The National tribune., 1903-05-28

them: What are their mothers thinking
about to allow it?"
Miss Maria, I'll thank you for my let
ter and Sandy's." said little Pete with
great dignity. He was SO eager to gel
them that he had slipped in unnoticed, af.
! ter the orderly. Say, Peter are you and
Sandy writing to the girls" asked Maria
teasingly. You are beginning early"
| "Yes'm," responded Pete firmly, though
his face burned with bushes. I'VE began
soldering early, too, but don't know as
that's anybody's business but our own.
Le'me have the letters" and he put out
| his hand for them.
II don't know as I ought to give them
to you," answered Maria, in her teasing
way, "since your mothers are not here
1t seems to me your mothers should read
| them first"
And she held the letters above her head,
far out of Pete's reach.
mo you won't" answered Pete, alarm
those letters. You've got no right to.
We got just as much right to
read our letters as the Brigadier-
General. If you try to read those letters
l will report you to Gen. McGillicuddy;"
and the boys expression grew stormy.
Il really think. said Maria, mockingly,
and holding the letters higher up, that I
ought to take these in to your superior
officers, Sergts. Klegg and Elliott, to see
whether they ought to be given to you"
Superior nothing" shouted the boy.
There amt no superiors in the army
when it comes to letters. Give me them
letters. 1t is a court-martial offense to
meddle with mans letters. Give me
them, or l will have you court-mar-
tailed" Maria lowered her hand until
the boy. by jumping up, could reach the
letters. He grabbed them and rushed off
for his partner.
"Oh, Ma! here is one in Mandy's hand
writing" cried Maria, eXcitedly coming to
the next envelope, "and its from her, too;
it's post marked Bean Blossom Creek
Come quick, while l open it, l can read
that child's hand writing better than you
can, Ma. My, she certainly has laid her
self out to do matters up brown. It's to
all of us inside:
"'Dear Pa and Ma and the Girls: don't
spose you are caring snap about me or
anything here in Indiana, now that you
have got the boys, but you just don't know
how awful lonesome it is for me.
81 am having dreadful time with the
old speckled hen, which just will set in
spite of me. She's fetched off one hatch
ing of chickens and they are so cute, but
the hateful old thing won't take care of
them so l have to keep the poor little
things in the kitchen most of the time.
When l get home from school let them
out for n few minutes and theyseem so
glad. try to feed them just like you do,
Ma, but three has died. There is twelve
left. Birthstone has five little kittens, and
only one of them is yellow-and white like
her. All the rest are, e,just black and white
or dirty-gray. l keep them in the kitchen
too. Old Zeke dosnt like them and he
got one and shook it most to death. The
Chester White that Pa got from old Mr..
Lawton amt doing a bit good. 1t is so
little and weasened like that Jarvis said
it was going to die, SO brought it in the
kitchen and have been giving it warm
milk. 1t is gettin' right frisky now. Two
of them Cotswolds has died, and Jarvis
thinks that something is the matter with
the other sheep. 1 wish Pa was home to
look after them. The rye and wheat is
looking real fine,' and Jarvis says its
mighty nigh time to be getting the corn
in. l wish Pa was here, the place needs
him.
"I wish you was here. Ma, my school
dress has got all tore out at the belt
where 1 pinned it because the hooks and
eyes tore out, and my stockings are COM
ing full Of holes. l can't knit me any
for the yarn has give out that you left.
Sam Rodgers little girl needed some stock
ings and l knit her a pair in three days
Wasn't that doing pretty good for me- 1
croshayed her a pair of mittens too. They
was not much to look at but they was
warm. Mrs. Potts> died yesterday. She
was 30 years old:s The Shrader baby died |
with the Group last night It's mother
was at a dance. I.don't think such wom-
Ell ought to have children, do you, Ma? |
am dreadful lonesome. Ma. amt you COM
ing home pretty soon. | got the letter |
from Annabel about how you saw Mr. |
Lincoln. Amt he grand. l wish could
see him. l wouldn't be afraid of him.
Give Isl a whole lot of love and a'hundred |
kisses from his little sister. and ispose
you'll have to say something TO Shorty
from me. like him but would like him
better If there was more Of him. He's
so awful thin.
81 wish Maria was home to help me