Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-20
A GOOD LETTER.
MARK TWain's Idea 0f IL.

The most useful and nteresting letters we get
here from home are from children seven or
elght years Old. This Is n petrihed truth. Hap
PLY they have got nothing else 10 talk about but
home. and neighbors and famly-things their
betters think unworthy Of Transmission tbou-
sands OF miles They write simply and natu-
rally, and without strain for effect. They tell
all they know, and then stop. They seldom deal
I'm distractions or homlies. Consequently their
epistles are brief, but, treating rs they do OF
familiar scenes and persons, always entertain
ing. Now, therefore, If YOU would learn the art
Of letter-writng, let child teach you. have
preserved letter from little girl eight wears
of age-preseryed il as a curiosity. becaise il
Was the only letter ever got from the States
that had any information in it; tran thus:
ST. Louis, 1866.
Uncle Mark, IL you was here could tell Won
about Moses in the bulrushes again I know it
better now. Mr.. Sowberry has got his leg broke
OF horse. He was riding il ON SUNDAY. Mar
gaIet, that's the Maid, Margaret has taken an
the spittoons, and slop buckets and old iups ont
OF your room, because she saws she don't think
yon You are re, coming Sog Sack any more, You have been
another little baby. She has them al the time
IL has got little blue eyes. like Mr. Swimley that
boards there and looks just like him. 4 have
got new doll, but johnny Anderson pulled one
of the legs out. Miss DUsenbery was here YES
terday; gave her your picture, but she didn't
want IL. My cat has got more kittens-oh. YOU
can't think-twice as many A. Lottie Beldsn's.
And there's one, such a sweet little bun
one with q short tail, and 4 named it Tor you.
All OF them's got names now-General Grant,
u.
Deuteronomy, and Captain Semmes. AMI ENo-
dus, and Leyiticus, and Horace Greeley-aIl
named but one, and am saving IL because the
one 1 named for you's been sick all the TINS
since, and reckon it'll die. fIt appears 20 be
mighty rough on the short-tailed kitten for
naming II for me. wonder how the reserved
victim will stand IL. Uncle Mark, I DO believe
Hattie Caldwell likes Won, and know she thinks
you are pretty, because heard her saw nothing
could hurt your good looks-nothing at ail-she
said, even II you were 20 have the smallpox ever
SO had, You would be just as good looking a. YOU
were before. And ma says she's ever 80 smart.
ihery.J SO no more this time, because General
Grant and Moses are lighting. ANNE
This child treads ON my toes in every other
sentence with perfect lOoseness, but i'm the sim
pllcity of her time Of life she doesn't know IN
consider that a model letter-an eminentiv
readable and entertaining letter. and as sail
before, IL contains more matter of interest ana
real information than any letter ever received
from the East / had rather hear about cats az
home and their truly remarkable names, than
listen to lot Of stuff about people am not ac-
quainted with, or read The Evil Effects of the
Intoxicating Bowl, illustrated on the hack with
the picture Of ragged scallawag pelting away
right and left i'm the midst OF his family with n
Junk bottle.