News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1922-11-22
ONE WEEK LATER

answered it-Father's letter,
, mean--yesterday, and it's gone now
But | had an awful time over 1t. ]
just didn't know what in the world
to say. I'd start out all. right, and I'd
think / was going to get along beauti-
fully. Then, all Of sudden, 1t would
come over me, what / was doing
writing letter to my fatherI And /
could Imagine just how he'd look when
he got it, all stern and dignified sit
ting in his chair with his paper-cutter
and I'd imagine his eyes looking down
and reading what 1 wrote. And when
thought of that, my pen just wouldn't
go. The idea of my writing anything
my father would want to read!
And so I'd try to think Of things that
could write-big things-big things
that would interest big men: About
the President and our-country- 'tis-of-
thee, and the state of the weather
and the crops. And so I'd begin:
Dear Father: / take my pen In
hand to inform you that"
Then I'd stop and think and think,
and chew my panhandle. Then I'd
put down something. But 1t was aw-
full, and knew 1t was awful. SO I'd
have to tear 1t up and begin again.
Three times / did that; then began
to cry. 1t did seem as If ] never could
write that letter. Once l thought of
asking Mother what to say, and get
ting her to help me. Then l remem-
bered how she cried and took on and
said things when the letter came; and
talked about how dreadful and I'M
natural 1t all was, and how she was
jealous for fear I'd love Father better
than did her. And / was afraid she'd
do 1t again, and so I didp't like to ask
her. And so didn't do IT,
Then, after time, got out his let
ter and read IT again. And all of
sudden I felt all warm and happy,
just as I did when I first got it; and
some way 1 was back with him in the
observatory and he was telling me all
about the stars. And l forgot all
about being afraid Of him. And I just
remembered that he'd asked me to
tell him what did on Christmas day;
and l knew right off that that would
be easy. Why, just the easiest thing
in the world! And so I got out
fresh sheet Of paper and dipped my
pen In the ink and began again.
And this time 1 didn't have a bit
of trouble. told him all about the
tree | had Christmas eve, and the
presents, and the little colored lights,
and the fun we had singing and play
ing games. And then how, on Christ
mas morning, there was lovely new
snow on the ground, and Mr. Easter
brook came with "a perfectly lovely
sleigh and two horses TO take Mother
and me to ride, and what a splendid
time we had, and how lovely Mother
looked with her red cheeks and bright
eyes, and how, when we got home,
Mr.. EasterbrOok said we looked more
like sisters than mother and daughter,
and wasn't that nice Of him. OF course,
/ told a little more about Mr.. Easter
brook, too, so Father'd know who he
was-a new friend of Mothers that |
I'd never known till I came back this |
time, and how he was very rich and
most estimable man. That Aunt Hattie !
said so.
Then told him that in the after
noon another gentleman came and |
took us to a perfectly beautiful con-
cert. And 1 finished up by telling |
about the Christmas party in the eve
ming, and how lovely the house looked,
and Mother, and that they said | !
looked nice, too.
And that was ALL And when l had !
got it done, l saw that l had written
a long letter, a great long letter. And
was almost afraid it was too long,
till remembered that Father had