Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-10-28
Dear Reggie:

uIu not nave room in my last
letter to tell you about Mr.. Archer.
lie is pedler who comes around
nearly every DAY with things to sell.
Sometimes he brings vegetables,
sometimes fruit, and sometimes hull
cd corn ana hominy. lie has
queer little cart. The back part of
II is like box with a cover that
shuts down, and it has compart-
ments for the various articles. In
the front of the cart is seat with
an awning over it where Mr.. Archer
sits. He is rather old and he seems
to have to work hard but he Is so
good-natured and merry. | wish
you could see how his eyes twinkle
when he talks. His horse Is old,
too, and quite rough and clumsy
looking, but he is gentle and good
TEN ered like his master. Mr.. Ar
cher talks to him Just as we do to
Don and Rebekah. When he get of
his cart to go into the houses he
says, Well Dobbin, here's chance
to rest now; I've got to go In here"
and when he comes out he will say,
Tired of waiting, Dobbin? well,
We'll jog on now"
Then there Is a dog, a yellow dog,
with short legs. He Is not at all
handsome, either. He usually runs
along by the wagon, but quite often
he sits on the seat beside Mr.. Ar
cher. He watches over the cart
when his master goes in anywhere.
Sometimes he barks little, If boys
pretend to lift the cover, but Mr..
Archer says you couldn't make him
bite. They are all so fond of each
other, and seem so happy and COM
Portable, ] have taken a great fancy
to them and l go out to see them
whenever they come to the house.
Auntie laughs at me. She says
MIR. Archer is a very honest man but
she doesn't see anything interesting
about him or his outfit, as she calls
it. She says all the things he brings
are very nice, though she should
relish the hominy better If the dog
did not sit on the seat so much.
Mamma says that he must be very
sensible man, for he appears to get
so much happiness out of life, and
that is what every one is striving
for and very few seem to find.
| get so tired of seeing the car
horses slip and struggle over the
smooth pavements. There is a
church going up near here 1t is on
a hill, and they cart great blocks of
stone up through a narrow street.
To leave the blocks In the right place
the horses have to back and back,
and 1t seems such hard work for
them Most of the drivers are quite
kind, but there is one who does not
understand driving and backing, and
he busters and swears and pretends
it is all the fault Of the horses.
Uncle gets quite vexed; he says that
any man who is out Of a Job is sup
posed to be able to drive a cart, but
If horses could speak they would
tel a different story.
Auntie has two beautiful canary
birds. She thinks 1t strange that /
who am so fond of pets, have never
had one. | have sometimes thought
| should like one, but still it seems
to me they must feel like prisoners,
especially when they see other birds
flying about SO gaily from tree to
tree Auntie says they do not, be-
Cause they were borr in cages and
have known nothing else, but man.
ma thinks that creatures gifted with
WINS and with the power to use
them must wish for freedom, even
though they do not know what it Is.
But anntie Is very kind TO her BIRDS;
she lets them fly about the room
several hours a day, and they will
come at her call to her hand or
shoulder or head. Then she puts a
little mirror In the cage for them,
taking care that the sun or light
sts" not dazzle them. She is very
careful that the cage shall be hung
IN a place not too warm or cool, and
she gives them variety Of food,
lettuce, chickweed, cracker, crumbs
Of bread and milk, and other simple
and harmless foods.
We all went shopping this morn
ing. Mamma and auntie seemed to
erjoy It, but | found 1t rather dull.
We 70 somewhere every day, and
am having lovely visit, but still
should like to see dear Hollyhurst
again. l miss you so much, Reggie,
and papa also. am Just longing
to see him; and there's Duke, I am
suffering for a good romp with him.
I hope the Waif will not think
AoIx