I've written an awfully long letter, but I like to write to you, and it was rainy to-day, and we couldn't go to the grounds, and I've hurt my ankle by falling from my bicycle so that I could not practise in the gymnasium. Now don't go and get scared, like a girl, and disapprove of athletics for such a little thing as that. It was only a little sprain, that will all be well before the drill, and I only barked my shin the least bit, nothing at all to what the Woodpecker does most every day.
I hope I shall be big enough to go on the foot-ball team next year. I know you think it's dangerous, but I've calculated the chances of getting hurt and they are so very slight that I guess I'll risk it. Why, out of the whole eleven last year there were only nine that got hurt.
Be sure you all come to the exhibition drill. I enclose two tickets and Stacey sends two more. He wants it distinctly understood that you and Miss Roseveldt are his guests. So you can give mine with my compliments to Miss T. Smith and Miss Winnie De Witt. I don't send any for that Vaughn girl, for Buttertub knows her and told me he was going to invite her.
From your affectionate brother, JAMES HALSEY ARMSTRONG.
P. S. Stacey sends his regards to Miss Roseveldt.
Wasn't the drill splendid? I knew you would enjoy it. How I wish father and mother had been in New York so they could have seen it.
You looked just stunning in that stylish hat. Stacey said so. You must excuse him if he didn't pay you very much attention. He could only leave the band during the intermission and of course he had to be polite to Miss Roseveldt. Besides he said I stuck so close to you that he hadn't any chance. He says he never saw a fellow so spooney over his own sister as I am. I tell him there aren't many chaps who have such a nice sister as you are, and then we were separated so long that I am making up for lost time.
I am glad you liked the French Army Bicycle drill. That was something quite new. Stacey was detailed to command it because he's a splendid cyclist himself, and he knew how to put us through. I didn't know till the day before that he was going to call me out to skirmish. He said: "Jimmy, you can manage your wheel better than any one else except the Woodpecker, and I am going to have you two go through with a little fancy business that will bring the house down." And didn't it? When I fired off my gun going at full speed, they clapped so that I nearly lost my head. Ricos was mad because he wasn't selected for the special manoeuvres. Ricos is better for speed than I am, and he's awfully quick-tempered--he's a Spaniard, you know, and he said to me, "Never mind, youngster, I'll pay you up for this at the inter-scholastic races." I suppose he means to win the gold medal, and I told Stacey that I believed he would, and I should be thankful to be second, or even third, for there are the best cyclists from all the other schools in the city to contend against. But Stacey says, "He can't do it, you know," meaning Ricos; and our trainer says that if he enters me at all he enters me to win. So I am going to try my level best.