“Your affectionate son,

“Winthrop Landholm.

“I don’t forget Asahel, though I haven’t said a word of him; and give my love to Karen.”

Mr. and Mrs. Landholm looked up with pleasant faces at each other and exchanged letters.  She took Winthrop’s and her husband began upon the other, which was from Rufus.  Asahel and Winifred were standing anxiously by.

“What do they say?”

“You shall hear directly.”

“Does he say any thing about me?” said Winifred.

But father and mother were deep in the precious despatches, and the answer had to be waited for.

“Shagarack College, Dec. 1810.

“My dear friends at home,

“This funny little man says he will take letters to you; —­ so as it is a pity not to cultivate any good disposition, Governor and I have determined to favour him.  But really there is not much to write about.  Our prospects are as bare as your garden in November —­ nothing but roots above ground or under —­ some thrown together, and some, alas! to be dug for; only ours are not parsnips and carrots but a particularly tasteless kind called Greek roots; with a variety denominated algebraic, of which there are quantities.  At these roots, or at some branches from the same, Governor and I are tugging as for dear life, so it is no wonder if our very hands smell of them.  I am sure I eat them every day with my dinner, and ruminate upon them afterwards.  In the midst of all this we are as well as usual.  Governor is getting along splendidly; and I am not much amiss; at least so they say.  The weather is pretty stinging these few days, and I find father’s old cloak very useful.  I think Winthrop wants something of the sort, though he is as stiff as a pine tree, bodily and mentally, and won’t own that he wants any thing.  He won’t want any thing long, that he can get.  He is working confoundedly hard.  I beg mamma’s pardon —­ I wouldn’t have said that if I had thought of her —­ and I would write over my letter now, if I were not short of time, and to tell truth, of paper.  This is my last sheet, and a villainous bad one it is; but I can’t get any better at the little storekeeper’s here, and that at a horridly high price.

“As Governor is writing to you, he will give you all the sense, so it is less matter that there is absolutely nothing in this epistle.  Only believe me, my dear father and mother and Winnie and Asahel, ever your most dutiful, grateful, and affectionate son and brother,

“Will.  Rufus Landholm.

“My dear mother, the box was most acceptable.”

After being once read in private, the letters were given aloud to the children; and then studied over and again by the father and mother to themselves.  Winifred was satisfied with the mention of her name; notwithstanding which, she sat with a very wistful face the rest of the afternoon.  She was longing for her brother’s hand and kiss.