Cher Daddy-Jambes-Longes,

Vous etes un brick!

Je suis tres heureuse about the farm, parceque je n’ai jamais been on a farm dans ma vie and I’d hate to retoumer chez John Grier, et wash dishes tout l’ete.  There would be danger of quelque chose affreuse happening, parceque j’ai perdue ma humilite d’autre fois et j’ai peur that I would just break out quelque jour et smash every cup and saucer dans la maison.

Pardon brievete et paper.  Je ne peux pas send des mes nouvelles parceque je suis dans French class et j’ai peur que Monsieur le Professeur is going to call on me tout de suite.

He did! 
                       Au revoir,
                          je vous aime beaucoup. 
          
                                         Judy

30th May
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,

Did you ever see this campus? (That is merely a rhetorical question.  Don’t let it annoy you.) It is a heavenly spot in May.  All the shrubs are in blossom and the trees are the loveliest young green—­ even the old pines look fresh and new.  The grass is dotted with yellow dandelions and hundreds of girls in blue and white and pink dresses.  Everybody is joyous and carefree, for vacation’s coming, and with that to look forward to, examinations don’t count.

Isn’t that a happy frame of mind to be in?  And oh, Daddy!  I’m the happiest of all!  Because I’m not in the asylum any more; and I’m not anybody’s nursemaid or typewriter or bookkeeper (I should have been, you know, except for you).

I’m sorry now for all my past badnesses.

I’m sorry I was ever impertinent to Mrs. Lippett.

I’m sorry I ever slapped Freddie Perkins.

I’m sorry I ever filled the sugar bowl with salt.

I’m sorry I ever made faces behind the Trustees’ backs.

I’m going to be good and sweet and kind to everybody because I’m so happy.  And this summer I’m going to write and write and write and begin to be a great author.  Isn’t that an exalted stand to take?  Oh, I’m developing a beautiful character!  It droops a bit under cold and frost, but it does grow fast when the sun shines.

That’s the way with everybody.  I don’t agree with the theory that adversity and sorrow and disappointment develop moral strength.  The happy people are the ones who are bubbling over with kindliness.  I have no faith in misanthropes. (Fine word!  Just learned it.) You are not a misanthrope are you, Daddy?

I started to tell you about the campus.  I wish you’d come for a little visit and let me walk you about and say: 

`That is the library.  This is the gas plant, Daddy dear.  The Gothic building on your left is the gymnasium, and the Tudor Romanesque beside it is the new infirmary.’

Oh, I’m fine at showing people about.  I’ve done it all my life at the asylum, and I’ve been doing it all day here.  I have honestly.