dearest daddy-long-legs,

yesterday evening just towards dark, when i was sitting up in bed

looking out at the rain and feeling awfully bored with life

in a great institution, the nurse appeared with a long white box

addressed to me, and filled with the loveliest pink rosebuds.

and much nicer still, it contained a card with a very polite message

written in a funny little uphill back hand (but one which shows

a great deal of character). thank you, daddy, a thousand times.

your flowers make the first real, true present i ever received in

my life. if you want to know what a baby i am i lay down and cried

because i was so happy.

now that i am sure you read my letters, i'll make them much

more interesting, so they'll be worth keeping in a safe with red tape

around them--only please take out that dreadful one and burn it up.

i'd hate to think that you ever read it over.

thank you for making a very sick, cross, miserable freshman cheerful.

probably you have lots of loving family and friends, and you don't

know what it feels like to be alone. but i do.

goodbye--i'll promise never to be horrid again, because now i

know you're a real person; also i'll promise never to bother you

with any more questions.

do you still hate girls?

yours for ever,

judy