The reason that I’ve kept so long without writing is because I’ve had to
do so many things. We’ve been speaking dialogues and coasting and daring
and snowballing, and then we’ve had to review and review and review,
because ’t is the last of the term, and he says he believes in reviews
more than the first time we get it. I tell you, the ones that didn’t get
them the first time are bad off now. I wish now I’d begun at the first
of it and got every one of mine perfect, then I should have easier
times. The coast is wearing off some, and we carry water up and pour on
it, and let it freeze, and throw snow on. Now ’t is moonshiny nights,
the teacher lets all the “perfects” go out to coast an hour. Sometimes I
get out. And guess where Bubby Short and Dorry and I are going to-night!
Now you can’t guess, I know you can’t. To a party! Now where do you
suppose the party is to be? You can’t guess that either. In this town.
And not very far from this school-house. Somebody you’ve heard of. Two
somebodies you’ve heard of. Now don’t you know? The Two Betseys! Suppose
you’ll think ’t is funny for them to have a party. But they’re not a
going to have it themselves. Now I’ll tell you, and not make you guess
any more.
You know I told you Tom Cush was coming. He came to-day. He’s grown just
as tall and as fat and as black and has some small whiskers. I didn’t
know ’twas Tom Cush when I first looked at him. Bubby Short asked me
what man that was talking with Dorry, and I said I didn’t know, but
afterwards we found out. He didn’t know me either. Says I’m a staving
great fellow. He gave Dorry a ruler made of twelve different kinds of
wood, some light, some dark, brought from famous places. And gave Bubby
Short and me a four-blader, white handled. He’s got a fur cap and fur
gloves, and is ’most as tall as Uncle Jacob. He told Dorry that he
thought if he didn’t come back here and see everybody, he should feel
like a sneak all the rest of his life.
We three went down to The Two Betseys’ Shop with him, and when he saw
it, he said, “Why, is that the same old shop? It don’t look much bigger
than a hen-house!” Says he could put about a thousand like it into one
big church he saw away. Said he shouldn’t dare to climb up into the
apple-tree for fear he should break it down. Said he’d seen trees high
as a liberty-pole. And when he saw where he used to creep through the
rails he couldn’t believe he ever did go through such a little place,
and tried to, but couldn’t do it. So he took a run and jumped over, and
we after him, all but Bubby Short. We took down the top one for him.
[Illustration]
The Two Betseys didn’t know him at first, not till we told them. Dorry
said, “Here’s a little boy wants to buy a stick of candy.” Then Tom
said he guessed he’d take the whole bottle full. And he took out a
silver half a dollar, and threw it down, but wouldn’t take any change
back, and then treated us all, and a lot of little chaps that stood
there staring. Lame Betsey said, “Wal, I never!” and The Other Betsey
said, “Now did you ever? Now who’d believe ’t was the same boy!” And Tom
said he hoped ’t wasn’t exactly, for he didn’t think much of that Tom
Cush that used to be round here. Coming back he told us he was going to
stay till in the evening, and have a supper at the Two Betseys’, us four
together, but not let them know till we got there. He’s going to carry
the things. We went to see Gapper Sky Blue, and Tom bought every bit of
his molasses candy, and about all the seed-cakes. When I write another
letter, then you’ll know about the party.
Your affectionate Grandson,