yinbiglettersthatresembledprinting.Thesedletterbaffledmemorethanthefirst,butit,too,usedonlythree-quartersofthefrontsideofthepage.

    2/3/50

    DearMotherandFather,

    WordsotbegintoexpressthesorrowandsympathyIsendtoyouatthelossofdearNana.Shewasagoodwoman,andakindone,andsheisnowierplace.IamsorrythatIehome,butIvenotenoughmoneyforthetrip.So,allmyheartfeltgriefmustbesharedbythismostinsuffitletter.

    Winterdrawstoacoldandunhappyclose.Lifeisnotfair,sinceyouhavelostNana,andI,neareverything.

    YourSon

    Whentheylearhetwomessages,thegirlsincampinsistedtheybesharedaloud.Theywerecuriousnotonlyabouttheirsubstaaboutmyprofessedliteraostnooneincampbotheredtoreadorwriteanylonger.Somehadnotlearned,andothershadchosentet.Wesatinaringaroundthefire,ahemasbestIcould,notfullyprehendingallofthewordsoruandingtheirmeanings."WhatdoyouthinkofDearest?"SpeckaskedthegroupafterIhadfinished.

    "Heisacad;heisarotter,"Onionssaid.

    Kivipushedbackherblondecurlsandsighed,herfacebrightinthefirelight."IdonotuandwhyDearestwillnotwritebaartha,butthatisnothingparedtotheproblemsofYourSon."

    "Yes,"Chavisoryjumpedin,"perhapsYourSonandMarthashouldgetmarried,aheywillbothlivehappilyeverafter."

    "Well,IhopeMotherandFatherfindNana,"addedBlomma.

    Intothenightthebewilderingversationflowed.Theyfabricatedpoeticalfisabouttheotherworld.Themysteriesoftheirsympathies,s,andsorrowsperplexedme,yetthegirlshadawellsprihyform