FELIX’ LETTER

“DEAR PETER:—­I am awful glad you are getting better.  We all felt bad when we thought you wouldn’t, but I felt worse than the others because we hadn’t been on very good terms lately and I had said mean things about you.  I’m sorry and, Peter, you can pray for anything you like and I won’t ever object again.  I’m glad Uncle Alec interfered and stopped the fight.  If I had licked you and you had died of the measles it would have been a dreadful thing.

“We have all the apples in and haven’t much to do just now and we are having lots of fun but we wish you were here to join in.  I’m a lot thinner than I was.  I guess working so hard picking apples is a good thing to make you thin.  The girls are all well.  Felicity puts on as many airs as ever, but she makes great things to eat.  I have had some splendid dreams since we gave up writing them down.  That is always the way.  We ain’t going to school till we’re sure we are not going to have the measles.  This is all I can think of, so I will draw to a close.  Remember, you can pray for anything you like.  FELIX KING.”

SARA RAY’S LETTER

“DEAR PETER:—­I never wrote to A BOY before, so PLEASE excuse ALL mistakes.  I am SO glad you are getting better.  We were SO afraid you were GOING TO DIE.  I CRIED ALL NIGHT about it.  But now that you are OUT OF DANGER will you tell me WHAT IT REALLY FEELS LIKE to think you are going to die?  Does it FEEL QUEER?  Were you VERY badly frightened?

“Ma won’t let me go up the hill AT ALL now.  I would DIE if it was not for Judy Pinno. (The French names are SO HARD TO SPELL.) JUDY IS VERY OBLIGING and I feel that she SIMPATHISES WITH ME.  In my LONELY HOURS I read my dream book and Cecily’s old letters and they are SUCH A COMFORT to me.  I have been reading one of the school library books too.  I is PRETTY GOOD but I wish they had got more LOVE STORIES because they are so exciting.  But the master would not let them.

“If you had DIED, Peter, and YOUR FATHER had heard it wouldn’t he have FELT DREADFUL?  We are having BEAUTIFUL WEATHER and the seenary is fine since the leaves turned.  I think there is nothing so pretty as Nature after all.

“I hope ALL DANGER from the measles will soon be over and we can
ALL MEET AGAIN AT THE HOME ON THE HILL.  Till then FAREWELL. 
                         “Your true friend,
                                           “SARA RAY.

“P.  S. Don’t let Felicity see this letter.  S. R.”

DAN’S LETTER

“DEAR OLD PETE:—­Awful glad you cheated the doctor.  I thought you weren’t the kind to turn up your toes so easy.  You should of heard the girls crying.

“They’re all getting their winter finery now and the talk about it would make you sick.  The Story Girl is getting hers from Paris and Felicity is awful jealous though she pretends she isn’t.  I can see through her.