“Pleas to put the form of introduction and society regulations aside, and consider your future happiness, pleasure and welfare only.  I am well aware that you are very much anoid and persecuted, thereby I mean persistant attentions from undesirable persons; now my obgect at present is to aid you in a manner that you can soon and forever shut down on all disagreeable attentions.

“now I would suggest some beautiful locality in California or orogon there to live a quiet retired life free from former acquaintances and continnad anoyances. now if you think you could accept my services, they are honorably tendered and would be kindly and heartily given.  Pleas to inform me at the earliest conveniance.  Pleas to not misinterpret my intentions.

“yours in sincerity

“pleas to

“Address -------- --------.”

After listening to this extraordinary epistle, mamma said dryly: 

“I think, my dear, that that is the strangest letter you have yet received.”

“It is nothing, auntie,” was the reply, “to one I have in reserve, in which the writer not only has a request to make, but actually proposes making me a present; it is not, however, his hand, for a wonder!”

“DEERLODGE, MONTANA.

“To MISS IDA GREELY: 

“Young lady I suppose you will be surprised at receiving a letter from the frontier, my motive for writing is this.  I am a mountaineer—­that is a trapper a good many years ago I met with your father Horace Greely on the plains, and greatly admired the old gentleman.  The way I came to make his acquaintance is this.  A drunken, unruly Cuss seeing that your father appeared quiet and peaceable thought it safe to play the bully at his expence so he commenced to insult and threaten Mr. Greely in a pretty rough manner.  Seeing that your father was quiet and peaceable and did not wish to quarrel with the Cuss I took the Cuss in hand, and spoiled his beauty for him, and taught him a lesson to mind his own business.  Mr. Greely greatly overated the trifleing service I had done, he thanked me warmly, he became very friendly with me and gave me good advice.  Among other things he advised me to do was to get a breach loading rifle instead of my muzlle loading rifle.  I laughed at the idea I supposed my old muzlle loader was the best.  Since then I have found out that Mr. Greely was right and that I was rong.  Mr. Greely at the time offered to purchase one and give it to me I refused to accept it.  He then told me any time I changed my mind to let him know, and he would send me a good breech loading rifle.  I have often thought about it since, but never wrote to him.  My reasons for writing to you now are these; I and my partner Beaver Bob started down the Yellow Stone last fall to trap near the Big Horn river.  We were pretty successful and made the Beaver mink martin and other vermin suffer—­but one day we were attaced by a hunting party of 15 or