I have been wishing to write to you for some time, but as my oldest
brother had written, mamma said it would be better for me to wait
awhile. Friday was my birthday; I was seven years old. Brother is
almost nine, and we have a fat little brother just five. Our baby
sister is almost two years old, and she is so cute and sweet! We
all like the paper very much indeed, and think the pictures
beautiful. We have an aunt eight years old, two little cousins, and
brother Willie and myself who take it, so we have a nice time
talking about the pieces when we are all together. Our papa has a
new hay-press. We love to watch them bale the hay. I think we boys
who live in the country have fine times, there is so much to see
and to do, and we have so much nice fruit. Mamma says it would be
better to live in the city in winter, so that we could go to
school. As it is, she teaches us at home. There are so many of us
to play together that we do not care much for pets. Our dog Tip is
one year old now. He was named for Tip in YOUNG PEOPLE. He is a
real smart dog, although he is so small. He wants to go with us
wherever we go, but mamma wants him to stay at home, so now
whenever the "Jersey" is hitched up he hides himself under the back
seat so that we will not notice him. We have a great many things I
would love to tell you about, but I have not time now. My little
brother Charlie will want to write before long.