I have a queer feeling that Teddysmother hates me
this summer. Dear Father, it is lovely to write to you. Theother was just one poem
called Sohrab and Rustum.
DEAR FATHER:There has been a dark shadow over this
day. Imean the first letter that was really to go in the mail.
CousinJimmy has given me a little pig for my
own.
And I asked him why we shouldnt put new wine in
oldbottles. Emily was at first too much excited over saving her precious poetryto
pay much heed to this threat.
I dont mean to be impertinent, but you are NOT
sorry, persistedEmily.
Aunt Laura is nicer to live with than Aunt
Elizabeth, butAunt Elizabeth is nicer to write about.
Aunt Laura says Aunt Elizabeth loved my mother
verymuch. Aunt Elizabeth, PLEASE let me tell my side of the story,
shepleaded.
I do wish I could find out what Ilsesmother
did.
DEAR FATHER:There has been a dark shadow over this
day.
I have called my pig after him to get
square.
Teddy cut myinitials and his together on the Monark
of The Forest but somebodyhas cut them out.
If you make a good impression on Aunt Nancy she may
dosomething for you. I went over to Ilses and we played in the garret. Is it wrong
to want to be handsome, dearest Father. Imean the first letter that was really to go
in the mail. I can see such beautiful fluffy white clouds over Lofty Johnsbush. But
look here, Emily, Ive thought ofsomething.
Cousin Jimmyhad read The Lay to her last
Saturday.
He said he hoped I never did wrong things and that
animalshad no souls. A sudden strange change came over Elizabeth Murrays proud,
angryface. Shehated to have Aunt Laura think she had been naughty, but she couldnot
trust herself to explain. The minutes passed, each seeming very long to
Emily.
But you didnt mind her not havingone did you
Father.
She had meant to take them home that very evening
andcopy them on letter-bills. Its so nice tohear the silk dresses swishing up the
isles.
But now it does notseem to me proper to call pigs
after your uncles even if you dontlike them. There seemedsomething baleful and
poisonous in her very glance.