Yours,
With a mind,
Completely and Irrevocably and
World-without-End Made-up, Jerusha Abbott
9th November
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
I started down town today 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; I couldn't be happy another
day without them--and when I tried to pay the car fare, I found that I
had left my purse in the pocket of my other coat. So I had to get out
and take the next car, and was late for gymnasium.
It's a dreadful thing to have no memory and two coats!
Julia Pendleton has invited me to visit her for the Christmas holidays.
How does that strike you, Mr. Smith? Fancy Jerusha Abbott, of the John
Grier Home, sitting at the tables of the rich. I don't know why Julia
wants me--she seems to be getting quite attached to me of late. I
should, to tell the truth, very much prefer going to Sallie's, but
Julia asked me first, so if I go anywhere it must be to New York
instead of to Worcester. I'm rather awed at the prospect of meeting
Pendletons EN MASSE, and also I'd have to get a lot of new clothes--so,
Daddy dear, if you write that you would prefer having me remain quietly
at college, I will bow to your wishes with my usual sweet docility.
I'm engaged at odd moments with the Life and Letters of Thomas
Huxley--it makes nice, light reading to pick up between times. Do you
know what an archaeopteryx is? It's a bird. And a stereognathus? I'm
not sure myself, but I think it's a missing link, like a bird with
teeth or a lizard with wings. No, it isn't either; I've just looked in
the book. It's a mesozoic mammal.
I've elected economics this year--very illuminating subject. When I
finish that I'm going to take Charity and Reform; then, Mr. Trustee,
I'll know just how an orphan asylum ought to be run. Don't you think
I'd make an admirable voter if I had my rights? I was twenty-one last
week. This is an awfully wasteful country to throw away such an
honest, educated, conscientious, intelligent citizen as I would be.
Yours always,
Judy
7th December
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
Thank you for permission to visit Julia--I take it that silence means
consent.
Such a social whirl as we've been having! The Founder's dance came
last week--this was the first year that any of us could attend; only
upper classmen being allowed.
I invited Jimmie McBride, and Sallie invited his room-mate at
Princeton, who visited them last summer at their camp--an awfully nice
man with red hair--and Julia invited a man from New York, not very
exciting, but socially irreproachable. He is connected with the De la
Mater Chichesters. Perhaps that means something to you? It doesn't
illuminate me to any extent.