Laura，Anne，andScottBurtonwereherefortheplay，andLauraiscomingdownagaintospendtheweek。Ican\'tabideher，andtherewillprobablybetroubleinthecamp。
Theflameofmygeniusblazeshighjustnow，butGeoffhasspoken，anditmustbesnuffed。Sogood-bye!
Sizz-z-z!!andI\'mOUT!
POLLIOLIVER。
II。FROMPHILIPTOELSIE。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July8，188。
MydearElsie，——IbelieveIamtoinformyouconcerningthedailydoingsofourparty，notonanyaccount，however，permittingmyselftodegenerateinto\'gossip\'or\'frivolousamusement。\'
Theyevidentlyconsidermeaquiet，stupidfellow，whowillfulfilsuchataskwithnospecialfeelingofrepression，andIdaresaytheyarequiteright。
Theycallmethe\'solidman\'ofthecamp，whichmaynotbeveryhighpraise，tobesure，asGeoffreycarrieshisheadintheclouds，andJackis——well，JackisJack!So，asthelightofatallowdipisvaluableintheabsenceofsunandmoon，Iamraisedtoafictitiousreputation。
Wefellowshavehadverylittleplaysofar，forthefurnishingofthecamphasprovedanimmenseundertaking，althoughwehaveplentyoftherightsortofwoodandexcellenttools。
Wethinktheworkwillpay，however，asDr。PaulhasaboutdecidedtostayuntilOctober，oruntilthefirstrain。Hewritestwoorthreehoursaday，andthinksthathegetsonwithhisbookbetterherethanathome。Asfortherestofus，whenwegetfairlytorightsweshallhaveregularstudyhoursandlosenotimeinpreparingfortheexaminations。
Isupposeyouknowthatyouhaveafullbedroomsetinprocessofconstruction。Isay\'supposeyouknow，\'becauseitisaprofoundsecret，andthegirlscouldneverhavekeptittothemselvesaslongasthis。
Thelounging-chairismyallottedportion，andalthoughitisacomplicatedbitofwork，Iaccepteditgladly，feelingsurethatyouwoulduseitoftenerthananyoftheotherpiecesoffurniture。I
shallmakeitsodeliciouslyeasythatyouwillmakeme\'KnightoftheChair，\'andperhapspermitmetoplayasortofdevotedJohnBrowntoyourVictoria。Youwillneedonedullandprosysquiretoarrangeyourpillows，sothatyoucanlaughatJack\'sjokeswithoutweariness，anddozequietlywhileGeoffandUncleDocaretalkingmedicine。
OfcoursethemostexcitingeventoftheweekwasthemysteriousdisappearanceandsubsequentrestorationoftheHeir-Apparent；butI
feelsuresomebodyelsewilldescribetheevent，becauseitisuppermostinallourminds。
Bell，forinstance，woulddressitupinfinestyle。Sheisnohistorian，butinpoetryandfictionnoneofuscantouchher；
though，bytheway，Polly\'sabilitiesinthatdirectionareagooddealunderrated。It\'sasgoodasaplaytogetherafterJackwhenheisinoneofhisteasingmoods。Theyarelikeflintandsteel，andifAuntTruthdidn\'tseparatethemthesparkswouldfly。WithagirllikePolly，youhaveeithertolieawakenights，thinkinghowyou\'llgetthebetterofher，orelseputonademeanourofgentlenessandpatience，whichservesasasortoflightning-rodroundwhichthefireofherfunwillplayalldayandneverstrike。
Pollyisagooddealofagirl。Sheseemsatfirsttohaveaprettysharptongue，butItellyoushehasaheartinwhichthereisswimming-roomforeverybody。Thismaynotbe\'information\'toyou，whomwelookuponasourclairvoyant，butitwouldbenewstomostpeople。
UncleDoc，Bell，Geoff，Polly，Meg，andIstartedforthetopofPicoNegrotheothermorning。BellrodeVillikins，andPollytookamule，becauseshethoughttheanimalwouldbeespeciallysure-footed。Hewas；infact，hewassosure-footedthathedidn\'tcaretomoveatall，andwehadtotaketurnsinbeatinghimuptothetop。Weboyswalkedforexercise，whichwegottoourhearts\'content。
ItisonlyfiveorsixmilesfromtheoldMountainMill(apictureofwhichJackwillsendyou)，andtheascentisprettystiffclimbing，thoughnothingterrific。Welostthetrailonce，andflounderedaboutinthechaparralforhalfanhour，tillBellbegantomakeapoemontheoccasion，whenwebecamedesperate，anddashedthroughathicketofbrush，tearingourselvestobits，butstumblingonthetrailatlast。Theviewfromthetopissimplysuperb。Thevalleysbelowareallyellowwithgrain-fieldsandgreenwithvineyards，withhereandtheretheroofsofastragglinglittlesettlement。Thedepressioninthesideofthemountain(youwillobserveitinthepicture)Pollysayshasevidentlybeen\'bittenout\'byaprehistoricanimal，anditturnsouttobetheloveliestlittlecanyonimaginable。
Wehavehadonenovelexperience——thatofseeingatarantulafight；
andnotbetweentwo，butfive，tarantulas。Wewereabouttwentymilesfromcamp，lopingalongastretchofhot，dustyroad。Jackgotofftocinchhissaddle，andsoweallstoppedamomenttoletourhorsesbreathe。AsIwaslookingabout，atnothinginparticular，I
noticedablackballinthedeepdustatthesideoftheroad。ItsuddenlyrolledoveronitselfandIcalledtotheboystowatchthefun。Wegotoff，hitchedourhorses，andapproachedcautiously，forIhadseenabattleofthesamekindbefore。Theretheywere——fivehuge，hairy，dirty，blackcreatures，aslargeasthepalmofDicky\'shand，alllockedindeadlycombat。Theywrithedandstruggledandembraced，theirlong，curlinglegsfasteningoneachotherwithasoundthatwasactuallylikethecrackingofbones。Ittakesalittlecouragetostandandwatchsuchaproceeding，foryoufeelasifthehideousfellowsmightturnandjumpforyou；buttheyweredoubtlessabsorbedintheirownbattle，andwewantedtoseetheaffairtotheend，sowetooktherisk，iftherewasany。Atlasttheyshowedsignsofweariness，butweproddedthemupwithourriding-whips，preferringthattheyshouldkilleachother，ratherthandothethingourselves。Finally，fourofthemlayinthedust，doubledupandharmless，slain，Isuppose，bytheirownpoison。One，theconqueringhero，remained，andwedexterouslyscoopedhimintoatomato-canthatJackhadtiedtohissaddleforadrinking-cup，coveredhimupwithahandkerchief，anddrewlotsastowhoshouldcarryhimhometoDr。Paul。
Knowingthatthelittlebeastsweregregarious，wehuntedaboutforanest，whichwemightsendtoyouafteroustingitsdisagreeableoccupant。Aftermuchsearching，wefoundagroupofthem——quiteatarantulavillage，infact。Theirwonderfullittlehousesareclosedontheoutsidebyacircular，many-webbedmesh，twoorthreeinchesacross，andthiswebbetraysthespider\'sdentothepersonwhoknowsthetricksofthetrade。Directlyunderneathityoucomeuponthetinycirculartrap-door，whichyouwillnoticeinthenestwesendwiththeseletters。Youwillseehowwonderfullyitismade，withitssilkenweavinginside，anditsbitsofbarkandleavesoutside；
andIknowyouwilladmirethehinge，whichthetarantulamusthaveinvented，andwhichisasprettyabitofworkmanshipasthemostaccomplishedmechaniccouldturnout。Wetoreawaythewebandthedoorfromoneofthenests，andthenpouredwaterdownthehole。Thespiderwasathome，cameoutasfactashisclumsylegswouldcarryhim，andclutchedtheendofthestickJackheldouttohim。Thenwetumbledhimintothetomato-canjustasheappearedtobemakingforus。Thetwodidn\'tagreeatall。Oneofthemdespatchedtheotheronthewayhome——thesameherowhohadkilledtheotherfour；but，onhearinghisbloodyrecord，AuntTruthrefusedtohavehimaboutthecamp；sowegavehimanalcoholbath，andyoushallseehislordshipwhenyoucome。AsDr。Paulsays，theyhavebeenknowntoclearfourteenfeetatajump，perhapsyouwillfeelhappiertoknowthatheisinalcohol，thoughtheirbiteisnotnecessarilyfatalifitisrightlycaredfor。
Thegirlshavebeenpatronisingthelandscapebynamingeverypeak，valley，grove，andstreaminthevicinity；andasthereisnobodytoobject，thenamesmayhold。
Wecarryaboutwithusacollectionofstrong，flatstakes，whichhavevariousnamespaintedontheminneatblackletters。Jacklikesthatkindofwork，andspendsmostofhistimeatit；fornowthatDr。Paulhasboughtahundredacresuphere，weareallgreatlyinterestedinitsimprovement。
GeoffhasnamedthemountainPicoNegro，asItoldyou，andthelittlecanyononitssideiscalledtheGiant\'sYawn。Thenwehave-
MirrorPool，TheLoneStump，FieldoftheCloth-of-Gold，CosyNook，TheImp\'sWash-Bowl，Dunce-CapHill，TheSaint\'sRest，andIlPenserosoFall(inhonourofDicky，whowasnearlydrownedthere)。
Ifanybodyfailstocalltheselocalitiesbytheirpropernameshehastopayafineoffivecents，whichgoestowardsbeautifyingtheplace。Dr。PaulhashadtopaytwofinesforBell，threeforAuntTruth，andsevenforDicky；soheconsidersitanill-judgedarrangement。
OurencampmentissupposedtobeintheForestofArden，andJackhasbegunnailingversesofpoetryonthetrees，likeasecondOrlando，savethattheyarenotlove-poemsatall，butappropriatequotationsfromWordsworthorBryant。Andthisbringsmetoourthrillingrenditionoftheplay\'AsYouLikeIt，\'lastevening；butitisdeservingofmorethanthepassingnoticewhichIcangiveithere。
Onething，however，Imusttellyou，asthegirlswillnotwriteitofthemselves——that，althoughBellcarriedofffirsthonoursandfairlycaptivatedtheactorsaswellastheaudience，allthreeofthemlookedbewitchingandactedwiththegreatestspirit，muchbetterthanwefellowsdid。
Ofcoursewedidn\'tgivetheentireplay，andwehadto\'doubleup\'
onsomeofthecharactersinthemostridiculousfashion；buttheBurtonshelpedoutwonderfully，ScottplayingOliver，andLauradoingAudrey。TheyweresodelightedwiththecampthatAuntTruthhasinvitedthemtocomeagainonSaturdayandstayaweek。
AttheriskofbeingcalledconceitedIwillalsostatethatweboysconsiderthatthestagemanagementwasatriumphofinventiveart；weworkedlikebeaversfortwodays，andtheresultsweremarvellous，\'ifIdosaysoasshouldn\'t。\'
Justconsiderwewere\'sixmilesfromalemon，\'asSydneySmithwouldsay，andyetwetransformedalloutofdoors，firstintoanelegantinterior，andthenintoaconventionalstageforest。
Agreatdealofworkisavailableforotherperformances，andsowedonotregretitabit；weproposedoing\'AsYouLikeIt\'againwhenyouaredownhere，andmeanwhilewegivediversifiedentertainmentswhichJackcallsvarietyshows，butwhichinrealityareverychasteandelegantoccasions。
Theothernightwehadaminstrelshow，wearingmasksofblackcambric，withredmouthspaintedonthem；youshouldhaveseenus，allinaduskysemicircle，seatedonboardssupportedbynail-kegs:
itwasascenebetterimaginedthandescribed。Thisiscertainlytheidealwaytoliveinsummer-time，andweshouldbeperfectlyhappyandcontentifyoucouldonlyshakeoffyourtroublesomecoughandcometoshareourpleasure。Wefeelincompletewithoutyou；andnomatterhowlargeourpartymaygrowasthesummerprogresses，therewillalwaysbeavacantnichethatnonecanfillsavethedearlittleSaintwhoisalwaysenshrinedthereinbyallherloyalworshippers，andbynonemorereverentlythanherfriend，PHILIPS。NOBLE。
III。THEKNIGHTOFTHESPECTACLESTAKESTHEQUILL。
ThispaperiswrituntohermostRoyalHighness，ourbelovedGoldElsie，QueenofourthoughtsandEmpressofallhearts。
Youmustknow，mostnobleLady，thatonewhoisyournextofkinandhighintheroyalfavourhaslaiduponusamostdifficultandembarrassingtask。
InourcapacityasDirectoroftheCourtGames，wehumblysuggestedthesubjectsfortheweeklybulletinwhichyourHighnesscommandedtobewritten；but，alas，withindifferentsuccess；fortheCourtiersgrowledandtheLadies-in-waitinghowledatthetopicsgiventhemforconsideration。
OnsolicitingourownsubjectsfromthePrivyCouncillorandKnightoftheBrush，LordJohnHoward，herevengefullyorderedmeto\'edify\'
yourMajestywithwiseutterances；asifsuchpoor，rudewordsasminecouldpleasetheearthatshouldonlylistentothesingingofbirds，thebabblingofbrooks，orthesilverytongueofgenius!
WhenmayyourdevotedsubjectshopetoseetheirgraciousSovereignagainintheirmidst?
Thecourtisfastdriftingintodangerousinformalitiesofconduct。
ThePrincessBell-Pepperpartakesoftheodoriferousonionateachnoon-daymeal，sothataroyalsalutewouldbeimpossible；thehandsoftheCountessPaulinalookasifyoumighthavechosenoneofyourattendantsfrom\'Afric\'ssunnyfountains，orIndia\'scoralstrand\'；
andasfortheCourtChaplain，Rev。Jack-in-the-Pulpit，hehaswoefullyforsakenthemannersofthe\'cloth，\'andinsistsuponretaininghisancienttitleofKnightoftheBrush；theDuchessofSweetMarjoramalonecontinuescircumspectinwalkandmien，forbloodwilltell，andsheismoreNoblethantheothers。
InourcapacityofCourtPhysicianwehavethricerelievedyouryouthfulpage，SirDickyWinship，ofindigestion，causedbytoogenerousindulgenceintheflowingbowl——ofmilkandcherries；wehavealsoprescribedforhisgracetheDukeofNoble，whoseducalearwaspoisonedbytheinsidiousoakleaf。
YourprivateboxawaitsyouinthePrincess\'Theatre，andyourMajesty\'sspecialinterpretersofthedramawillcelebrateyourarrivalasgorgeouslyasitdeserves。
ThehealthofourdearlybelovedSovereignengagestheconstantthoughtofallherloyalandadoringsubjects；theyhopeerelongtocullawreathoflaurelwiththeirownhandsandplaceitonabrowwhichneedsnaughtbutitsgoldencrownofhairtoaffirmitsqueenlydignity。Andasforcrownjewels，hasnotourEmpressofHeartsafullstore?——twodazzlingsapphires，hereyes；astringofpearls，herteeth；herlipstworubies；andwhensheopensthem，diamondsofwisdomissuetherefrom!
Come!andletthesightofthyroyalcharmsgladdentheeyesofthywaitingpeople!IssuedunderthehandofSIRGEOFFREYSTRONG，Bart。，CourtPhysicianandKnightoftheSpectacles。
IV。MARGERY\'SCONTRIBUTION。
COSYNOOK，July11，188。
MyowndearElsie，——YourweeklychronicleisalmostreadyforMonday\'sstage，andIamallowedtocomeinattheclosewithasmanypagesof\'gossip\'asIchoose；whichmeansthatImayrunontomyheart\'scontentandtellyouallthelittlethingsthathappeninthechinksbetweenthegreatones，forUncleDochasrefusedtoreadthispartoftheletter。
Firstforsomecommissions:AuntTruthasksifyourmotherwillkindlyselectgoodsandengageMrs。PerkinstomakeuseachacoupleofScotchginghamdresses。Shehasourmeasures，andwewishthemsimple，full-skirtedgowns，likethelast；everybodythinksthemsoprettyandbecoming。Bell\'stwomustbebuffandpink，Polly\'sgreyandgreen，andmineblueandbrown。Wefindthatwehaven\'tclothesenoughforathreemonths\'stay；andtheout-of-doorlifeissoharduponour\'forestsuits\'thatwehaveaskedMrs。Perkinstosendusnewonesassoonaspossible。
WehavehadaverybusyandexcitingweeksincePollybeganthisletter，fortherehavebeenvariousinterruptionsandanunusualnumberofvisitors。
First，therewasourmountainclimbtothetopofPicoNegro；Philsayshehaswrittenyouaboutthat，butIhardlybelievehementionedthatheandtheotherboysworriedussadlybyhangingontothetailsofourhorsesastheyclimbedupthesteepestplaces。TobesuretheyweresoawfullytiredthatIcouldn\'thelppityingthem；
butUncleDochadtriedtopersuadethemnottowalk，sothatitwastheirownfaultafterall。Youcannotimaginewhatadreadfulfeelingitgivesonetobeclimbingaslippery，rockypath，andknowthatagreatheavyboyispullingyourhorsebackwardsbythetail。
Pollyinsistedthatsheheardhermule\'stailbreakloosefromitsmoorings，andonmeasuringitwhenshegotbacktocampshefounditthreeincheslongerthanusual。
Themuleactedlikeoriginalsinallday，andPollywassocompletelyworn-outthatshewenttobedatfiveo\'clock；Jackwasagooddealtheworseforweartoo，sothattheygotonbeautifullyallday。Itisqueerthattheyirritateeachotherso，forIamsurethatthereisnolackofrealfriendshipbetweenthem；butJackisaconfirmedtease，andheseemstokeepallhismischiefbottledupforespecialusewithPolly。Ihavetriedtokeephimoutoftrouble，asyouaskedme；andalthoughitgivesmeplentytodo，Iamsucceedingtolerablywell，exceptinhisdealingswithPolly。Ilecturehimcontinually，but\'everytimeheopenshismouthheputshisfootinit。\'
Pollywasunderacloudthefirstoftheweek。Villikinswassick，andDr。WinshipsenthertoAuntTruthforabottleofsweetoil。
AuntTruthwasnotinsight，soPollywenttotheboxofstoresandemptiedawholequartbottleofsaladoilintoapail，andVillikinshadtotakeit，WHEELORWHOA(Jack\'sjoke!)。Auntiewenttomakethesaladdressingatdinner-time，anddiscoveredherlossandPolly\'smistake。Itwasthelastbottle；andaswecan\'tgetanymoreforaweek，thesituationwasserious，andshewasverymuchtried。PoorPollyhadagoodcryoverhercarelessness，andcametothedinner-tableinaverysensitiveframeofmind。ThenwhatshouldJackdobuttellDickytotakeVillikinsaheadoflettuceforhissupper，andaskPollywhyshedidn\'tchangehisnamefromVillikinstoSalad-in!Pollyburstintotears，andleftthetable，whileDr。
PaulgaveJackascolding，whichIreallythinkhedeserved，thoughitwasagoodjoke。Thenextmorning，theyounggentlemanputonapairofoldwhitecottonglovesandhisbesthat，gatheredherabouquetofwildflowers，andmadeherahandsomeapologybeforethewholeparty；sosheforgavehim，andtheyarefriends——untilthenextquarrel。
Onthenightbeforetheplay，LauraandScottBurtonarrivedonhorseback，andthenextmorningtherestofthefamilyappearedonthescene。WehadsentovertoseeifLaurawouldplayAudreyonsoshortnotice，andbringoversomeoddsandendsforcostumes。Weactuallyhadanaudienceofsixteenpersons，andwehadnoideaofplayingbeforeanybodybutAuntTruthandDicky。
TherewerethreeoftheBurtons，Pancho，HopYet，thepeoplefromthedairyfarm，andauniversityprofessorfromBerkeley，witheightstudents。Theywereonawalkingtour，andwerejustcampingforthenightwhenScottandJackmetthem，andinvitedthemovertotheperformance。GeoffreyandPhilwereacquaintedwiththreeofthem，andUnclePaulknewtheprofessor。
Laura，Anne，andScottwenthomethenextmorning，butcamebackintwodaysfortheirweek\'svisit。TheboyslikeScottverymuch；hefallsrightintothecampways，anddoesn\'tdisturbtheevencurrentofourlife；andAnne，whoisasweetlittlegirloftwelve，hasquitetakenDickyunderherwing，muchtoourrelief。
WithLaura\'sadvent，however，achangecameoverthespiritofourdreams，and，totellthetruth，wearenotoverandabovepleasedwithit。Bytheway，shespentlastsummeratthehotel，andyoumusthaveseenher，didyounot?Anyway，Mrs。BurtonandAuntTruthwereoldschoolfriends，andBellhasknownLaurafortwoyears，buttheywillneverfollowintheirmothers\'footsteps。LauraissodifferentfromhermotherthatIshouldneverthinktheywererelations；andshehasmanagedtochangeallourarrangementsinsomemysteriouswaywhichwecan\'tunderstand。Igetonverywellwithher；shepositivelyshowersfavoursuponme，andImorethanhalfsuspectitisbecauseshethinksIdon\'tamounttomuch。Asfortheothers，sherubsPollythewrongway，andIbelievesheisalittlebitjealousofBell。
Yousee，sheisseveralmonthsolderthantherestofus，andhasspenttwowintersinSanFrancisco，whereshewentoutagreatdealtopartiesandtheatres，sothatherideasareentirelydifferentfromours。
Shewantseverysinglebitofattention——oneboytohelpheroverthebrooks，onetocutwalking-sticksforher，anothertopeelheroranges，andanothertoreadSpanishwithher，andsoon。Now，youknowverywellthatshewillnevergetallthissolongasBellWinshipisincamp，fortheboysthinkthatBelldragsupthesunwhenshe\'sreadyforhiminthemorning，andpusheshimdownatnightwhenshehappenstofeelsleepy。
We，whohaveknownBellalways，cannotrealisethatanyonecanhelplovingher，butthereissomethinginLaurawhichmakesitimpossibleforhertoseetherightsideofpeople。ShetoldmethismorningthatshethoughtBellhadgrownsovainandairyandself-consciousthatitwaspainfultoseeher。Icouldnothelpbeinghurt；foryouknowwhatBellis——brimfulofnonsenseandsparkleandbrightspeeches，butjustasopenasthedayandaswarmasthesunshine。
Ifshecouldhavebeenspoiled，weshouldhaveturnedherheadlongago；butshehasn\'tabitofsillyvanity，andInevermetanyonebeforewhodidn\'tseetheprettycharmofherbrightnessandgoodness——didyou?
Andyet，somehow，Laurasticksneedlesintohereverytimeshespeaks。Shefeelsthem，too，butitonlymakesherquiet，forsheistooproudandsensitivetoresentit。Icanseethatsheisdifferentinherways，asifshefeltshewasbeingcriticised。
Pollyisquitethereverse。Ifanybodyhurtsherfeelingsshemakescreationscream，andIadmirehercourage。
AuntTruthdoesn\'tknowanythingaboutallthis，forLauraisadifferentgirlwhensheiswithherorDr。Paul；notthatsheisdeceitful，butthatsheishonestlyanxiousfortheirgoodopinion。
YourememberAuntTruth\'shobbythatweshouldneverdefendourselvesbyattackinganyoneelse，andnoneofuswouldevercomplain，ifwewerehung，drawn，andquartered。
LaurawasmiffedathavingtoplayAudrey，butwedidn\'tknowthatshecouldcomeuntilthelastmoment，andweweregoingtoleavethatpartout。
\'Idon\'tbelieveyouappreciatemygenerosityintakingthisthanklesspart，\'shesaidtoBell，whenwewererehearsing。\'Nobodywouldevercatchyouplayingsecondfiddle，mydear。AllleadingpartsreservedforMissWinship，byorderoftheauthors，Isuppose。\'
\'Indeed，Laura，\'Bellsaid，\'ifwehadknownyouwerecomingwewouldhaveofferedyouthebestpart，butIonlytookRosalindbecauseI
knewthelines，andthegirlsinsisted。\'
\'You\'vetrainedthegirlswell——hasn\'tshe，Geoffrey?\'askedLaura，withaqueerkindoflaugh。
ButIwillleavetheunpleasantsubject。Ishouldnothavespokenofitatallexceptthatshehasmademesouncomfortableto-daythatitisfreshinmymind。BellandPollyandIhavetalkedthematterallover，andaregoingtotryandmakeherlikeus，whethershewantstoornot。Wehaveagreedtobejustaspoliteandgenerousaswepossiblycan，andseeifshewon\'t\'comeround，\'forsheisperfectlydelightedwiththecamp，andwantstostayamonth。
Pollysayssheisgoingtosing\'HomeSweetHome\'tohereverynight，anddropdoubledosesofthehomoeopathiccureforhome-sicknessintohertea，withaviewofcreatingthedisease。
Good-bye，andahundredkissesfromyourlovingMARGERYDAW。
V。THECAMPPOETESSADDSHERSTOREOFMENTALRICHESTOTHEGENERAL
FUND。
Mydarling，——Ihaveathousandthingstotellyou，butIcannotpossiblysaytheminrhyme，merelybecausethecommitteeinsistsuponit。IsendyouherewithallthepoetrywhichhasbeenwrittenincampsincelastMonday，andithasbeenaveryprosyweek。
Ihavegiventhemtopapa，andhesaysthatthebestofmyown，whichareallbadenough，isthefollowinghammock-song。
IthoughtitoutwhileIwasswingingMargery，andhereitis!-
To——fro，Dreamily，slow，Underthetrees；
Swing——swing，DrowsilysingThebirdsandthebees；
Sleep——rest，Slumberisbest，Wakefulnesssad；
Rest——sleep，Forgethowtoweep，Dreamandbeglad!
Papasaysitisallnonsensetosaythatslumberisbestandwakefulnesssad；andthatitispossibletotellthetruthinpoetry。
Perhapsitis，butwhydon\'ttheydoitoftener，then?AndhowwashetoknowthatPollyandJackhadjustgonethroughaterriblebattleofwordsinwhichIwaspeacemaker，andthatDickyhadbeenasnaughtyas——Nero——allday?Thesetwocircumstancesmademelookattheworldthroughblueglasses，andthatisalwaysthetimeonelongstowritepoetry。
IsendyoualsoGeoff\'sverses，writtentomamma，andslippedintotheboxwhenwewereplayingMachinePoetry:-
Iknowawomanfairandcalm，WhoseshiningtendereyesMake，whenImeettheirearnestgaze，Sweetthoughtswithinmerise。
Andifallsilverwereherhair，Orfadedwereherface，Shewouldnotlooktomelessfair，Norlackasinglegrace。
AndifIwerealittlechild，Withchildhood\'stimidtrust，Ithinkmyheartwouldflytoher，Andlove——becauseitmust!
AndifIwereanearnestman，Withemptyheartandlife，Ithink——(butImightchangemymind)-
She\'dbemychosenwife!
Isn\'tthatpretty?Oh，Elsie!IhopeIshallgrowoldasbeautifullyasmammadoes，sothatpeoplecanwritepoetrytomeiftheyfeellikeit!HereisJack\'s，forPolly\'sbirthday；hesayshegottheideafromarealpoemwhichisjustassillyashis:-
ApollywogfromawaysidebrookIsagoodlygiftforthee；
Butamilk-whitesteed，oravenisonsheep，Willdoverywellforme。
Foryouaquiveringasphodel(Twoducksandagoodfathen)，Formeawitheringhollyhock(Forsevenandthreeareten!)。
Rose-redlocksandapugforthee(Thefallingdewischill)，Adove，arope，andaroseforme(Oh，passionate，pale-bluepill!)。
Foryouagreenery，yallerygown(Hathonetombroomforfour?)，Digmeanarrowgravelethere(Oh，redisthestainofgore!!)。
ItoldJackIthoughtitextremelyunhitched，buthesaysthat\'sthechiefbeautyoftheimitation。
IgiveyoualsosomeversesintendedforPolly\'sbirthday，whichweshallcelebrate，whenthedayarrives，byagranddinner。
Yourememberhowweteaseheraboutherlovefortea，whichshecannotconceal，butwhichsheisashamedofallthesame。
Well!Ihaveprintedthepoemonacard，andontheothersideMargeryhasdrawnthepictureofacrossoldmaid，surroundedbysevencats，allfryingtogetadrinkoutofhertea-cup。ThenGeoffisgoingtogetalivecatfromthemilkranchnearhere，andboxitupformetogivetoherwhenshereceivesherpresentsatthedinner-table。Won\'titbefun?
OWEDTOPOLLY
BECAUSEOFHERBIRTHDAY。
ShecampsamongtheuntroddenwaysForninstthe\'MountainMill\'；
AmaidwhomtherearefewtopraiseAndfewtowishherill。
Shelivesunknown，andfewcouldknowWhatPaulineistome；
AsdearajoyasaretoherHerfrequentcupsoftea。
Abirthdaythisdearcreaturehad，Fullmanyayearago；
Shesayssheisbutjustfifteen，Ofcoursesheoughttoknow。
ButstillthisgiftIbringtoher，Appropriatetoherage，Regardlessofherstifledscorn，Orwellconceal-edrage!
Shesmilesuponthesetenderlines，Asyouallplainlysee，Butwhenshemeetsmeallalone，Howdifferentitwillbe!
NowcomesGeoff\'s，tobegivenwithaprettylittleinkstand:-
TherewasayoungmaidenwhosethoughtWassoairyitcouldn\'tbecaught；
Sowhatdoyouthink?
Wegavehersomeink，Andcapturedherlight-wingedthought。
HereisJack\'slastonPolly:-
There\'sapertlittlepoppetcalledPolly，Whofrequentlyfallsintofolly!
She\'saterribletongueFora\'creetur\'soyoung，Butifsheweredumbshe\'dbejolly!
IhelpedPollywithareply，andwedelivereditfiveminuteslater:-
I\'dratherbedeaf，MasterJack，ForifonlyonesenseImustlack，ToberidofyourvoiceIshouldalwaysrejoice，Normournifitnevercameback!
Andnowgood-nightandgood-byeuntilIamallowedtowriteyoumyownparticularkindofletter。
Thegirlsandboysaresingingroundthecamp-fire，andImustgooutandjointheminonesongbeforewegotobed。
Yourswithlove，nowandalways，BELL。
P。S——Our\'HappyHexagon\'hasbecomeasortof\'ObstreperousOctagon。\'LauraandScottBurtonarestayingwithus。Scottisagooddealofabookworm，andusesverylongwords；hisfavouritenameformeatpresentisCalliope；Ithoughtitwasasortofsteam-
whistle，butMargerythinksitwassomeonewhowasconnectedwithpoetry。Wedon\'tdareasktheboys；willyoufindout?
VI。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July13，188。
STUDIORAPHAEL。
DearLittleSis，——Theenclosedsketchesspeakforthemselves，oratleastIhopetheydo。Keeptheminyourprivateportfolio，andwhenIamfamousyoucanproducethemtoshowthepublicatwhatanearlyagemygeniusbegantosprout。
AtfirstIthoughtI\'dmakethemreal\'WilliamHenry\'pictures，butconcludedtogiveyouavariety。
Can\'tstoptowriteanotherline；andifyoumissedyourregularletterthisweekyoumustnotgrowl，forthesketchestookanawfullotoftime，andI\'mjustrushedtodeathhereanyway。
Lovetomotherandfather。
Yourlovingbrother。JACK
P。S——Pollysaysyouneednotexpecttorecognisethatdeerbyhisportrait，shouldyouevermeethim，asnoonecouldexpecttogetaSTRIKINGlikenessatadistanceofahalf-mile。But，honestly，wehavebeencloserthanthattoseveraldeer。
CHAPTERV:THEFORESTOFARDEN——GOODNEWS
\'FromtheEasttowesternInd，NojewelislikeRosalind；
Herworth，beingmountedonthewind，ThroughalltheworldbearsRosalind；
Allthepictures，fairestlined，ArebutblacktoRosalind；
Letnofacebekeptinmind，ButthefairofRosalind。\'
Thegrandperformanceof\'AsYouLikeIt\'musthaveamoreextendednoticethanithasyetreceived，inasmuchasitsdoublewasneverseenonanystage。
ThereasonofthissomewhatambitiousselectionlayinthefactthatouryoungpeoplehadstudieditinDr。Winship\'sShakespeareclasstheprecedingwinter，buttheywereactuallydumbwithastonishmentwhenBellproposeditfortheopeningperformanceinthenewtheatre。
\'Itellyou，\'sheargued，\'therearenotmanypieceswhichwouldbeeffectivewhenplayedoutofdoorsbydimcandle-light，butthiswillbejustasromanticandlovelyascanbe。Youseeitcanbeplayedjust\"asyoulikeit。\"\'
PhilipandAuntTruthwantedamatineeperformance，butthegirlsresistedthisplanverystrongly，feelingthatthegarishlightofdaywouldbebadforthemakeshiftcostumes，andwouldbelikelytorobthemofwhatlittlecouragetheypossessed。
\'Wegivethedecorationofthetheatreentirelyintoyourhands，boys，\'Pollyhadsaidonthedaybeforetheperformance。\'Youhavesomeofthehardestworkdonealready，andcanjustdevoteyourselvestotheornamentalpart；butdon\'texpectanymoreideasfromus，foryouwillcertainlybedisappointed。\'
\'Ishouldthinknot，indeed!\'criedBell，energetically。\'Herewehavethewalldecorationsforthefirstscene，andallthecostumesbesides；andthetroubleis，thatthreeorfourofthemwillhavetobemadeto-morrow，afterLauracomeswiththetrappingsofwar。I