We feel quite well acquainted with you, May, and will be glad to hear
from you again. It was too bad that your poor doll met with so dreadful
a disaster. We can sympathize with you, for we once had a
mischief-making little dog who chewed our favorite books, tore our
dresses, hid our handkerchiefs, buried our gold pencil, frightened the
chickens, and flew at all our friends, until they were afraid to enter
the front gate. He grew more sedate and much less entertaining, however,
in the course of time, which has a very subduing effect on puppies.
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Some time has passed since I wrote you, and I feel to-day as if I
would like to write again. My home is on a pretty little Southern
River--the Tensas--and if I were a photograph artist, I would send
you some of the prettiest river views you ever looked at. I often
wish I could have some of the lovely vine-covered trees in our
yard. The river is so very low at present that in places one can
ride across it on horse-back; yet you would scarcely believe this
could you see it in early spring, for nearly every year we are
overflowed, and do all our visiting and church-going in skiffs. We
have steamboats all the winter season, which carry off our cotton
to New Orleans, and bring back all supplies, etc., from there. The
boats have nice accommodations for passengers, and trips to the
city are very pleasant. I am hoping to take one this winter.
This country has been unusually healthy this summer. Papa says
_distressingly_ so; that is because he is the doctor. We had church
service yesterday. We have it only once a month, for our minister
has two other appointments besides this. He lives only a quarter of
a mile from us. He has six children, two boys and four girls, and
they are so fair and delicate mamma often calls them our "Lilies of
the Valley." Mollie, the second girl, is just a year older than I,
and we are very dear friends, so we visit very often. I have a nice
set of croquet, and the children sometimes come to play with me,
and we enjoy the game ever so much. Please tell me, may other than
subscribers have letters in YOUNG PEOPLE.
My letter is growing long. I do not like to take too much room, and
crowd out other correspondents, so I will propose an exchange, and
finish it. I have a large pair of deer horns, which I will send in
return for a piece of jet, gold ore, or silver ore, or a petrified
lizard or frog. I will exchange for a bunch of white violets,
Wandering Jew; and grasses for grasses. Write before sending.
MARIE LOUISE USHER,
Wild Wood Post-office, Catahoula Parish, La.
Any one, whether a subscriber or not, may write to our Post-office Box.
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