I can write my own name, but not very good yet.
My papa takes THE PANSY for me this year, and I want to be one of your little Pansies. I am a little boy five years old, and live away down on the Eastern shore of Virginia. I go to school and am in my Second Reader and spelling-book, and make letters and figures on my slate. I can't write yet, so my papa is writing this for me. I try to be a good boy, but I want to be better, and am going to try and mind my papa and mamma every day, and help them all I can. I also promise not to drink any wine or cider, or anything to make me drunk. I say my prayers every night, and ask the Lord to bless my papa and mamma and brothers, and make me a good boy. I have a brother named Jemison who is seven years old, and a little brother named Warren who is three years old. Warren says naughty words sometimes. He says he is going to stop, and wants to be one of your Pansies, but I think he is too little. Jemmie is going to write to you and send twelve cents to pay for a badge. I go to Ocean Grove sometimes, and if I go this summer I hope I will see you. My papa gave me a copy-book to-day, and I am going to learn to write, so that I can write to you myself. I must now close, with love, from
I KNOW you are acquainted with the Hales, Edward Everett and Miss Susan; therefore you know, without my telling you, that they write thoroughly delightful books. But I wonder if you are acquainted with the Horners? Not the family of "Little Jack Horner" who "sat in a corner," but some friends of the Hales who took delightful journeys all over the world. What I want of you is to accompany them, and have a good time, and learn more about the world we live in than you imagined you could without bidding good-by to your father and mother, and spending a great deal of money. This trip is very cheap indeed; in fact, if you belong to the P. S.--as of course you do--it will actually cost you only one dollar and fifty cents! Who ever heard of travelling over Egypt and Spain for a dollar and fifty cents! For the matter of that, if you are not particular about the dress, and will choose one a little plainer, you may save thirty cents and go for a dollar-twenty. The book has nearly four hundred pages, and a great many pictures. It is beautifully bound, and printed on the best of paper. I do not know how you could have a prettier ornament for your book table than it offers.