs. Lippett called
me
surprises;
But
it's
a perfectly
never had one until
to the office to tell
Mr. John Smith was going to send
And
it
to bed.
me
me
that
to college.
then she broke the news so gradually that
it
just
barely shocked me.
You know, Daddy,
think that the most necessary
[139]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
quality for
any person to have
is
imagination. It makes
people able to put themselves in other people's places.

It
makes them kind and sympathetic and understand-
ing.
It
ought to be cultivated in children. But the
John Grier
Home
instantly
was encouraged.
stamped out the
Duty was
flicker that appeared.
don't think children ought to
know the meaning of the word; it's

They ought to do everything from
Wait
until
you
see the
to be the head of!

I
go to
sleep.
slightest
the one quality that
It's
plan
odious, detestable.
love.
orphan asylum that I'm going
my favorite play at night before

out to the
it
littlest detail
^the
meals and clothes and study and amusements and

punishments; for even
my superior
orphans are some-
times bad.
But anyway, they are going to be happy.
think
no matter how many troubles he may

when
he
grows
up, ought to have a happy childhave
that every one,
hood
dren of
I
am
grow
And if I ever have any chilmy own, no matter how unhappy I may be,
to look back upon.
not going to
let
them have any
cares until they
up.
(There goes the chapel
bell
sometime.)
[140
I'll
finish this letter
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Thursday.
When
I
found a
self to
came
entertain
from Laboratory
squirrel sitting
almonds.
window
in
now
stays
on the
this afternoon,
tea table helping
These are the kind of
that
warm
callers
we
weather has come and the
open
wiil you
him-
have one lump or two?"
[^4^]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Saturday morning.
Perhaps you think,
no
evening with the
my
prize
make
while
it
night being Friday, with
of Stevenson that
Daddy
was
still
liquid
bought with
if so,
youVe never
dear.
Six friends dropped in
attended
them dropped the fudge
fudge, and one of
best rug.
I
set
money? But
a girls' college.
to
last
classes to-day, that I passed a nice, quiet, readable
right in the middle of our
We shall never be able to clean up the mess.
haven't mentioned any lessons of late; but
having them every day.
still
though, to get
large
^rather
away from them and

your
own
answer back any time you
days,
been writing
and
sort
fear
fault.
we
are
of a relief
discuss life in the
one-sided discussions that
hold, but that's
I've
It's
You
are
you and
welcome
to
choose.
this letter off
by now vous
and on for three
etes hien bored!
Good-by, nice Mr. Man,

Judy.
IhA
Mr. Daddy -Long-Legs
S?nith.
Having completed the study of argumentation
Sir:
and the science of dividing a
thesis into heads, I
have
decided to adopt the following form for letter-writing. It contains all necessary facts,
but no unnecessary
verbiage.
I.
We had written examinations this week in:

A. Chemistry.
B. History.
11.
A new
A.
dormitory
material
Its
(a)
is
being
built.
is:
red brick.
(b) gray stone.

B.
Its
capacity will be:
(a)
one dean,
(b)
two hundred
five instructors.
girls.
(c) one housekeeper, three cooks,

waitresses,
III.
We had junket for dessert to-night.
IV.
am
twenty
twenty chambermaids.
writing a special topic upon the Sources
of Shakespeare's Plays.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
V. Lou McMahon
at basket ball,
and
slipped and fell this afternoon
she:
A. Dislocated her shoulder.

B. Bruised her knee.
VL
have a
new
hat trimmed with:
A. Blue velvet ribbon.

B.
Two
blue
quills.
C. Three red pompons.
VIL
It is half-past nine.
VIIL Good
night.
Judy.
[^44]
June
2d.
You
will never guess the nice thing that has hap-
pened.
The McBrides have

camp
at their
sort of club
asked
me
to spend the
in the Adirondacks!
on
summer
They belong
to a
middle of the
a lovely little lake in the
woods. The different members have houses made of

logs dotted about
among
the trees, and they go canoe-
ing on the lake, and take long walks through

other camps, and have dances once a
house
^Jimmie McBride
it
in the club
going to have a college
we
sweet of Mrs. McBride to ask me?
It
him part of the summer,
have plenty of
Wasn't
week
to
see
friend visiting
shall
is
trails
men
appears that she liked
so
you
to dance with.
me when I was
there for Christ-
mas.
Please excuse this being short.
it's
just to let
you know
It isn't
a real
letter;
that I'm disposed of for the
summer.
Yours,
In a very contented frame of mind,
Judy.
June
5th.
Dear Daddy -Lo?2g-Legs,
Your
that
secretary
man
has just written to
Mr. Smith prefers that
me
saying
should not accept Mrs.
McBride's invitation, but should return to Lock Wil-
low the same
summer.
as last
Why, why, ivhy, Daddy?

You don't understand about
want me,
and
really
truly.
it.
I'm not the
trouble in the house. I'm a help.
many
and SalHe and
servants,
things. It's a fine
chance for
Every woman ought
know
Mrs. McBride does
They
can do
least bit
of
don't take
up
lots of useful
me to learn housekeeping.
to understand
it,
and
only
asylum-keeping.
There
aren't
any
Mrs. McBride wants
girls
me
our age at the camp, and

for a
companion for
Sallie.
We are planning to do a lot of reading together. We

are going to read
all
of the books for next year's
Enghsh and Sociology. The Professor

be a great help
if
we would
said
it
would
get our reading finished in
[146]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
the
if
summer; and
we
it's
read together and talk
Just to live in the

is
much
so
it
easier to
remember
It,
over.
same house with
Sallie's
mother
an education. She's the most interesting, entertain-
woman in the world;

she knows everything. Think how many summers
I've spent with Mrs. Lippett and how I'll appreciate
the contrast. You needn't be afraid that I'll be crowding,
companionable, charming
ing them, for their house
made
is
When
of rubber.
they have a lot of company, they just sprinkle tents

about in the woods and turn the boys outside.
going to be such a nice, healthy
summer
It's
exercising
out of doors every minute. Jimmie McBride
is
going
me how to ride horseback and paddle

and how to shoot and oh, lots of things
to teach
canoe,
ought to know.
It's
you
it
say,
once in her
Of
life.
but please, please
never wanted anything so
This
isn't
the kind of nice, jolly, care-free
time that I've never had; and

serves
think every girl de-
course
me
let
I'll
go,
do exactly
Daddy.
as
I've
much.
Jerusha Abbott, the future great author,
writing to you.
It's just
Judy
1^47]
a girl.
June
9th.
Mr, John S?mth,
Sm: Yours of the 7th
inst. at
hand. In compliance
with the instructions received through your secretary,

I
leave
on Friday next to spend the summer
at
Lock
Willow Farm.
I
hope always to remain,

(Miss) Jerusha Abbott.
[148]
Lock Willow Farm.
August Third.
It
two months
has been nearly
wasn't nice of me,
much
You
this
to give
wrote, which
haven't loved
you
^you see I'm being frank!
how disappointed I was at having

McBrides' camp. Of course I know
can't imagine
up the
my
guardian, and that
your wishes in
It
all
was so
had been Judy,
have to regard
matters, but I couldn't see
any
distinctly the best thing that could
have happened to me.
child,
know, but
summer
that you're
reason.
since
If I
had been Daddy, and you
should have
run along and have
people and learn lots of
said,
"Bless you,
good time;
new
see lots of
my
new
things; live out of doors,
and get strong and well and rested for a year of hard
work."
But not
ordering
It's
at
me
all!
to
Just a curt line
from your secretary
Lock Willow.
the impersonality of your
[^49]
commands
that hurts
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
my feelings.
little
if
you
felt
the tiniest
me the way I feel for you, you'd someme a message that you'd written with your
hand, instead of those beastly typewritten secre-
were the
If there
tary's notes.
slightest hint that
you
do anything on earth to please you.
cared, I'd
I
though,
as
bit for
times send
own
seems
It
know that I was to
write nice, long, detailed letters
without ever expecting any answer. You're living up

to
I
your
side of the bargain
I'm being educatedand
suppose you're thinking I'm not living up to mine!

But, Daddy,
it is
you
care for, and
imaginary
real
you
did once,
man
isn't
was
made up
my
ill
when
am
which was
Although
my
is,
I'm
really.
You're
just
an
and probably the
imaginary you. But you
in the infirmary, send mê a

I
am
feeling awfully forgot-
out your card and read
don't think I
to say,
are so shadowy.
a bit hke
when
It
are the only person I have to
that I've
message, and now,

ten, I get
a hard bargain.
You
so awfully lonely.
telling
it
you
over.
at all
what
started
this:
feelings are
still
hurt, for
it is
very
humihating to be picked up and moved about by an

arbitrary, peremptory, unreasonable, omnipotent, invisible
Providence,
still,
when
and generous and thoughtful

been toward me,
a
as
man
has been as kind
you have heretofore
suppose he has a right to be an
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
arbitrary,
dence
if
peremptory, unreasonable, invisible Provi-
cheerful again. But

letters
he chooses, and so
I still
I'll
forgive
you and be
don't enjoy getting Sallie's
about the good times they are having in camp!
Hovêver
^vê
will drav^ a veil over that
and begin
again.
I've
been v^riting and v^riting
this
summer; four
short stories finished and sent to four different magazines.
So you see I'm trying to be an author.
work-room
fixed in a corner of the attic
Master Jervie used to have

It's
in a cool, breezy
his
have
where
rainy-day playroom.
comer with two dormer win-
dows, and shaded by a maple tree with a family of

red squirrels living in a hole.
I'll
all
write a nicer letter in a few days and
tell
the farm news.
We
need
rain.
Yours
as ever,
Judy.
[-5/]
you
August
10th.
Mr. Daddy 'Long-Legs,

Sir:
address
you from the second crotch in the
willow tree by the pool in the pasture. There's a frog

croaking underneath, a locust singing overhead and
two
httle "devil
down-heads" darting up and down
the trunk. I've been here for an hour:

fortable
crotch,
especially
with two sofa cushions.

tablet
I've
very com-
came up with a pen and
been having a dreadful time with
make her behave
as I
my
(Not much
you behave
you
as I
relief
want you
outlook.
though, for
The country
is
writing
can't
New
York,
this lovely, breezy,
Heaven
make
after a
wish
sunshiny
week
of rain.
do you remember Mr. Kelsummer? the minister

told you about
Speaking of Heaven
logg that
am
to, either.)
are in that dreadful
could send you some of
heroine
want her to behave; so
abandoned her for the moment, and
to you.
If
it's
being upholstered
hoping to write an immortal short story, but
I caji^t
I've
after
last
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
of the
little
white church at the Comers. Well, the
poor old soul
is
dead
winter of pneumonia.
^last
went haif-a-dozen times
him preach and got
to hear
very well acquainted with
seems to
He
his theology.
to the end exactly the same things he

It
believed
started with.
me that a man who can think straight
along
for forty-seven years without changing a single idea
ought to be kept in a cabinet

he
is
as a curiosity.
hope
enjoying his harp and golden crown; he was so
perfectly sure of finding them! There's a nev/
man, very up and coming, in

gation
his place.
pretty dubious, especially the
is
Deacon Cummings.
ing to be an awful
It
young
The congrefaction led by
looks as though there was go-
split in
the church.
We don't care
for innovations in religion in this neighborhood.
During our week of rain

had an orgy of reading
self is
more
in his books;
of hero that
think
it
dare say he
was perfect of him

South Seas?
creed. If
my
do
it,
want
too.
in the attic
in print.
all
Don't you
the ten thou-
a yacht and go sailing
He lived up
father had left
him-
himself into the kind
to spend
left for
He
and
any of the characters
made
would look well
off to the
up
Stevenson, mostly.
entertaining than
sand dollars his father
I'd
I sat
me
to his adventurous
ten thousand dollars,
The thought of Vailima makes me wild.
to see the tropics.
want
to see the
whole
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
am
going to some day
am,
world.
when
get to be a great author, or
or whatever
or playwright
turn out to be.

sight of a
really,
Daddy,
or
actress,
artist,
sort of a great person
have a terrible wanderthirst; the very
map makes me want
take an umbrella and
start.
to put
on
my
hat and
"I shall see before I die
the palms and temple of the South."
Thursday evening
Very hard
is
at twilight, sitting
to get
any news into
becoming so philosophical of
i.^^
Vr^
T
{^54}
on the doorstep.
this letter!
late,
Judy
that she wishes
i-~A?
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
world in
to discourse largely of the
general, instead
of descending to the trivial details of daily

if
you
?nust have news, here
But
life.
it is:
Our nine young pigs waded across the brook and

ran away last Tuesday, and only eight came back.
We don't want to accuse any one unjustly, but we
suspect that
Widow Dowd
has one
more than she
ought to have.
Mr. Weaver has painted

a bright
says
it
pumpkin yellow
his
a very ugly
his
two
silos
color, but
he
will wear.
The Brewers have company

er's sister
this
of our
Rhode
*^
:^
what was the
trouble.
Rhode
Reds only brought
Island
three chicks out of fifteen eggs.
ion, are a
week; Mrs. Brew-
and two nieces from Ohio.
^
One
barn and
We
can't imagine
Island Reds, in
very inferior breed.
tons.
[^55]
off
my opin-
prefer Buff Orping-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
The new
clerk in the post-office at Bonnyrigg
Four
Corners drank every drop of Jamaica ginger they had
seven
in stock
dollars'
before
worth
he was dis-
covered.
Old
Ira
can't work any

money when he was earning
Hatch has rheumatism and
more; he never saved
his
good wages, so now he has to
live
on the town.
There's to be an ice-cream social at the schoolhouse

next Saturday evening.
I
have a
new hat that
at the post-ofiice.
way
Come and
I
This
bring your families.
bought for twenty-five cents

is
my
latest portrait,
on
my
to rake the hay.
It's
getting too dark to see; anyway, the
news
used up.
Good
night,
Judy.
[^56]
is all
Friday.
some news! What do you

think? You'd never, never, never guess who's coming
to Lock Willow. A letter to Mrs. Semple from Mr.
Good
morning! Here
is
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Pendleton.
He's motoring through the Berkshires,
and
and wants to
if
is
tired
on a nice quiet farm
rest
he climbs out at her doorstep some night will she
Maybe
have a room ready for him?
restful
it is
when he
stay one
he'll
week, or maybe two, or maybe three;
he'll see
how
gets here.
we
The whole house is

being cleaned and all the curtains washed. I am driving to the Comers this morning to get some new oil
cloth for the entry, and two cans of brown floor paint
Such a
flutter as
for the hall and back
to
come to-morrow
are in!
to
is
engaged
wash the windows
(in the
we
You might
exigency of the moment,

regard to the piglet).
account of our
waive our suspicions in
activities, that
ready immaculate; but
assure
isn't it just like
a man,
the house
you
from
think,
it
was not
this
al-
was! Whatever
a HOUSEKEEPER.
Daddy? He doesn't give
Mrs. Semple's limitations, she
But
Dowd
Mrs.
stairs.
is
the remotest hint as to whether he will land on the
doorstep to-day, or
two weeks from
to-day.
We shall
and
live in a perpetual breathlessness until he comes

if
he doesn't hurry, the cleaning
may
all
have to be
done over again.

There's Amasai waiting below with the buckboard
and Grover.
drive alone
but
if
Grove, you wouldn't be worried
[^58]
you could
as to
my
see old
safety.
With my hand on my
farewell.
heart
Judy.
P. S. Isn't that a nice ending? I got
it
out of Steven-
son's letters.
Saturday.
Good morning
again!
didn't get this enveloped
yesterday before the postman came, so
more.
We
is
a blessing to the farmers!
not only dehvers
letters,
(I
me some
sunburned
all
shoe-strings
and a
the skin off
my
[^59]
Our
post-
but he runs errands for
us in town, at five cents an errand.
brought
add some
have one mail a day at twelve o'clock.
Rural deHvery
man
I'll
Yesterday he
jar of cold
nose before
cream
I
got
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
my new
hat) and a blue
blacking
all
gain,
owing
Also he
Windsor
us what
and a bottle of
That was an unusual bar-
for ten cents.
to the largeness of
tells
tie
is
my order.
happening in the Great
World. Several people on the route take

and he reads them
news
to the ones
he jogs along, and repeats the
as
who
needn't bother to write;
how
hear
sign yet of Master Jervie.
clean our house
wipe our
I
I'll
hope
to talk to.
sort of
come
Mr. Rockefeller
anyway.
But you should
Mrs. Semple, to
am
longing for some one
tell
you
She never
the easy flow of her conversation.
what
They
mean.
Grier Home.
the truth, gets
lets ideas
It's
about the people here. Their world

hilltop.
is
Our
interrupt
funny thing
just this single
are not a bit universal, if

It's
see
step in!
soon;
monotonous.
it
and with what anxiety we
we
feet before
he'll
is
and Japan,
John Grier Home, you
leaves a million dollars to the
No
States
assassinated, or
is
So in case a
don't subscribe.
war breaks out between the United

or the president
daily papers,
you know
exactly the same as at the

ideas
John
there were bounded by the
four sides of the iron fence, only
didn't
mind
it
so
much because I was younger and was so awfully busy.

By the time I'd got all my beds made and my babies'
faces washed and had gone to school and come home
{i6o]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and had washed their faces again and darned their
mended Freddie
stockings and
tore
in
Perkins's trousers (he
them every day of his life) and learned
between
was ready
to
go to bed, and
notice any lack of social intercourse.
years in a conversational college,

shall
my lessons
didn't
after
do miss
who
be glad to see somebody
But
it;
speaks
two
and
my
lan-
guage.
I really believe I've finished,
occurs to
letter
me
at
the moment
Daddy. Nothing
Î'U
else
try to write a longer
next time.
Yours always,
Judy.
P.S.
It
The
lettuce hasn't
was so dry
done
early in the season.
\i6il
at all well this year.
August 25th.
Well, Daddy, Master Jervie's here.
time as we're having!
At
least I
And such
am, and
a nice
think he
is,
he has been here ten days and he doesn't show
too
The way Mrs. Semple pampers

that man is scandalous. If she indulged him as much
when he was a baby, I don't know how he ever
any
signs of going.
turned out so well.
He
and
ate at a little table set
sometimes under the

cold
trees,
He
in the best parlor.
on the
or^when
side porch, or
it
just picks
rains or
is
out the spot
he wants to eat in and Carrie trots after him with the

table.
Then
if it
has been an awful nuisance, and she
has had to carry the dishes very far, she finds a dollar
under the sugar bowl!
He
is
an awfully companionable sort of man,
though you would never believe

he looks at
isn't in
the
and sweet
first
least.
as
it
to see
him
casually;
glance like a true Pendleton, but he
He
is
just as simple
he can be
^that
{162]
and unaffected
seems a funny
way
to
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
describe a man, but
it's
true.
He's extremely nice with
the farmers around here; he meets
them
in a sort of
man-to-man fashion that disarms them immediately.
They were very

for his clothes!
rather amazing.
suspicious at
first.
They
didn't care
And I will say that his clothes are

He wears knickerbockers and pleated
and white flannels and riding clothes with
jackets
puffed trousers.
Whenever he comes down
in any-
thing new, Mrs. Semple, beaming with pride, walks
around and views him from every angle, and urges
him to be careful where he
sits
he will pick up some dust.
It
down; she
is
so afraid
bores him dreadfully.
He's always saying to her:
"Run
along, Lizzie,
can't boss
It's
and tend to your work. You
me any longer.
I've
grown up."
awfully funny to think of that great, big, long-
legged
man
(he's nearly as long-legged as you.
Daddy)
ever sitting in Mrs. Semple's lap and having his face
washed.
Particularly
funny when you
She has two laps now, and

that
see her lap!
But he says
three chins.
once she was thin and wiry and spry and could
run faster than he.
Such
a lot of adventures we're having!
We've
ex-
plored the country for miles, and I've learned to fish
made of
Also to shoot
with funny
little flies
with a
and a revolver. Also to ride horseback
rifle
[765]
feathers.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
an astonishing amount of
there's
We fed him on oats for three

calf
life
days,
in old Grove.
and he shied
at a
and almost ran away with me.
Wednesday.
We
a
climbed Sky Hill
Monday
afternoon.
That's
mountain near here; not an awfully high mountain,
no snow on the
perhaps
are pretty breathless
summit
when you
but
at least
reach the top.
you
The
lower slopes are covered with woods, but the top

just piled
rocks and open moor.
the sunset and built a
fire
We
is
stayed up for
and cooked our supper.
[164]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Master Jervie did the cooking; he said he
knew how
me and he did, too, because he's used to

Then we came down by moonlight, and,
when we reached the wood trail where it was dark,
by the light of an electric bulb that he had in his
better than
camping.
pocket. It was such fun!

the
read
way and
all
He
laughed and joked
talked about interesting things.
the books
Fve ever
besides. It's astonishing
read,
and a
how many
lot
all
He's
of others
different things
he
knows.
We
went for a long tramp
caught in a storm.
Our
clothes
this
morning and got
were drenched before
we reached home but our spirits not even damp.

You should have seen Mrs. Semple's face when we
dripped into her kitchen.
Miss Judy!
"Oh, Master Jervie

through. Dear!
new
coat
is
Dear!
What
You
are soaked
do?
That nice
shall I
perfectly ruined."
She was awfully funny; you would have thought

that
we were
mother.
was
ten years old, and she a distracted

afraid for a while that
going to get any jam for
we
weren't
tea.
Saturday.
I started this letter
second to
finish
ages ago, but I haven't had a
it.
[^65]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
a nice thought from Stevenson?
Isn't this
The world is so full of a number of things,

I am sure we should all be as happy as kings.
It's true,
you know. The world
and plenty to go round,
if
you
such a
full
of happiness,
The whole
the kind that comes your way.
being pliable.
is
are only willing to take

secret
is
in
In the country, especially, there are
lot of entertaining things.
can walk over
everybody's land, and look at everybody's view, and

dabble in everybody's brook; and enjoy
though
as
owned
it
just as
and with
no
the land
much
taxes to
pay!
It's
am
Sunday night now, about eleven
o'clock,
supposed to be getting some beauty
sleep,
no beauty
had black coffee for dinner, so
and
but
sleep for
me!
This morning, said Mrs. Semple to Mr. Pendleton,
with a very determined accent:
"We have to leave here at a quarter past ten in order

to get to church
"Very
by
eleven."
well, Lizzie," said
the surrey ready, and
if
Master Jervie, "you have
I'm not dressed, just go on
without waiting."
"We'U
wait," said she.
[i66]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
"As you
please," said he,
"only don't keep the horses
standing too long."
Then while
she
was
up a lunch, and he
went
It
to scramble into
my walk-
slipped out the back
way and
told
we
ing clothes; and
he told Carrie to pack
dressing,
me
fishing.
discommoded the household
Lock Willow of
dreadfully, because
Sunday dines
he
at
But he
two.
orders meals whenever
ordered dinner at seven
he chooses; you would think the place were a restau-
and
that kept Carrie
rant
driving.
But he
said
was
it
and Amasai from going

all
the better because
it
wasn't proper for them to go driving without a
chaperon; and anyway, he wanted the horses himself

to take
me
Did you ever hear anything so
driving.
funny?
And poor
fishing
Mrs. Semple believes that people
on Sundays, go afterwards to a
hell!
She
is
train
him
better
who go
sizzling hot
awfully troubled to think that she didn't
when he was
and
small and helpless
she wished to show him
she had the chance. Besides

off in church.
Anyway, we had our

ones) and
They kept
fishing (he
we cooked them on
falling off
they tasted a
little
caught four
a camp-fire for lunch.
our spiked sticks into the
ashy, but
[167]
little
we
ate
them.
fire,
We
so
got
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
home
at four
and went driving
at seven, and at ten I
was
at five
sent to bed
and had dinner
and here
writing to you.
I
am
getting a
little
sleepy though.
Good
Here
is
a picture of the one
fish I
^^^:^7>^^3rf
[i68]
night.
caught.
am,
Ship ahoy, Cap^n Long-Legs!

Avast!
Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum.
Belay!
Guess what I'm reading? Our conversation these past
two days
has
been nautical and
piratical.
"Treasure Island" fun? Did you ever read

it
written
thirty
when you were
pounds for the
Excuse
me
for filling
my
mind
He
comprises
is
or wasn't
Stevenson only got
a boy?
serial rights
pays to be a great author.
it,
Isn't
Maybe
I'll
don't beheve
it
teach school.
my letters so full of Stevenson;
much engaged with him

Lock Willow's library.
very
at present.
two weeks, and I

think it's about long enough. Never say, Daddy, that
I don't give details. I wish you were here, too; we'd
I've
all
been writing
this letter for
have such a jolly time together.
friends to
know
each other.
[169]
I like
my different
wanted to ask Mr.
Pendleton
if
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
he knew you in New YorkI
think he might; you must

exalted social circles,
It's
real
the
and you
same
in about the
are both interested in
couldn't, for I don't
know
thing I ever heard of, not to
know
reforms and things
your
move
should
but
name.
silliest
your name. Mrs. Lippett warned

eccentric. I
me
that
you were
should think so!

Affectionately,
JXJDY.
P. S.
On
reading this over,
Stevenson. There are one or
I find
that
it isn't all
two glancing
references
to Master Jervie.
[770]
September
10th.
Dear Daddy,
He
has gone, and
we
When you
are missing him!
get accustomed to people or places or
ways of
and then have them suddenly snatched away,

leave an awfully empty,
Pm
gnawing
living,
does
it
sort of sensation.
finding Mrs. Semple's conversation pretty un-
seasoned food.
College opens in
two weeks and
I shall
be glad to
work again. I have worked quite a lot this

summer though six short stories and seven poems.
begin
Those
sent to the magazines
came back with the
all
most courteous promptitude. But
good
practice.
in the mail, so I couldn't help his
said
have the slightest idea of what
(Master Jervie doesn't
But the
in college
he
don't mind.
It's
he brought
knowing and he
They showed
they were dreadful.
truth.)
Master Jervie read them
last
one
let
I
was
that
didn't
talking about.
politeness interfere with
did
just a little sketch laid
said wasn't bad;
and he had
it
type-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
written,
and
sent
two weeks; maybe
You
it
to a magazine. They've had
they're thinking
should see the sky!
it
it
over.
There's the queerest
orange-colored light over everything. We're going to
have a storm.
It
commenced
as quarters
and
just that
moment with drops
as big
the shutters banging. I had to run
all
to close windows, while Carrie flew to the attic with
an armful of milk pans to put under the places where

the roofs leaks
pen,
and then,
remembered
just as I
was resuming
that I'd left a cushion
my
and rug and
hat and Matthew Arnold's poems under a tree in the

orchard, so
The
dashed out to get them,
all
quite soaked.
red cover of the poems had run into the inside;
"Dover Beach"
in the future will be
washed by pink
waves.
A storm
is
awfully disturbing in the country.
are always having to think of so
many
You
things that are
out of doors and getting spoiled.
Thursday.
Daddy! Daddy! What do you think? The postman

has just
come with two letters.
My story accepted.
Alorsf Fm an AUTHOR.
ist.
is
[772]
$50.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
2d.
Â letter
from the college secretary
a scholarship for
tuition.
two
Fm to have
years that will cover board and
was founded by an alumna for "marked
It
proficiency in English with general excellency in
And
other Hues."
I left,
of
but
I've
won
it!
applied for
didn't have an idea I'd get
my Freshman bad work in math,
seems I've made

cause
now
it
up.
am
it,
it
before
on account
and Latin. But
awfully glad, Daddy, be-
won't be such a burden to you.
monthly allowance
will be
it
all I'll
need, and
The
maybe
can earn that with writing or tutoring or something.

I'm crazy to go bact and begin work.
Yours
ever,
Jerusha Abbott,
Author
of,
"When
Won the
news
the Sophomores
Game." For
sale at all
stands, price ten cents.
lm\
September 26th.
Back
study
at college again
is
and an upper classman. Our
better than ever this year
with two huge windows
faces the South
and oh! so furnished.
JuHa,
with an unlimited allowance, arrived two days early
and was attacked with a fever of
We
have
mahogany
new
not painted mahogany which made
chairs
us sufficiently happy
gorgeous, but
last
wrong
for fear
I'll
It's
very
belonged in
it;
get an ink spot in
place.
And, Daddy,
pardon
year, but real.
don't feel as though
Fm nervous all the time

the
settling.
wall paper and Oriental rugs and
found your
mean your
letter
waiting for
me
secretary's.
Will you kindly convey to me a comprehensible

reason why I should not accept that scholarship? I
don't understand your objection in the
way,
it
won't do the
slightest
for I've already accepted
U74]
But any-
good for you to
and
it
least.
am
object,
not going to
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
change! That sounds a
mean
I
impertinent, but
little
don't
it so.
suppose you feel that
me, you'd
when you
set
out to educate
work, and put a neat
like to finish the
period, in the shape of a diploma, at the end.
But look
I
at
owe
shall
though
I let
be quite so
want me
second from
just a
it
my
much
for the
indebted.
if I
it,
makes
it
ing to spend the rest of
but
of
now I
shall
know
money, but
to return the
going to want to do
whole of
so
it,
of view.
much
education to you just as
you pay
this scholarship
my point
but
that
as
won't
you don't
nevertheless, I
am
possibly can; and winning
much
my
life
easier.
in
was expect-
paying
my
debts,
only have to spend one-half of the
rest
it.
hope you understand
The
cross.
cept.
It
allowance
This
tastes,
isn't
but
a lot
position and won't be
I shall still
most gratefully ac-
requires an allowance to live
her furniture!
simpler
my
or else that she were not
much
I've
up to JuHa and
wish that she had been reared to
of a
letter; I
my room-mate.
meant to have written
been hemming four window curtains
and three portieres (I'm glad you can't see the length
of the stitches) and polishing a brass desk set with
tooth
powder (very
uphill
work) and sawing
off pic-
ture wire with manicure scissors, and unpacking four
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
boxes of books, and putting away two trunkfuls of
clothes
(it
doesn't seem believable that Jerusha
owns two trunks

welcoming back
Opening day
Good
night,
She's
of clothes, but she does!) and
fifty dear friends in

is
between.
a joyous occasion!
Daddy
cause your chick
full
is
dear,
and don't be annoyed be-
wanting to scratch for
growing up into an awfully energetic
^with a
very determined cluck and
ful feathers (all
Abbott
lots
herself.
little
due to you).
Affectionately,
Judy.
[iy6]
hen
of beauti-
September 30th.
Dear Daddy,
Are you
knew
able,
harping on that scholarship?
still
man
never
so obstinate and stubborn and unreason-
and tenacious, and bull-doggish, and unable-to-
see-other-peopleVpoints-of-view as you.
You
from
prefer that
there
And what
any one
shouldn't recognize
Now, you
see, if
and had written
your
should not be accepting favors
strangers.
Strangers!
Is
Httle
are you, pray?
in the
you
world that
if I
know
met you on the
you had been a

nice,
less?
street.
sane, sensible person
cheering, fatherly letters to
Judy, and had come occasionally and patted
her on the head, and had said you were glad she was
such a good
flouted
your
you
Then, perhaps, she wouldn't have
girl
in
slightest
meant to
your old
wish
would have obeyed

daughter she was
be.
Strangers indeed!
Smith.
age, but
like the dutiful
You
live in a glass house,
Mr.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
And
besides, this isn't a favor;
earned
by hard work.
it
enough
in
English,
the
If
it's
like a prize
But what's the
You
Î
nobody had been good
committee wouldn't have
awarded the scholarship; some years they
don't.
use of arguing with a
Also
man?
belong, Mr. Smith, to a sex devoid of a sense of
logic.
To
bring a
man
into line, there are just
two
methods: one must either coax or be disagreeable.
men
scorn to coax
must be
for
what
Therefore,
wish.
I
I
disagreeable.
to give
I refuse, sir,
up the
scholarship;
and
if
you
make any more
fuss, I
lowance
but will wear myself into a nervous
either,
won't accept the monthly
al-
wreck tutoring stupid Freshmen.
my
That
is
And
listen
ultimatum!
are so afraid that
have a further thought.
by
You can
apply the
money
that
you would have
spent for me, toward educating some other
little girl
from the John Grier Home. Don't you think

nice idea? Only,
as
you
you
am deknow a way
taking this scholarship,
priving some one else of an education,

out.
Since
Daddy, educate the new
that's a
girl as
much
choose, but please don't like her any better than
me.
I trust
pay so
that
your secretary won't be hurt because
httle attention to the suggestions offered in his
[775]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
letter,
but
I can't help it if
he
is.
Daddy.
I've
meekly given in to
but
time
intend to be
Mind,
this
He's a spoiled child,

his
whims
heretofore,
FIRM,
Yours,
With
Completely and Irrevocably and
World-without-End Made-up.
Jerusha Abbott.
[^79]
November
9th.

I started
down town
to-day to buy a bottle of shoe
blacking and some collars and the material for a
new
blouse and a jar of violet cream and a cake of Castile
soap
all
very necessary;
day without them

found that
fare, I
my
other coat. So
car,
and was
It's
had
I
left
happy another
couldn't be
and when
tried to
pay the car
my purse in the pocket of
had to get out and take the next
gymnasium.
late for
a dreadful thing to have no
memory and two
coats!
Julia
Pendleton has invited
Christmas hoHdays.
Smith?
Home,
How
me
does that strike you, Mr.
Fancy Jerusha Abbott, of the John Grier

sitting at the tables of the rich.
why Julia wants meshe seems to

tached to me of late. I should, to
much
so
if I
to visit her for the
prefer going to
go anywhere,
Sallie's,
it
don't
know
be getting quite
tell
at-
the truth, very
but Julia asked
must be to
[j8o]
me
New York
first,
instead
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
of to Worcester.
Fm
rather
awed
meeting Pendletons en masse, and

a
Daddy
also I'd
have to get
dear, if
yon write
you would prefer having me remain
quietly at
lot of
that
new
at the prospect of
college, I will
clothes
so,
bow to your wishes with my usual sweet
docility.
Fm
engaged
Letters of
at
odd moments with the "Life and
Thomas Huxley"
it
ing to pick up between times.

archseopteryx
Fm not sure
is?
It's
a bird.
myself but
think
makes nice,
Do you know what an

And a stereognathus?
it's
a missing link, like
a bird with teeth or a lizard with wings.

either; I've just
mammal,
light read-
looked in the book.
It's
No,
it isn't
a mesozoic
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
I've elected
subject.
economics
When I
this
finish that
year
^very illuminating
I'm going to take Charity
and Reform; then, Mr. Trustee,
I'll
know
just
how
orphan asylum ought to be run. Don't you think
make an admirable voter

twenty-one
last
week.
if I
This
had
is
my
rights?
an
I'd
was
an awfully wasteful
country to throw away such an honest, educated, conscientious, intelligent citizen as I
would
be.
Yours always,
Judy.
[182]
December
7th.
Thank you
take
it
means consent.
that silence
Such
for permission to visit Julia
weVe been
a social whirl as
founder's dance
came
last
week
this
having!
The
was the
first
year that any of us could attend; only upper classmen

being allowed.
I
Jimmie McBride, and
invited
Sallie invited his
who visited them last summer

an awfully nice man with red hair
at their camp
and Julia invited a man from New York, not very
room-mate
at Princeton,
exciting, but socially irreproachable.
with the
De
la
He
is
connected
Mater Chichesters. Perhaps that means
something to you?
It doesn't illuminate
me
to
any
extent.
However
our
guests
came Friday afternoon
in
time for tea in the Senior corridor, and then dashed
down
to the hotel for dinner.
that they slept in
rows on the
The
hotel
was so
billiard tables,
full
they say.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Jimmie McBride says that the next time he
to a social event in this college,
he
is
bidden
is
going to bring
one of their Adirondack tents and pitch
on the
it
campus.
At
seven-thirty they
came back for the
Our
reception and dance.
We
had the men's cards
and
after every dance,
under the
letter that
functions
President's
commence
early!
made out ahead of time,

vê'd leave them in groups
all
stood for their names, so that
they could be readily found
by
their next partners.
Jimmie McBride, for example, vôuld stand patiently

under
"M"
until he
was claimed. (At
least,
he ought
to have stood patiently, but he kept vândering off and

getting mixed with "R's" and "S's" and
letters.)
found him a very
all sorts
difficult guest;
sulky because he had only three dances with me.

said he
was bashful about dancing with
girls
of
he was
He
he didn't
know!
The
next morning
who do you
we had
think wrote the funny
posed for the occasion?

tell
a glee club concert
It's
new song com-
the truth. She did.
you. Daddy, your Httle foundling
and
is
Oh,
getting to be
quite a prominent person!
Anyway, our gay two days were great fun, and I

think the men enjoyed it. Some of them were awfully
perturbed
at first at the
prospect of facing one thou-
[184]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
sand
girls;
Our
but they got acclimated very quickly.
two Princeton men had

politely said they had,
at least
they
and they've invited us to
their
a beautiful time
dance next spring. We've accepted, so please don't
Daddy
object,
and
Julia
want
dear.
and
Sallie
I all
them?
to hear about
had
new
Julia's
dresses.
was cream
Do you
satin
gold embroidery, and she wore purple orchids.
was
dream and came from
Paris,
and
It
and cost a million
dollars.
Sallie's
was pale blue trimmed with Persian em-
broidery, and
went beautifully with red
cost quite a million, but
Mine was
J.
to get)
McB.
And
satin.
all
had
didn't
trimmed with
carried crimson roses
sent (SaHie having told
And we
It
just as effective as Julia's.
pale pink crepe de chine
ecru lace and rose
which
was
hair.
satin slippers
him what color

and
silk
stock-
ings and chiffon scarfs to match.
You must be
deeply impressed
by
these millinery
details!
One can't help thinking, Daddy, what a colorless

life a man is forced to lead, when one reflects that
chiffon and Venetian point and hand embroidery and
Irish crochet are to
woman, whether
him mere empty words. Whereas

she
is
interested in babies or mi-
crobes or husbands or poetry or servants or parallelo-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
grams or gardens or Plato or bridge
and always
It's
world
îs
fundamentally
interested in clothes.
the one touch of nature that makes the whole

kin.
(That
isn't original.
got
it
out of one of
Shakespeare's plays.)
Do you want me to
However, to resume.
promise not to think
And
discovered?
secret that I've lately
me
vain?
Then
tell
you
will
you
listen:
I'm pretty.
I
am,
I'd
really.
be an awful idiot not to
know
it
with three looking-glasses in the room.
A
P.S.
This
is
Friend.
one of those wicked anonymous
you read about
in novels.
[i86]
letters
December
20th.
Dear Daddy -Long-Legs^

IVe
classes,
pack
and
a trunk
but
o'clock train
word
must attend two
a suitcase,
and catch the four
moment, because
just a
couldn't go without sending a
you know how much
to let
appreciate
my
Christmas box.
I
love the furs and the necklace and the liberty
scarf
and the gloves and handkerchiefs and books and
purse
and most of
all I
have no business to spoil
and
fixed
such worldly
I
now
and the Sunday ice-cream.
all
the
human
deflect
me
with
frivolities?
John Grier Trustees used

works
Daddy, you
I'm only
when you
career,
have strong suspicions
his
But,
How can I keep my mind sternly
a girl at that.
on a studious
love you!
me this way.
know
him!
as to
which one of the
to give the Christmas tree
He was
You
nameless, but
deserve to be
by
happy for
good things you do.
Good-by, and
very merry Christmas.
Yours always,
Judy.
P. S. I
am sending
you would
like
her
a slight token, too.
if
you knew
her?
Do you think
January 11th.
meant to write to you from the
Daddy, but
city,
New York is an engrossing place.
and
time,
had an interesting
Fm
glad
illuminating
don't belong in such a family!
truly rather have the John Grier
ground. Whatever the drawbacks

there
was
at least
no pretense about
The
Things.
house was crushing;

I
was on an
ture
it.
know now
are weighted
material atmosphere of that
didn't
draw
a deep breath until
coming back. All the
furni-
was carved and upholstered and gorgeous;
people
met were
and weU-bred, but

one word of
we
express train
left.
beautifully dressed
it's
real talk
I don't
but
should
Home for a backof my bringing up,
what people mean when they say they
down by
and low-voiced
the truth. Daddy,
from the time
the
we
never heard
arrived until
think an idea ever entered the front
door.
Mrs. Pendleton never thinks of anything but jewels
and dressmakers and social engagements. She did seem
[i88]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
a different kind of
mother from Mrs. McBride!
Fm going to make them
ever marry and have a family,
as exactly like the McBrides as
money
world would
in the
ever
Not
can.
let
youVe been
please excuse. This
is
very
for
all
the
any children of
mine develop into Pendletons. Maybe

to criticize people
If I
it isn't
visiting?
confidential,
polite
If it isn't,
between you
and me.
I
only saw Master Jervie once
time,
and then
alone. It
last
and
Julia's
called at tea
didn't have a chance to speak to
sort of disappointing after
summer.
tives
was
when he
our nice time
much for his relacare much for him!
don't think he cares
am
sure they don't
mother says
he's unbalanced.
He's a
Socialist
except, thank Heaven, he doesn't let his hair
and wear red
up
his
him
ties.
grow
She can't imagine where he picked
queer ideas; the family have been Church of
England for generations.
on every
on such
He
throws away
money
sort of crazy reform, instead of spending
sensible things as yachts
polo ponies.
He
sent Juha and
You know,
me
I
does
it
and automobiles and
buy candy with
it
though!
He
each a box for Christmas.

think
I'll
be a
Socialist,
wouldn't mind, would you. Daddy?

different
his
too.
They're quite
from Anarchists; they don't beUeve
ing people up. Probably
am one by
[189]
You
in
rights; I
blow-
belong
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
to the proletariat. I haven't determined yet just
kind
am going to
Sunday, and declare
my
gilding
My
mind
and hotels and beautiful
College
is
still
am
find
are.
who
life;
keep you
classes
have the gymnasium and outdoor
you
New
more bracing than
when your mind
plenty of congenial friends
my
a student; this atmos-
a very satisfying sort of
mentally, and then
pretty
to get back to college and
books and study and regular
the same things
Fm
and palms.
believe that I really
phere of academic calm
York.
next.
a confused jumble of onyx and
floors
am glad
breathless but I
books
is
and mosaic
my
principles in
I've seen loads of theaters
houses.
which
be. I will look into the subject over
alive
gets tired,
athletics,
the
you
and always
are thinking about
We spend
whole evening
and go to bed with
in nothing but talk
talk
talk
very uplifted feeling as though
we had
manently some pressing world problems.

every crevice, there
in
up but very
sense
^just silly
is
satisfying.
We
little
And
filling
lot of
non-
things that
come
always such a
jokes about the
settled per-
do appreciate our own
witticisms!
It isn't
it's
the great big pleasures that count the most;
making a great deal out of the
little
ones
I've dis-
covered the true secret of happiness. Daddy, and that

IS
to live in the
now. Not to be forever regretting the
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
past, or anticipating the future;
that
you can out of
this
very
but to get the most
instant. It's like farming.
You can have extensive farming and

ing; well, I am going to have intensive
Fm
intensive farmliving after this.
Fm
going to enjoy every second, and
know Fm
enjoying
people don't
live;
it
they
reach some goal far
Fm
while
away on
enjoying
They
just race.
going to
Most
it.
are trying to
the horizon, and in the
heat of the going they get so breathless and panting

that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil coun-
try they are passing through; and then the
they know, they are old and
make any
and
out,
it
thing
doesn't
difference whether they've reached the goal
or not. Fve decided to
up
worn
first
a lot of
little
sit
down by
pheress as
am
way and
pile
if I
never become a
know
such a philoso-
happinesses, even
Great Author. Did you ever
the
developing into?
Yours
ever,
Judy.
P. S.
It's
raining cats and dogs to-night.
Two
puppies and a kitten have just landed on the windowsiU.
[191]
Dear ComradCy
Hooray!
Vm
a Fabian.
That's a Socialist who's willing to wait.
want the
ing;
it
social revolution to
would be too
don't
come to-morrow morn-
upsetting.
We
want
very gradually in the distant future,

all
We
it
to
come
when we
shall
be prepared and able to sustain the shock.

In the meantime
we must be
getting ready,
by
insti-
tuting industrial, educational and orphan-asylum re-
forms.
Yours, with fraternal love,
Judy.
Monday, 3d hour.
[ip2]
February 11th.
Dear D. L.
L.,
Don't be insulted because

a letter;
it's
just a line to
letter pretty
soon
when
not only necessary that
have a scholarship to
this is so short.
examinations are over.

I pass,
live
It isn't
say that I'm going to write a
up
but pass
WELL.
to.
Yours, studying hard,

J.
[^93]
It is
A.
March
5th.

President Cuyler
the
He
made
a speech this evening about
modern generation being

says that
we
flippant
and
superficial.
are losing the old ideals of earnest
endeavor and true scholarship; and particularly

noticeable
falling-off
in
this
our disrespectful attitude
toward organized authority.

seemly deference to our
is
We
no longer pay a
superiors.
came away from chapel very sober.

Am I too familiar, Daddy? Ought I
I
with more dignity and aloofness?

ought.
My
I'll
to treat
Yes,
Fm
you
sure
begin again.
dear Mr, Smithy
You
fully
will be pleased to hear that I passed success-
my
mid-year examinations, and
mencing work
new
semester.
having completed the course

and am entering upon the study of biology.
chemistry
analysis
in the
am now comI am leaving

in qualitative
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
I
approach
we
derstand that
An
with some
this subject
dissect
hesitation, as I
angleworms and
un-
frogs.
extremely interesting and valuable lecture was
given in the chapel
Southern France.
last
I
week upon Roman Remains
have never listened to a more
in
il-
luminating exposition of the subject.
We are reading Wordsworth's "Tintem Abbey" in

connection with our course in English Literature.
What an
exquisite
embodies
his
movement
work
it is,
how
and
conception of Pantheism!
adequately
it
The Romantic
of the early part of the last century, ex-
emplified in the
Keats, and
works of such poets
as Shelley,
Byron,
Wordsworth, appeals to me very much
more than the
Classical period that
you ever read
ing of poetry, have
preceded
it.
Speak-
that charming
little
thing of Tennyson's called "Locksley Hall"?

I
am
gymnasium very regularly of
attending
late.
proctor system has been devised, and failure to com-
ply with the rules causes a great deal of inconvenience.
The gymnasium
is
equipped with a very beautiful
swimming tank of cement and marble,

former graduate.
given
me
My
it)
and
room-mate, Miss McBride, has
her bathing-suit
no longer wear
the gift of
(it
am
shrank so that she can
about to begin swimming
lessons.
We
had delicious pink ice-cream for dessert
last
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Only
night.
food.
The
esthetic
vegetable dyes are used in coloring the
college
is
very
much
opposed, both from
and hygienic motives, to the use of
dyes.
The weather
of late has been ideal
shine and clouds interspersed with a
snow-storms.
and
walks to and from

Trusting,
in
^bright sun-
few welcome
my companions have enjoyed our
particularly from.
classes
my dear Mr.
your usual good
aniline
Smith, that this will find
health,
remain.
Most
cordially yours,
Jerusha Abbott.
[196]
you
April 24th.
Dear Daddy,
You
Spring has come again!
campus
the
is.
think
should see
how
lovely
you might come and look
at
it
for yourself. Master Jervie dropped in again last Fri-
day
^but
and
Julia
he chose a most unpropitious time, for
and
were
And where do you
just
think
running to catch a
we were
going?
ton, to attend a dance and a ball game,

I
didn't ask
that
you
if I
might go, because
your secretary would say no. But
regular;
we had
leave-of-absence
Mrs. McBride chaperoned

time
^but I shall
many and
us.
have to omit
if
We
train.
To
Prince-
you
please!
had a feeling
it
from
Sallie
was
entirely
college,
and
had a charming
details;
they are too
complicated.
Saturday.
Up
The night watchman called us

six of us
and we made coffee in a chafing dish (you
never saw so many grounds! ) and walked two miles
before dawn!
[^97]
to the top of
One Tree
had to scramble up the

us!
And
Hill to see the sun
The sun
last slope!
perhaps you think
we
rise.
We
almost beat
didn't bring
back ap-
petites to breakfast!
Dear me, Daddy,

style to-day; this
I
seem to have a very ejaculatory
page
is
peppered
meant to have written a
trees
and the new cinder path
the awful lesson
we
about the budding
in the athletic field,
lake,
and Catherine
has pneumonia, and Prexy's
strayed from
exclamations.
and
have in biology for to-morrow,
and the new canoes on the
who
lot
viîth
home and
Angora
Prentiss
kitten that
has been boarding in Fergus-
U9S]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
sen Hall for
it,
two weeks
my
and about
three
until a
new
and blue polka dots with

sleepy. I
But
by
am
is
dresses
a hat to
always making
a girls' college
chambermaid reported
this
^white
but
match
and pink
I
am too
am I not?
we do get tired
when the day be-
an excuse,
busy place and
the end of the day! Particularly
gins at
dawn.
Affectionately,
Judy.
/I
This
is"R>LVj'9
Kitten.
V(ou C9n see

f/om the picture bow
[199]
May
15th.

Is it
good manners when you get
stare straight
into a car just to
ahead and not see anybody
else?
very beautiful lady in a very beautiful velvet
dress got into the car to-day,
and without the
slightest
expression sat for fifteen minutes and looked at a sign

advertising
suspenders.
seem
doesn't
It
polite
to
you were the only

Anyway, you miss a lot.
ignore everybody else as though
important person present.
While she was absorbing that

a whole car
full
of interesting
The accompanying
duced for the
end of a
learning to
The
of
It
first
string,
silly sign, I
time.
but
swim
human
illustration
It
it isn't
was studying
beings.
is
hereby repro-
looks like a spider on the

at all; it's a picture
in the tank in the
of
gymnasium.
instructor hooks a rope into a ring in the
my belt, and runs it through a pulley in the

would be a
beautiful system
if
me
back
ceiling.
one had perfect con-
fidence in the probity of one's instructor. I'm always

\_200'\
afraid,
though, that she will
let
the rope get slack, so I
keep one anxious eye on her and swim with the other,
and with
this divided interest I
do not make the prog-
ress that I otherwise might.
Very miscellaneous weather we're having of late.

raining when I commenced and now the sun
was
shining.
and
Sallie
Gym.
week
later.
should have finished this letter long ago, but
didn't.
You
very regular?
don't mind, do you, Daddy,

I
really
is
are going out to play tennis
thereby gaining exemption from
It
if
do love to write to you;
I'm not
it
gives
me such a respectable feeling of having some family.

Would you like me to tell you something? You are
not the only man to whom I write letters. There are
[201]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
two
others!
letters this
have been receiving beautiful long
winter from Master Jervie (with type-
written envelopes so Julia won't recognize the writing)
Did you ever hear anything
every week or so a very scrawly
so shocking?
epistle,
And
usually
on
yellow tablet paper, arrives from Princeton. All of
which
see
Î
answer with businesslike promptness. So you
am not so
different
from other girls
get mail,
too.
Did
I tell
you
that I have been elected a
member
of
Very recherche organizaOnly seventy-five members out of one thousand.
the Senior Dramatic Club?

tion.
Do you
think as a consistent Socialist that
ought to
belong?
What do you suppose

tention in sociology?
is at
am
present engaging
writing (figurez vousl) a
paper on the Care of Dependent Children.

fessor shuffled
up
his subjects
promiscuously, and that
my atPro-
and dealt them out
to me.
fell
The
Cest drole
ga,
ffest pas?
There goes the gong for
dinner.
I'll
mail this as
pass the chute.
Affectionately,
J-
[202]
June
Dear Daddy
4th.
Very busy time
commencement in ten days, ex-
aminations to-morrow; lots of studying, lots of packing,
and the outdoors world so lovely that it hurts you
to stay inside.
But never mind, vacation's coming.

abroad
summer
this
doubt about
Julia
No
makes the fourth time.
ît
Daddy, goods are not
it.
going
is
distributed
And
You may have
Lock Willow? Wrong. The Adiron-
evenly. Sallie, as usual, goes to the Adirondacks.
what do you think

three guesses.
dacks with
again;
Sallie?
else?
you. Daddy,
jections. I
is
am
am
if
(I'll
never attempt that
last year.)
Can't
you guess
You're not very inventive.

you'll promise not to
warn your
made
going to do?
Wrong.
was discouraged
anything
mind
make
I'll
tell
a lot of ob-
secretary ahead of time that
my
up.
going to spend the summer at the seaside with
a Mrs. Charles Paterson and tutor her daughter

to enter college in the autumn.
McBrides, and she
is
who
is
met her through the
a very charming
woman.
am
to give lessons in English and Latin to the younger
[203]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
daughter, too, but
and
you
that impress
She offered
it; I
little
time to myself,
a month!
Doesn't
as a perfectly exorbitant
amount?
be earning
I shall
have a
I shall
fifty dollars
should have blushed to ask more than
tviênty-five.
I finish at
Magnolia
(that's vi^here she lives) the first
of September and shall probably spend the remaining

three
weeks
at
Lock Willow
Semples again and
How
does
my
all
my
feet
and
should like to see the
the friendly animals.
program
think
strike
you
getting quite independent,
on
you, Daddy?
see.
You
have put
am
me
can almost walk alone by
now.
Princeton commencement and our examinations
exactly coincide
I did so
that
is
want
^which
to get
is
away
an awful blow.
in time for
it,
Sallie
and
but of course
utterly impossible.
Good-by, Daddy. Have a nice summer and come

back in the autumn rested and ready for another year
of work.
me! )
(That's
what you ought
haven't an idea
what you do
to be writing to
in the
summer, or
how you amuse yourself. I can't visualize your surroundings. Do you play golf or hunt or ride horseback or
just sit in the
sun and meditate?
Anyway, whatever it
is,
have a good time and don't
forget Judy.
[204]
June Tenth.
Dear Daddy,
This
is
the hardest letter
cided what
It is
of
me
for
was intoxicated by the
to refuse to take
get
me
it
going to be any-
me to Europe this summer
second thoughts said no.
then use
isn't
It
idea;
your money for
many
but sober
would be rather
instead just for amusement!
used to too
have de-
very sweet and generous and dear
of you to wish to send
moment
ever wrote, but
must do, and there
turning back.
the
luxuries.
what one has never had; but
it is
One
illogical
college,
You
and
mustn't
doesn't miss
awfully hard going
without things after one has commenced thinking
they are
his
hers
(English language needs another
pronoun) by natural
Julia
They
is
right.
an awful strain on
Living with
my
Sallie
and
stoical philosophy.
have both had things from the time they were
babies; they accept happiness as a matter of course.
The World, they think, owes them everything they

want. Maybe the World does în any case, it seems
to acknov/ledge the debt and

it
owes me nothing and
pay up. But
distinctly told
[20^]
me
as for
me,
so in the
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
beginning. I have no right to
come a time when the World
there will
my
I
borrow on
credit, for
will repudiate
claim.
seem to be floundering in a sea of metaphor
hope you grasp
my
meaning?
Anyway,
very strong feeling that the only honest thing for

to do
is
to teach this
summer and begin
^but
have a
me
to support
myself.
Magnolia,
Four days
think
later.
much written, when what do you

happened? The maid arrived with Master
got just that
I'd
Jervie's card.
He is going abroad too this summer; not
with Julia and her family but entirely by himself.

told
him
who
is
that
you had
invited
chaperoning a party of
you, Daddy. That
is,
me
to
girls.
go with a lady
He knows about
he knows that
my
father
mother are dead, and that a kind gentleman
me
to college;
is
and
sending
simply didn't have the courage to
tell
him about the John Grier Home and all the rest. He
thinks that you are my guardian and a perfectly legitimate old family friend. I have never told him that I
didn't
know you
Anyway, he
said that
it
^that
insisted
would seem too queer!

on
my
going to Europe.
was a necessary part of

[206]
my
He
education and
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
that I mustn't think of refusing. Also, that he
we would run
be in Paris at the same time, and that
away from
would
the chaperon occasionally and have dinner
together at nice, funny, foreign restaurants.
Well, Daddy,
ened;
if
it
did appeal to me!
he hadn't been so
have entirely weakened.

but
know what was good
In any case,
I
we entirely
packed
thought
Top
(the
trunk
name of Mrs.
my
fair to
first
I shall
difficult
little
She
is
life
are
at Cliff
my
one) already
And
it
bids
most uncommonly
have to teach her
she has never in her

more
They
am
Paterson's cottage) with
study
thing
declension nouns.
be a struggle!
spoiled child;
bridges in flames
now. Here
trunk unpacked and Florence (the

struggling with
and came up
fast
writing to you.
I finished
am
-I
did!
my
entirely reduced to ashes
for me; I ought to
almost quarreled
I'd better see
behind m.e before
me) and
We
let older people judge.
not sure but that
step,
stubborn child (those are a
his abusive adjectives; the rest escape
that I didn't
should
can be enticed step by
rational, quixotic, idiotic,
here.
maybe
He said I was a silly, foolish, ir-
nvofft be forced.
few of
dictatorial,
almost weak-
first
how
to
concentrated on any-
than ice-cream soda water.
We use a quiet corner of the cliffs for a schoolroom
Mrs. Paterson wishes me
to keep
[20J]
them out of doors
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and
I will
say that 1 find
me and
with the blue sea before
And when
think
foreign lands
but
thing but Latin
The
or
ships a-sailing by!

sailing off to
myself think of any-
I "wofi^t let
Grammar.
prepositions a or ab, absque, coram, cum, de, e
So you
with
to concentrate
might be on one,
ex, prae, pro, sine, tenus, in, subter,
govern the
my
sub and super
ablative.
see.
Daddy,
am already plunged
into
work
eyes persistently set against temptation.
Don't be cross with me,

I
it difficult
please,
and don't think that
do not appreciate your kindness, for
do
always
The only way I can ever repay you is by

turning out a Very Useful Citizen (Are women citizens? I don't suppose they are). Anyway, a Very
Useful Person. And when you look at me you can
say, *'I gave that Very Useful Person to the world."
always.
That sounds
well, doesn't
wish to mislead you.
me
that
am
not
a career, but in
different
by
to
The
it.
Daddy! But
feeling often
at all remarkable;
all
probabiHty,
it is
don't
comes over
fun to plan
shan't turn out a bit
from any other ordinary person.
may end
marrying an undertaker and being an inspiration
him
in his work.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
[208]
August
19th.
My window
looks out
on the
loveliest landscape
nothing but water and rocks.
ocean-scape rather
The summer
goes. I spend the
and English and Algebra and

don't
know how Marion
my
morning with Latin
two
stupid
is
don't suppose
but oh! such a
hopeless
it
ever going to get into
is
And
college, or stay in after she gets there.
Florence, she
girls.
little
as for
beauty.
matters in the least whether they are
stupid or not so long as they are pretty?
help thinking though,
how
One
can't
their conversation will
bore their husbands, unless they are fortunate enough

to obtain stupid husbands.
sible;
I've
met a number
this
In the afternoon
swim,
suppose that's quite pos-
the world seems to be filled with stupid men;
if
the tide
is
with the utmost ease
we
summer.
take a walk on the
right.
can swim in
^you see my
being put to use!
[209]
cliffs,
salt
education
is
or
water
already
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
A letter comes from Mr. Jervis Pendleton in Paris,

rather a short, concise letter; I'm not quite forgiven
However,
yet for refusing to follow his advice.
he gets back in time, he will see
Lock Willow before
at
me
college opens, and if I
very nice and sweet and
docile, I shall (I
if
few days
for a
am
am
led to
infer) be received into favor again.
Also a
their
letter
camp
for
from
two weeks
in
your permission, or haven't
where
can do as
I please?
me
come to
September. Must I ask
She wants
Sallie.
yet arrived at the place
Yes, I
am
sure I have
I'm a Senior, you know. Having worked

I feel like
to see Sallie's brother

ând
(we come
want Master
find
me
summer,
to
he's
want
to see Sallie;
going to teach
my chief motive,
Jervie to arrive at
want
want
me to canoe
which
is
mean)
Lock Willow and
not there.
I frmst
show him
one can dictate to

always!
all
taking a Httle healthful recreation;
to see the Adirondacks;
to
that he can't dictate to me.
me
but you,
Daddy
and you
I'm off for the woods.
Judy.
[2101
No
can't
Camp McBride,
September
6th.
Dear Daddy,
Your
letter didn't
come
in time (I
am
pleased to
you wish your instructions to be obeyed, you

must have your secretary transmit them in less than
two weeks. As you observe, I am here, and have been
say). If
for five days.
The woods
are fine,
and so
the camp, and so
is
the weather, and so are the McBrides, and so
Fm
whole world.
is
is
the
very happy!
There's Jimmie calling for
me
to
come
canoeing.
sorry to have disobeyed, but why are you
Good-by
so persistent about not wanting
When
You
I've
all
summer
to play a Httle?
deserve
two weeks.
are awfully dog-in-the-mangerish.
However
your
worked
me
love
you
still,
Daddy,
in spite of
faults.
Judy.
[211]
al]
October 3rd.
Back
at college
Monthly,
and a Senior
It doesn't
seem
also editor of the
possible, does
sophisticated a person, just four years ago,
mate of the John Grier Home?
it,
that so
was an
in-
We do arrive fast in
America!
What do you
think of this?
Jervie directed to
note from Master
Lock Willow and forwarded
here.
He's sorry but he finds that he can't get up there
this
autumn; he has accepted an invitation to go yachting

with some
friends.
Hopes
am enjoying the country.

And he knew all the
I've
time that I was with the
McBrides, for Julia told him

leave intrigue to
had a nice summer and
women; you
so!
You men ought
to
haven't a light enough
touch.
JuHa has a trunkful of the most ravishing
new
an evenmg gown of rainbow Liberty crepe
clothes
that
would be
fitting
raiment for the angels in Para-
[212]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
And
disc.
thought that
were unprecedentedly
ful.
(is
my own
clothes this year
there such a
word? )
beauti-
copied Mrs. Paterson's wardrobe with the aid
of a cheap dressmaker, and though the
turn out quite twins of the originals,
happy
until Julia
unpacked. But
gowns
was
now
Î
didn't
entirely
live to see
Paris!
you glad you're not a girl? I

suppose you think that the fuss we make over clothes
Dear Daddy,
is
aren't
too absolutely
it's
entirely
your
silly?
It
is.
No
doubt about
it.
But
fault.
Did you ever hear about the learned Herr Professor
who
regarded unnecessary adornment with contempt,
and favored
sensible, utilitarian clothes for
who was an obliging

reform." And what do you
women?
adopted
His wife,
creature,
"dress
think he did?
eloped with a chorus
He
girl.
Yours
ever,
Judy.
The chamber-maid on our corridor wears blue

checked gingham aprons. I am going to get her some
brown ones instead, and sink the blue ones in the
P.S.
bottom of the
time
lake.
look at them.
have a reminiscent
chill
every
November
17th.
Such
I
don't
like
a blight has fallen over
know whether
to
some sympathy
reopen the
you or
tell
literary career.
would
not, but I
sympathy, please; don't
silent
wound by
my
referring to
it
your next
in
letter.
been writing a book,
I've
nings,
my
and
two
all
summer when
stupid children.
lege opened and sent
months and
was
it
all last
winter in the eve-
wasn't teaching Latin to
I just
finished
to a publisher.
certain he
it
He
was going
before colit
two
it;
but
kept
to take
yesterday morning an express parcel came (thirty

cents due) and there
from the
frank!
was back again with a
letter
publisher, a very nice, fatherly letter
He
said
he saw from the address that
in college,
and
would suggest
that
still
it
if I
I
would accept some
put
all
of
my
^but
was
advice, he
energy into
lessons
and wait
write.
He enclosed his reader's opinion. Here it is:
until I graduated before beginning to
"Plot highly improbable.
Characterization exag-
gerated. Conversation unnatural.
mor but not always
A good
in the best of taste.
keep on trying, and in time she

book."
my
deal of hu-
Tell her to
may produce
a real
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Not on
thought
the whole flattering,
was making
I v/as
it
while
Christmas. But I dare say the editor
two weeks was not enough
in
it
walking with
me
is
col-
at Julia's last
right.
Probably
to observe the
city.
yesterday afternoon, and
when I came
to the gas house,
engineer
might borrow
if I
American
graduated.
was
which
manners and customs of a great

took
planning to surprise you
writing a great novel before
lected the material for
Daddy? And
a notable addition to
literature, I did truly.
by
is it,
went
in
and asked the
his furnace.
He
politely
my own hands I chucked it

I felt as though I had cremated my only child!
opened the door, and with

in.
I
I
went
to bed last night utterly dejected; I thought
was never going
amount to anything, and
to
that
you had thrown away your money for nothing. But

what do you think?
woke up
about
day planning
all
as I could be.
pessimist!
plot in
No
If I
this
morning with a
my head, and Fve been going

my characters, just as happy
beautiful
new
one can ever accuse
me
of being a
had a husband and twelve children
swallowed by an earthquake one day, Fd bob up

smiUngly the next morning and commence to look
for another
set.
Affectionately,
Judy.
December
14th.

I
I
dreamed the funniest dream
went
into a
book
store
new book named "The

bott." I could see
it
last night.
Life and Letters of
perfectly plainly
ing with a picture of the John Grier

cover, and
my
truly yours,
^red
my
tombstone,
woke
up.
It
cloth bind-
Home on
the
"Very
just
to the end to read the inscription
almost found out
on
was very annoying!
who Fm going
to
marry and when
die.
Don't you think it would be interesting

could read the story of your
truthfully
me
Judy Ab-
Judy Abbott," written below. But
was turning
Fm going to
thought
portrait for a frontispiece with,
as I
and the clerk brought
by an omniscient
on
life
author?
if
you really
^written perfectly
And suppose you

you would
could only read
it
never forget
but would have to go through
it,
this condition: that
life
knowing ahead of time exactly how everything you

did
would turn
the time
out,
and foreseeing to the exact hour
when you would
die.
[216]
How many people
do
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
you suppose would have
Or how many
the courage to read
it
then?
could suppress their curiosity
suffi-
ciently to escape
from reading
even at the price
it,
of having to live without hope and without surprises?

Life
and
is
monotonous enough
sleep about so often.
monotonous
it
would be
if
you have
at best;
Fm
on the
third page
to eat
deadly
nothing unexpected could
happen between meals. Mercy! Daddy,

but
how
But imagine
and
I can't
there's a blot,
new
begin a
sheet.
I'm going on with biology again
this
year
^very
interesting subject; we're studying the
aHmentary sys-
how
sweet a cross-
tem
You
at present.
section of the
should see
duodenum
of a cat
is
under the micro-
scope.
Also we've arrived at philosophy

evanescent.
prefer biology
înteresting
but
where you can pin the
subject under discussion to a board. There's another!
And
another!
excuse
This pen
is
weeping copiously. Please
its tears.
Do you
believe in free will?
I don't agree at all
that every action
is
do
ûnreservedly.
with the philosophers
who
think
the absolutely inevitable and auto-
matic resultant of an aggregation of remote causes.

That's the most immoral doctrine
bodv would be
ever heard
to blame for anything.
[2iy]
If a
man
^no-
be-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
would
lieved in fatalism, he
and
sit
"The Lord's
say,
naturally just
will be done,"
sit
down
and continue to
until he fell over dead.

I
believe absolutely in
own power
to accomplish
my own
free will
and that
is
have four chapters of
and Evt more

This
Daddy?
I'm sorry
think we'll stop

I
a great
my new book finished
drafted.
a very abstruse letter
is
my
the belief that
moves mountains. You watch me become

author!
and
can't send
does your head ache,
now and make some
you a
piece;
good, for we're going to make
it
it
fudge.
will be unusually
with
real
cream and
three butter balls.
Yours
affectionately,
Judy.
P. S.
- ^/
We're having fancy dancing
in
gymnasium
You can see by the accompanying picture how

much we look like a real ballet. The one on the end
accompHshing a graceful pirouette is me I mean L
class.
[218]
December
My
26th.
Daddy
dear, dear
Haven't you any sense? Don't you

mustn't give one
girl
know
that
you
seventeen Christmas presents?
I'm a SociaHst, please remember; do you wish to turn
me
into a Plutocrat?
Think how embarrassing

ever quarrel!
to return your
am
with
it
we
should
VAN
my own
sent
was so wobbly;
hands (as you doubtless
covered from internal evidence).
wear
if
should have to engage a moving van
sorry that the necktie
I knit it
would be
gifts.
it
You
dis-
will have to
on cold days and keep your coat buttoned up
tight.
[2ip]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Thank you, Daddy, a thousand times.
you're the sweetest man that ever lived ând
think
the fool-
ishest!
Judy.
Here's a four-leaf clover from

bring
you good luck
for the
Camp McBride
New Year.
220]
to
January 9th.
Do you
insure
who
wish to do something, Daddy, that will
your
eternal salvation?
There
a family here
is
are in awfully desperate straits.
mother and
the two older boys
father and four visible children
have disappeared into the world to
and have not sent any of

in a glass factory
unhealthy
hospital.
work
back.
The
their fortune
father
worked
awfully
and got consumption
it's
and now has been sent away to a
That took
port of the family

is
it
make
of their savings, and the sup-
all
upon the
falls
oldest daughter
who
twenty-four. She dressmakes for $1.50 a day (when
she can get

ning.
it)
and embroiders centerpieces in the eve-
The mother
ineffectual
very strong and
isn't
and pious. She
sits
is
extremely
with her hands folded,
a picture of patient resignation, while the daughter

kills
with overwork and responsibility and
herself
how
worry; she doesn't see

through the
rest of the
One hundred
dollars
they are going to get
and
winter
would buy some

[227]
don't either.
coal and
some
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
shoes for the three children so that they could go to
and give a
school,
worry
little
herself to death
margin so that she needn't
when
man
know. Don't you sup-
few days
pass and she
doesn't get work.
You
are the richest
pose you could spare one hundred dollars? That
more than
deserves help a lot
ask
it
except for the
pens to the mother
The way
girl; I
she
is
don't care
such a
much what hap-
jelly-fish.
it's
are perfectly dead sure
all
for the best,"
it's
not,
makes
me
Humility or resignation or whatever you
enraged.
choose to
a more
girl
wouldn't
people are forever rolling their eyes to
heaven and saying, "Perhaps
when they
ever did.
call
it,
is
simply impotent
inertia.
I'm for
militant religion!
We are getting the most dreadful lessons in philoso-
phy
all
of Schopenhauer for to-morrow.
fessor doesn't
seem to
realize that
we
The
pro-
are taking any
other subject. He's a queer old duck; he goes about
with
his
head in the clouds and blinks dazedly when
occasionally he strikes solid earth.

his lectures
tries to lighten
with an occasional witticism
our best to smile, but

laughing matter.
He
you
assure
and we do
his jokes are
no
spends his entire time between
classes in trying to figure out

exists
He
whether matter
or whether he only thinks
[222]
it exists.
really
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Vm
it
sure
my
sewing
girl hasn't
any doubt but
that
exists!
Where do you think my new novel is?

basket. I can see myself that
when
it's
no good on
a loving author realizes that,
judgment of a
In the waste
earth,
and
what "would be the
critical public?
Later.
Daddy, from a bed of
address you,
days I've been
laid
up with swollen
you were
sure
ing
tonsils; I
can
just
"What were your

have those tonsils out when
swallow hot milk, and that

parents thinking of not to
For two
pain.
is all.
baby?" the doctor wished to know. I'm
haven't an idea, but
doubt
if
they were think-
much about me.

Yours,
A.
J.
Next morning.
I
just read this
lohy
I cast
to assure
ant;
and
over before sealing
it.
such a misty atmosphere over
you
that I
I trust
don't
life.
am young and happy and
you
are the same.
know
hasten
exuber-
Youth has nothing
to do with birthdays, only with alivedness of spirit,
so even
a
if
your
hair
is
gray.
Daddy, you can
still
bo}^-.
Affectionately,
Judy.
[223.]
be
Jan. 12th.
Dear Mr, Philanthropist,
Your check
you
them
the
much!
so
my family came yesterday. Thank
for
cut gymnasium and took
relieved that she looked almost young;
twenty-four. Isn't
it
and
she's
only
the
good
pitiful?
now
she feels
though
as
all
were coming together. She has steady work
ahead for two months
and
to
She was so surprised and happy and
girl's face!
things
down
you should have seen
right after luncheon, and
Anyway,
it
some
there's a trousseau to
"Thank
the
one's getting married,
make.
good Lord!" cried the mother, when
she grasped the fact that that small piece of paper
one hundred
dollars.
"It wasn't the
good Lord
at all," said
Daddy-Long-Legs." (Mr. Smith,

"But
it
was
I,
"it
was
called you.)
was the good Lord who put
it
in his mind,"
said she.
"Not
at all!
put
it
in his
But anyway, Daddy,

reward you
suitably.
You
mind myself,"
trust the
said
good Lord
will
deserve ten thousand years
out of purgatory.
Yours most
gratefully,
Judy Abbott.
[22^]
Feb. 15 th.
May
it
Your Most Excellent Majesty:
please
This morning
did eat
my
turkey pie and a goose, and
which
(a china drink) of
breakfast
upon
a cold
did send for a cup of tee
had never drank before.
Don't be nervous, Daddy
haven't lost
my
mind;
I'm merely quoting Sam'l Pepys. We're reading him

in connection
Sallie
and
with English History, original sources.
Julia
and
converse
now
in the language of
1660. Listen to this:
"I
went
to Charing Cross to see
Major Harrison
hanged, drawn and quartered: he looking as cheerful

as
any man could do in that condition." And
"Dined with
my
for her brother
Seems a
doesn't
it?
lady
who
little
who
in
handsome mourning
died yesterday of spotted fever."
early
A friend
is
this:
to
commence
entertaining,
of Pepys devised a very cunning
manner whereby the king might pay
his debts
out of
the sale to poor people of old decayed provisions.
What do
you, a reformer, think of that?
don't be-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
we're so bad to-day as the newspapers make out.
lieve
Samuel was
as excited
he spent five times
as
about his clothes as any
much on
that appears to have been the
Golden Age of hus-
bands. Isn't this a touching entry?
was
honest.
"To-day came home
cloak with gold buttons, which cost
and
pray
Excuse
girl;
dress as his wife
You
see he really
my
fine
Camlett
me much money,
God to make me able to pay for it."

me for being so full of Pepys; I'm writing
a special topic on him.
What do you
think.
ment Association has
We
can keep our
Daddy?
The Self-Govem-
abolished the ten-o'clock rule.
lights all night if
only requirement being that
we do
we
choose, the
not disturb others
^we are not supposed to entertain on a large

The
ture.
result
is
a beautiful
scale.
commentary on human na-
Now that we may stay up as long as we choose,
we no
longer choose.
o'clock,
Our
heads begin to nod at nine
and by nine-thirty the pen drops from our
nerveless ^rasp.
It's
nine-thirty
now. Good
night.
Sunday.
Just back
from church
^preacher
We must take care, he says, not to
from Georgia.
develop our intel-
lects at the
expense of our emotional natures
thought
was
it
a poor, dry
^but
me-
sermon (Pepys again).
[226]
It
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
doesn't matter
what part of the United
States or
Canada they come from, or what denomination they

are
we
always get the same sermon.
Why
on earth
don't they go to men's colleges and urge the students
not to allow their manly natures to be crushed out by

too
much mental
application?
frozen and icy and
As
soon as dinner is over, Sallie and Julia and Marty
Keen and Eleanor Pratt (friends of mine, but you
a beautiful
It's
day
don't
know them) and
skirts
and walk
and have a
'cross
are going to put
We
board.
fried chicken
and waffle supper, and then
make
it
are supposed to be inside the
we
on short
country to Crystal Spring Farm
have Mr. Crystal Spring drive us home in
seven, but
clear.
his
buck-
campus
are going to stretch a point to-night
at
and
eight.
Farewell, kind Sir.

I
have the honour of subscribing myself,
Your most
loyall, dutifull, faithfuU
and obedient
servant,
J.
[227]
Abbott.
March
5th.
Dear Mr. Trustee,
To-morrow
a
is
the
weary day for the
they'll
be
when
Wednesday in the month

John Grier Home. How relieved
first
five o'clock
comes and you pat them
on the head and take yourselves
off!
Did you
(in-
me on the head, Daddy? I don't

my memory seems to be concerned only
dividually) ever pat

believe so
with
fat Trustees.
Give the
Home my
^my truly
love, please
have quite a feeling of tenderness for
through a haze of four years.

college
I felt
it
When
love.
as I look
I first
back
came
had had; but now,

regard
it
as a
don't feel that
life.
way
very unusual adventure.
a sort of vantage point
look at
to
quite resentful because I'd been robbed
of the normal kind of childhood that the other
Emerging
in the least.
It
from which to stand

full
grown,
girls
gives
me
aside
and
get a perspective
on the world, that other people who have been

brought up in the thick of things, entirely lack.
[228]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
I know lots of girls (Julia, for instance) who never
know that they are happy. They are so accustomed
to the feeling that their senses are deadened to
me
am
that I
am
happy.
as for
life
perfectly sure every
moment
Fm
to regard
them (even toothaches)
periences,
and be glad to know what they

sky's above me,
J.
G. H. too
Rousseau,
ling
of
my
literally.
shan't leave
If I
this
have
them on the
going
as interesting exfeel like.
Fve a heart for any
However, Daddy, don't take

the
but
And Fm going to keep on being,
no matter what unpleasant things turn up.
"Whatever
it,
new
fate."
affection for
five children, like
steps of a found-
asylum in order to insure their being brought up
simply.
Give
think,
is
my
kindest regards to Mrs. Lippett (that, I
truthful; love
don't forget to
tell
would be a
little
strong) and
her what a beautiful nature Fve
developed.
Affectionately,
Judy.
[22p]
Lock Willow.
April 4th.
Dear Daddy
Do you
bellishing
observe the postmark? Sallie and
are
Lock Willow with our presence during
Easter vacation.
We
decided that the best thing
could do with our ten days was to come where

quiet.
Our
emthe
we
it is
nerves had got to the point where they
wouldn't stand another meal in Fergussen. Dining in
room with four hundred girls is an ordeal when you

are tired. There is so much noise that you can't hear
the girls across the table speak unless they make their
hands into a megaphone and shout. That
We
are tramping over the hills
"Sky Hill"
Jervie
and
We
it
was nearly two years
it
doesn't seem
ago.
see the place
where the smoke of our
the rock.
funny
It is
climbed
morning where Master
once cooked supper
possible that
this
the truth.
and reading and
writing, and having a nice, restful time.
to the top of
is
fire
could
still
blackened
how certain places get connected
with certain people, and you never go back without

thinking of them.
for
two
was
quite lonely without
minutes.
[230]
him
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
What do you think is my latest activity, Daddy?
You will begin to believe that I am incorrigible
am writing a book. I started it three weeks ago and
am eating it up in chunks. I've caught the secret.
Master Jervie and that editor man were right; you are
most convincing when you write about the things
you know. And this time it is about something that I
do know exhaustively. Guess where it's laid? In the
John Grier Home! And it's good, Daddy, I actually
believe
is
it
just
about the tiny
happened every day. I'm a
doned romanticism;
I shall
realist
little
now.
go back to
it
things that
aban-
I've
later
though,
when my own adventurous future begins.

This new book is going to get itself finished and
published! You see if it doesn't. If you just want a
thing hard enough and keep on trying, you do get

in the end.
I've
from you
letter
been trying for four years to get a
and
Good-by, Daddy
(I like to call
it
haven't given
up hope
yet.
dear.
you Daddy
dear;
it's
so alliterative.)
Affectionately,
Judy.
P. S.
forgot to
very
distressing.
your
sensibilities all
tell
you the farm news, but
Skip this postscript
wrought up.
if
you
don't
it's
want
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Poor old Grove
chew and they had
is
One
last
got so he couldn't
to shoot him.
Nine chickens were

or a rat
He
dead.
killed
by a weasel or
a skunk
week.
of the
cows
is sick,
and
we had
to have the
veterinary surgeon out from Bonnyrigg Four Corners.

oil
Amasai stayed up
and whisky. But
the poor sick
Sentimental
appeared;
There
we
cow
we
all
night to give her linseed
have an awful suspicion that
got nothing but linseed
Tommy
oil.
(the tortoise-shell cat) has dis-
are afraid he has been caught in a trap.
are lots of troubles in the world!
[232]
May
17th.
Dear Daddy -Lo?ig-Legs,

This
is
going to be extremely short because
my
shoulder aches at the sight of a pen. Lecture notes

day, immortal novel
all
evening makes too
much
all
writ-
ing.
Commencement
think
day.
ance
I shall
Master
viting
from next Wednes-
you might come and make

hate
Jervie,
you
if
you
don't!
my acquaint-
Julia's inviting
he being her family, and SaHie's in-
Jimmie McB., he being her family, but
there for
and
three weeks
me
don't
to invite?
want
Just
her. Please
you and Mrs.
who
Lippett,
come.
Yours, with love and writer's cramp.
Judy.
[^33]
is
Lock Willow.
June
19th.
Tm educated! My diploma is in the bottom bureau

drawer with my two best dresses. Commencement
was
as usual, with a
Thank you
few showers
for your rosebuds.
at vital
moments.
They were
Master Jervie and Master Jimmie both gave

too, but I left theirs in the bath tub
lovely.
me
roses,
and carried yours
in the class procession.
Here
am
at
Lock Willow
The board
ever maybe.
is
for the
I think of it
work
life.
am mad
What more does

about
my
book.
every waking moment, and dream of
at night. All I
to
^for-
cheap; the surroundings
quiet and conducive to a literary
a struggling author wish?
summer
want
is
peace and quiet and
lots
it
of time
(interspersed with nourishing meals)
Master Jervie
is
coming up for a week or so in
August, and Jimmie McBride
is
time through the summer.
He's connected with a
going to drop in some-
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
bond house now, and goes about the country
selling
bonds to banks. He's going to combine the "Farmers'

National" at the Corners and
You
see that
Fd be
society.
through
only
When you
tore
me on
Lock Willow
isn't entirely
expecting to have
I
know now
wouldn't come to
you from
my
the same trip.
lacking in
you come motoring
that that
my
is
hopeless.
commencement,
heart and buried
you
forever.
Judy Absott, A.B.
[=35]
July 24th.
Dearest
Daddy -Long-Legs,
Isn't it
fun to work
especially fun
or don't you ever do
when your
you'd rather do more

I've
been writing
day
this
work
is
the thing
than anything else in the world.
as fast as
summer, and
my
that the days aren't long

tiful
kind of
It's
it?
my
pen would go every
only quarrel with
enough to write
life is
the beau-
all
and valuable and entertaining thoughts I'm think-
ing.
I've finished the
second draft of
my
book and am
going to begin the third to-morrow morning at halfpast seven.

is,
It's
the sweetest
book you ever saw
truly. I think of nothing else. I
it
can barely wait in
the morning to dress and eat before beginning; then

I
write and write and write
sheep
suddenly I'm so tired
Then I go out with Colin (the

dog) and romp through the fields and get
that I'm limp
new
till
all
over.
a fresh supply of ideas for the next day.

beautiful
book you ever saw
It's
Oh, pardon
before.
[236]
the most
I said
that
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
You don't think me conceited, do you, Daddy dear?
Fm not, really, only just now Fm in the enthusiastic
stage. Maybe later on Fll get cold and critical and
No,
sniffy.
Fm
a real book. Just wait

Fll try for a
I
last
on the
And
who
I,
May? They
far as I can see
to laugh
till
it
are
when he tramped
floor,
see
it.
but
else.
Amasai and Carrie got
that
still
working
here, but so
them both. She used
has spoiled
in
mud
just
or dropped ashes
^you should
now
hear her scold!
she doesn't curl her hair any longer.
Amasai,
used to be so obliging about beating rugs and
carrying wood, grumbles
Also
you
minute to talk about something
never told you, did
married
This time Fve written
sure I won't!
if
his neckties are quite
where they used
you suggest such

dingy
and purple. Fve deter-
to be scarlet
mined never to marry.
It's
a thing.
black and brown,
a deteriorating process,
evidently.
There
all
fat,
the
well.
isn't
much
The
The
Are you
Hen per Year."

next spring
interested in poultry?
that invaluable
little
animals
pigs are unusually
cows seem contented and the hens
recommend
at
of any farm news.
in the best of health.
are
are laying
If so, let
me
work, "200 Eggs per
am thinking of starting an incubator

and raising broilers. You see Fm settled
I
Lock Willow permanently.

[257]
have decided to stay
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
until
Fve written
mother.
and can
Then
retire
have completed
I shall
and
Anthony
14 novels like
my
Trollope's
work
life
travel.
Mr. James McBride spent
last
Sunday with
us.
Fried chicken and ice-cream for dinner, both of which
he appeared to appreciate.
was awfully glad
to see
him; he brought a momentary reminder that the world

at large exists.
Poor Jimmie
The
peddling his bonds.
having a hard time
is
Farmers' National at the
Corners wouldn't have anything to do with them in

spite of the fact that
they pay
and sometimes seven.
think
six
he'll
per cent, interest
end by going home
to Worcester and taking a job in his father's factory.
He's too open and confiding and kind-hearted ever to
make
But to be the manager
a successful financier.
of a flourishing overall factory

position, don't
you
nose at overalls, but

I
think?
he'll
Just
come
is
a very desirable
now
he turns up
to them.
hope you appreciate the fact that
letter
Daddy
beautiful scenery
dear,
all
fortable four-post
long
this is a
from a person with writer's cramp. But
love you,
his
I still
and I'm very happy. With
about, and lots to eat and a
bed and
com-
ream of blank paper and
a pint of ink^what more does one want
in the
world?
Yours, as always,
Judy.
[238]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
P. S.
We
The postman
arrives
with some more news.
are to expect Master Jervie
on Friday next to
only
spend a week. That's a very pleasant prospect
my
am
is
very demanding.
afraid
poor book will
[2^p]
suffer.
Master Jervie
August 27 th.
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs^
Where
are you,
but
wonder?
know what
never
hope you're not in
weather.
New York
hope you're on
snow and thinking about me.

me. I'm quite lonely and
I
wish
are in,
during this awful
mountain peak (but not
somewhere nearer) looking
in Switzerland;
Oh, Daddy,
you
part of the world
at the
Please be thinking about
want
to be thought about.
knew you! Then when we were
unhappy we could cheer each other up.

I
don't think
low.
can stand
much more
I'm thinking of moving.
settlement
think
it
work
in
and
we
Sallie is
Lock Wil-
going to do
Boston next winter. Don't you
would be nice
for
me
to
could have a studio tosêther?

settled
of
go with
her,
then
we
could write while she
could be together in the evenings.
Evenings are very long when there's no one but the

Semples and Carrie and Amasai to talk
ahead of time that you won't
can read your secretary's
like
letter
[240]
my
now:
to.
know
studio idea.
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
''Miss Jerusha Abbott.
"Dear Madam,
"Mr. Smith prefers that you remain
at
Lock Wil-
low.
"Yours
truly,
"Elmer H. Griggs."
I
hate your secretary.
am
Daddy,
stay here.
think
horrid.
But
have to go to Boston.
something doesn't happen soon,
If
throw myself
I shall
man
certain that a
named Elmer H. Griggs must be
truly,
can't
I shall
into the silo pit out of sheer desperation.
Mercy! but
it's
All the grass
hot.
is
burnt up and
the brooks are dry and the roads are dusty. It hasn't
rained for weeks and weeks.
This
but
letter
haven't.
Good-by,
sounds
I
my
just
as
though
want some
dearest
had hydrophobia,
family.
Daddy.
I
wish
knew
you.
Judy.
[241]
Lock Willow,
September
19th.
Dear Daddy,
Something has happened and
it
from you, and from nobody
Wouldn't
much
it
be possible for
easier to talk
me
need advice.
else in the
to see you?
world.
It's
so
than to write; and I'm afraid your
secretary might open the letter.
Judy.
P. S.
need
I'm very unhappy,
[242]
Lock Willow,
October 3d.
wobbly hand!
you have been
my
ill;
affairs if I
trouble, but
it's
Before
It
your
in
wouldn't have bothered you with
had known. Yes,

sort of
private. Please don't
dollars.
begin
I've sold
my
keep
this letter,
here's a
story.
I'd
Of
ing you
coming
in instalments.
bum it.
it,
for
Daddy.
It's
me
think
to be sendI
got
owe you
it,
it?
going to be pub-
and then in a book! You
course I'm glad to begin pay-
owe you over two thousand more.
about taking
I
but
and very
be wild with joy, but I'm not. I'm
entirely apathetic.
I
write,
you the
check for one thousand
Where do you
lished serially in seven parts,
might think
I will tell
compUcated to
seems funny, doesn't
ing a check to you?
it.
own hand and a prettycame this morning. I am so sorry that
Your note written
because
Now
it
a great deal
It's
don't be horrid, please,
makes me happy to return
more than the mere money,
[^43]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and the
rest I will
gratitude
and
continue to pay
all
my
life in
affection.
And now, Daddy, about the other thing; please

give me your most worldly advice, whether you think
like it or not.
I'll
You know that
always had a very special
I've
you
ing toward you;
sort of represented
my
feel-
whole
you won't mind, will you, if I tell you

that I have a very much more special feeling for
another man? You can probably guess without much
family; but
trouble
very
who he is.
I
how
could make you understand what he
we
entirely companionable
the same about everything
ency to make over

is
my letters have been
suspect that
of Master Jervie for a very long time.
full
wish
and
my
am
match
ideas to
start of
like
is
We
think
afraid I have a tend-
almost always right; he ought to be,
he has fourteen years'
are.
his!
But he
you know,
for
me. In other ways,
though, he's just an overgrown boy, and he does need

looking after
rubbers
he
when
it
hasn't
rains.
any sense about wearing
He
and
same things are funny, and that

ful
I
when two people's sense
of
is
always think the
such a
lot; it's
humor are
dread-
antagonistic.
don't believe there's any bridging that gulf!
And
he
is
Oh,
well!
He is
just himself,
him, and miss him, and miss him.
[^44]
and
miss
The whole world
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
seems empty and aching.
cause
hate the moonlight be-
and he
beautiful
it's
isn't
here to see
it
with
me. But maybe you've loved somebody, too, and you
know?
you
If
have,
don't need to explain;
if
you
haven't, I can't explain.
Anyway,
way I feelând
that's the
I've refused to
marry him.
him why;
I didn't tell
able.
was
he has gone away imagining that
think of marrying Jimmie; he
But Master Jervie and
The
was
afraid he
we
person of
my
asylum, and
was.
sent
are proud
his.
both hurt each other's
him so
would
regret
it
in the future
seem right for a
never told him about the orphan
hated to explain that

dreadful,
sort of
I didn't
you know. And
bound
educated to be a writer,
it
grown up enough.
It didn't
and I'm proud,
I felt
marry
wouldn't
lack of antecedents to marry into any
may be
Also,
to
him away was not because
would
couldn't stand that!
such family as
care for him, but because I cared for
I didn't
much.
reason
least,
got into a dreadful muddle
of misunderstanding, and
feelings.
isn't
want
don't in the
miser-
And now
couldn't think of anything to say.
Jimmie McBride
and
dumb and
just
know who
his
family
too!
to you. After having been
must
at least try to
scarcely be fair to accept
be one;
your education
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
and then go
off
and not use
now
But
it.
going to be able to pay back the money,

I
have
pose
partially discharged that debt
I feel
that
^besides, I
sup-
could keep on being a writer even
marry.
The two
am
that I
did
if I
professions are not necessarily exclu-
sive.
Fve been thinking very hard about

he
is
Of
it.
course
a Socialist, and he has unconventional ideas;
maybe he wouldn't mind marrying into the proletariat

much as some men might. Perhaps when two peo-
so
happy when
to-
they ought not to
let
ple are exactly in accord, and always
gether and lonely
when
apart,
Of course
anything in the world stand between them.

I
want
You
emotional opinion.
also,
and will look
and not
you
see
just a
how
Suppose
isn't
But
to believe that!
at it
go
to
Jimmie, but
am
from
worldly point of view
human
to lay
it
point of view
that the trouble
Homewould
the John Grier
that be a dreadful thing for
me
to do?
It
a great deal of courage. I'd almost rather
for the rest of
would take
be miserable
my life.
This happened nearly two months ago;

heard a
so
before you.
him and explain

is
your un-
probably belong to a Family
sympathetic
brave
I'd like to get
word from him
since he
was
here.
I
I
haven't
was
just
getting sort of acclimated to the feeling of a broken
[246]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
heart,
all
when
up
Jervis"
a letter
came from
She
very
again.
said
had been caught out
all
Julia that stirred
that
casually
with pneumonia.
And
"Uncle
night in a storm
he was hunting in Canada, and had been

never knew
it.
ill
me
when
ever since
was
feeling
hurt because he had just disappeared into blankness
without a word.
know I am!
What seems
to
think he's pretty unhappy, and
you the
right thing for
me
to do?
Judy.
[^47]
October
Dearest
Yes,
Daddy -Long-Legs,
certainly
Wednesday
been in
I've
a baby.
you
6th.
I've
come
I'll
Of
afternoon.
New
York
just thinking
four next
half-past
I
can find the way.
three times and
can't believe that
been
at
course
am
am
not quite
really going to see
you so long
that
it
hardly
seems as though you are a tangible flesh-and-blood

person.
You
are awfully good,
with me,
when you're
catch cold. These
Daddy, to bother yourself
not strong. Take care and don't
fall rains
are very
damp.
Affectionately,
Judy.
P. S.
I've just
had an awful thought. Have you
butler? I'm afraid of butlers,

I
shall faint
You
upon the
didn't tell
step.
and
if
What
me your name.
Smith?
[248]
one opens the door

can
say to him?
Shall I ask for
Mr.
Thursday Morning.
My
very
Master-] ervie-Daddy -Long-Legs-
dearest
Pendleton-Smitby
Did you
wink.
sleep last night?
and happy.
don't believe
But
or eat either.
and
all
the time
me that for three
slept;
you must, you

and can
will get well faster
never
to
we
one
shall
would have gone out
suppose that some day
in the
of us must leave the other; but at
have had our happiness and there will
be memories to
live with.
meant to cheer you up

For
cheer myself.
ever dreamed
you've been
knew it. When the doctor

put me in the cab, he told
that had happened, the light
far future
how ill
days they gave you up. Oh, dearest,
of the world for me.
a single
ever shall sleep again
can't bear to think
came down yesterday
least
Not
to me.
Dear Man,
if
hope you
know, because then you
come
I didn't.
was too amazed and excited and bewildered
and
instead
have to
in spite of being happier than I
could be, I'm also soberer.
The
fear
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
that something
on
my
may happen
you
to
Always before
heart.
care-free and unconcerned, because
now
precious to lose. But
Worry
my
the rest of
all
away from me
I shall
had nothing
have a Great Big
Whenever you
life.
be thinking of
shall
shadow
rests like a
could be frivolous and
all
are
the auto-
mobiles that can run over you, or the sign-boards that
can
that
fall
on your head or the
dreadful, squirmy
My
you may be swallowing.
gone forever
but anyway,
germs
peace of mind
never cared
much
is
for
just plain peace.
Please get well

close
are tangible.
fast
by where
you
you
gether!
I'm afraid
member
fast
to have
can touch you and make sure
Such
a little half
maybe
dreamed
of your family
cousin) then
want
fast.
hour
could come and
If I
it.
(a very
visit
we had
to-
were only
distant
fourth
you every
day,
and read aloud and plump up your pillow and smooth

out those two
make
the
little
wrinkles in your forehead and
comers of your mouth turn up
cheerful smile.
But you are cheerful
you? You were yesterday before

said I
must be
younger.
good
I left.
again,
aren't
The
doctor
you looked ten years

love doesn't make every
nurse, that
hope that being in
one ten years younger. Will you

darling, if I
in a nice
still
turn out to be only eleven?
[2^0]
care for me,
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
Yesterday was the most wonderful day that could
ever happen. If
to be ninety-nine
I live
The
forget the tiniest detail.
low
at
dawn was a very
who came back

half-past four.
and the
am
"I
different person
at night.
from the one
kitchen
by
me
at
wide awake in the darkness
I started
my
going to see Daddy-Long-Legs!"
fast in the
never
Lock Wil-
Mrs. Semple called
thought that popped into
first
I shall
girl that left
candle-light,
five miles to the station
head was,
ate break-
and then drove the
through the most glorious
October coloring. The sun came up on the way, and

the
swamp maples and dogwood glowed crimson and
orange and the stone walls and cornfields sparkled
with hoar
frost; the air
promise.
right.
had such
And
dearer than
faith in
knew
Daddy
that
somehow I had
I
^was
came
dare go
in,
full
of
to happen.
so
I
I
made me
Daddy's ability to
feel
set things
somewhere another man

wanting to see me, and
And you
to the house
looked so big and
courage. But
It
a feeling that before the
should meet him, too.
When
and
in the train the rails kept singing, "You're
going to see Daddy-Long-Legs."

secure. I
clear
knew something was going
way
All the
was keen and
journey ended
see!
on Madison Avenue
brown and forbidding
it
that I didn't
walked around the block to get up
my
needn't have been a bit afraid; your
[^5 1]
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
such a nice, fatherly old
butler
is
feel at
home
me, and
room.
at once. "Is this Miss
"Yes," so
I said,
Smith after
It
of room.
man that he made me
He
all.
me
told
down on
Mr.
to wait in the drawing-
was a very somber,

I sat
Abbott?" he said to
didn't have to ask for
magnificent, man's sort
the edge of a big upholstered
chair and kept saying to myself:
"I'm going to see Daddy-Long-Legs! I'm going to

see
Daddy-Long-Legs!"
Then
presently the
man came back and
up
please to step
and truly
really
to the library.
my
feet
was
me
asked
so excited that
would hardly take me up.
Outside the door he turned and whispered, "He's been
very
sit
ill.
Miss. This
the
day
first
he's
been allowed to
up. You'll not stay long enough to excite him?"
knew from
I
is
the
way he
said
it
that he loved
ând
think he's an old dear!
Then he knocked and

went
It
in
said,
"Miss Abbott," and
so
dim coming
thing; then I
moment
in
from the brightly lighted
could scarcely make out any-
saw a big easy
chair before the fire
a shining tea table with a smaller chair beside

realized that a
man was
it.
and
And
sitting in the big chair
propped up by pillows with a rug over

fore
and the door closed behind me.
was
hall that for a
you
could stop him he rose
his knees.
Be-
and
sort of shakily
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
by
steadied himself
looked
I
saw
at
And thenand
without a word.
was you! But even with
it
stand.
me
the back of the chair and just
thought
"Dear
little
that I didn't under-
Daddy had had you come
meet me for a surprise.

Then you laughed and held
then
there to
out your hand and
Judy, couldn't you guess that
said,
was
Daddy-Long-Legs?
In an instant
stupid!
I
had had any
tective,
flashed over me.
it
Oh, but
have been
A hundred little things might have told me, if

wits. I
would
wouldn't make a very good de-
Daddy?
I,
What must
^Jervie?
you? Just plain Jervie sounds disrespectful and
I call
can't
be disrespectful to you!
It
was
came and
sent
me away.
the station that
was
so dazed
dazed, too.
You
when
St.
forgot to
But we're both very, very happy,
tea.
the stars
were
been out with Colin
went
and
to together,
how you
shining!
this
got to
And
give me
aren't
morning
The woods
is
full
I've
you and
and remembering what you
looked.
we?
but oh,
visiting all the places that
nished bronze and the air
weather.
And
Louis.
drove back to Lock Willow in the dark
how
I
almost took a train for
you were pretty

any
hour before your doctor
a very sweet half
said
to-day are bur-
of frost.
It's
wish you were here to climb the
climbing
hills
with
DADDY-LONG-LEGS
me.
a
am
missing
happy kind of
you
missing: we'll be together soon.
belong to each other

Doesn't
believe.
some one
And
at last?
shall
dreadfully, Jervie dear, but
now
really
and
it
seem queer for
It
seems very, very sweet.
never
let
you be sorry
We
no make-
truly,
me
it's
to belong to
for a single
instant.
Yours, forever and ever,
Judy.
P. S.
it
This
funny that
is
the
know
first
love letter
how.^
[^54]
ever wrote. Isn't
Seventeen
By
BOOTH TARKINGTON
No ONE
PENROD
but the creator of
could have conceived and portrayed so

intimately
and inimitably the
Willie Baxter
love-lorn
and the shining Lola Prat I,
to say nothing of Jane,
Jane, Venjant terrible,
the immortal
and Genesis,
owner and sometime master
of the
dog
Clematis.
Beyond question the funniest book

our generation.
Its
humor
is
of
irresistible,
at times overwhelming, to all but the

luckless William, to
whom it seems tragic
rnost of the time.
A book to
be read aloud in the bosom

too good to
of your family because
it is
be unshared by others;
full of chuckles,
and reminiscent
despairing
of the
many ecstatic and
moments we have
when we were
all
known
Seventeen.
GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers

New York 10. N. Y.
Here are the books every boy and girl wants to own, read and read
again for countless years of entertainment. Each of these handsomely
printed and
bound
modern classics has been designed in an

format printed in easy-to-read type and wrapped in
color jacket. Originally published at $2.00 or higher,
editions of
attractive, large-size
a beautiful full
these famous copyright titles are

series at
now
Thrushwood
available in the
only $1.00 each.
BAMBI
BOB, SON OF BATTLE
THE SECRET GARDEN
Felix Salten
,
Alfred Ollivant
Frances Hodgson Burnett
,
PETER AND WENDY

REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM ....
UNDERSTOOD BETSY
HEIDI GROWS UP
HEIDI'S CHILDREN
UNCLE REMUS: HIS SONGS AND HIS SAYINGS
BAMBI'S CHILDREN
THE CALL OF THE WILD
J.
M.
Barrie
Kate Douglas Wiggin

Dorothy Canfield
Charles Tritten
Charles Tritten
Joel Chandler Harris
Felix Salten
Jack
WHITE FANG
DADDY LONG LEGS
Jack
London
London
Jean Webster
SEVENTEEN
Booth
Booth
Booth
Booth
PENROD
PENROD JASHBER
PENROD AND SAM
THE BIOGRAPHY OF A GRIZZLY .... Ernest
THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME
.
BEAUTIFUL JOE
GROSSET & DUNLAP
-^^X
Publishers
Tarkington
Tarkington
Tarkington
Tarkington
Thompson Seton
John Fox, Jr.

Marshall Saunders
.
New York 10, N.Y.

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y^'f^

teen in the John Greer

one of the directors of the home,

and pocket money, and Judy

good times and culture with

love with the

lady, she too discovers that

thing more than just a mysterious benefactor

a very human and lovable man.

GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers

TfeE Century Coa^pany

Jean McKinney Conner

The Curtis PuBusHiNG Company

BOSTON PilBMC LIBRARy

wtth d. APPLBTON-oBimrRT oomi>A]S y

Letters of Miss Jerusha Abbott

Mr. Daddy-Long-Legs Smith

winning recognition for one's work entirely apart

from consideration of the conspicuous name of one's

Jean Webster had the distinction of be-

longing to a famous family, but she constantly

Her mother, Annie Clemens, was

course the quality of

she rather natu-

humor which permeates her

writing was inherent in her.

Her mother was

Jean Webster's real name was Alice Jane Chandler

Webster, the Jane being after

When she went to college,

Mark Twain's mother.

Miss Webster was asked to take her

second name. But since to her Jane seemed a

fashioned, she changed

bom in Fredonia, New York,

that name. She

to Jean and ever after

1876, and her early school days were spent

Later she attended

York, from which she was gradu-

Lady Jane Grey School

where she took her

degree in 190 1, she proved herself an able student but

Once upon being asked by

She learned early to write

and well. At college

she majored in English and economics and there began

herself for a literary career.

delinquent and destitute children

which impressed her greatly and directed her

the newspaper, her imagination quite ran

and she converted some fanciful information into

She had great

which nearly cost her the

recognized, but once she had succeeded her fame

to pubhsh a collection of stories

which she had

Miss Webster traveled widely, spending

where during donkey

periences resulted also in

have written while living with some nuns

in a convent in the Sabine Mountains.

rides in the mountains