IN August Uncle John came all the way from California to make a visit
at Hollyhock Place. The little Wests never tired of hearing him tell
of the wonderful things that grew in that western land—of trees
higher than church spires—of sea-gulls and pelicans—and of the queer
California Woodpecker that bores holes in the trunks of dead trees and
pounds an acorn into each hole for future use.
As the family sat out under the trees this jolly old uncle of theirs
seemed to take as much interest in the funny home-made dolls as the
children themselves did. It was he who showed them how to make the
great fat-faced Humpty Dumpties out of the oval yellow “darning gourds”
as Mamma called them.
And what fun they had making jingles—Uncle John and the little Wests.
Songs he called them, and they were, too, for a tune always came with
the words when he made them.
When their uncle left to go back to his California home the children
missed him greatly and watched eagerly for the letter he promised them
when he reached home. Two whole weeks passed before the letter arrived.
When it came there was a small package with it.
What was in the package? There is no need to tell, the letter will
explain. Here is the letter which made the children laugh as much as
if Uncle John himself had been there telling them what he had written.
Charlotte played and sang the song for them till they all learned it.
But as I said, here is the letter:
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.,
September 1st, 1906.