Laura，Anne，andScottBurtonwereherefortheplay，andLauraiscomingdownagaintospendtheweek。Ican'tabideher，andtherewillprobablybetroubleinthecamp。
Theflameofmygeniusblazeshighjustnow，butGeoffhasspoken，anditmustbesnuffed。Sogood-bye!
Sizz-z-z!!andI'mOUT!
POLLIOLIVER。
II。FROMPHILIPTOELSIE。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July8，188。
MydearElsie，——IbelieveIamtoinformyouconcerningthedailydoingsofourparty，notonanyaccount，however，permittingmyselftodegenerateinto'gossip'or'frivolousamusement。'
Theyevidentlyconsidermeaquiet，stupidfellow，whowillfulfilsuchataskwithnospecialfeelingofrepression，andIdaresaytheyarequiteright。
Theycallmethe'solidman'ofthecamp，whichmaynotbeveryhighpraise，tobesure，asGeoffreycarrieshisheadintheclouds，andJackis——well，JackisJack!So，asthelightofatallowdipisvaluableintheabsenceofsunandmoon，Iamraisedtoafictitiousreputation。
Wefellowshavehadverylittleplaysofar，forthefurnishingofthecamphasprovedanimmenseundertaking，althoughwehaveplentyoftherightsortofwoodandexcellenttools。
Wethinktheworkwillpay，however，asDr。PaulhasaboutdecidedtostayuntilOctober，oruntilthefirstrain。Hewritestwoorthreehoursaday，andthinksthathegetsonwithhisbookbetterherethanathome。Asfortherestofus，whenwegetfairlytorightsweshallhaveregularstudyhoursandlosenotimeinpreparingfortheexaminations。
Isupposeyouknowthatyouhaveafullbedroomsetinprocessofconstruction。Isay'supposeyouknow，'becauseitisaprofoundsecret，andthegirlscouldneverhavekeptittothemselvesaslongasthis。
Thelounging-chairismyallottedportion，andalthoughitisacomplicatedbitofwork，Iaccepteditgladly，feelingsurethatyouwoulduseitoftenerthananyoftheotherpiecesoffurniture。I
shallmakeitsodeliciouslyeasythatyouwillmakeme'KnightoftheChair，'andperhapspermitmetoplayasortofdevotedJohnBrowntoyourVictoria。Youwillneedonedullandprosysquiretoarrangeyourpillows，sothatyoucanlaughatJack'sjokeswithoutweariness，anddozequietlywhileGeoffandUncleDocaretalkingmedicine。
OfcoursethemostexcitingeventoftheweekwasthemysteriousdisappearanceandsubsequentrestorationoftheHeir-Apparent；butI
feelsuresomebodyelsewilldescribetheevent，becauseitisuppermostinallourminds。
Bell，forinstance，woulddressitupinfinestyle。Sheisnohistorian，butinpoetryandfictionnoneofuscantouchher；
though，bytheway，Polly'sabilitiesinthatdirectionareagooddealunderrated。It'sasgoodasaplaytogetherafterJackwhenheisinoneofhisteasingmoods。Theyarelikeflintandsteel，andifAuntTruthdidn'tseparatethemthesparkswouldfly。WithagirllikePolly，youhaveeithertolieawakenights，thinkinghowyou'llgetthebetterofher，orelseputonademeanourofgentlenessandpatience，whichservesasasortoflightning-rodroundwhichthefireofherfunwillplayalldayandneverstrike。
Pollyisagooddealofagirl。Sheseemsatfirsttohaveaprettysharptongue，butItellyoushehasaheartinwhichthereisswimming-roomforeverybody。Thismaynotbe'information'toyou，whomwelookuponasourclairvoyant，butitwouldbenewstomostpeople。
UncleDoc，Bell，Geoff，Polly，Meg，andIstartedforthetopofPicoNegrotheothermorning。BellrodeVillikins，andPollytookamule，becauseshethoughttheanimalwouldbeespeciallysure-footed。Hewas；infact，hewassosure-footedthathedidn'tcaretomoveatall，andwehadtotaketurnsinbeatinghimuptothetop。Weboyswalkedforexercise，whichwegottoourhearts'content。
ItisonlyfiveorsixmilesfromtheoldMountainMillapictureofwhichJackwillsendyou，andtheascentisprettystiffclimbing，thoughnothingterrific。Welostthetrailonce，andflounderedaboutinthechaparralforhalfanhour，tillBellbegantomakeapoemontheoccasion，whenwebecamedesperate，anddashedthroughathicketofbrush，tearingourselvestobits，butstumblingonthetrailatlast。Theviewfromthetopissimplysuperb。Thevalleysbelowareallyellowwithgrain-fieldsandgreenwithvineyards，withhereandtheretheroofsofastragglinglittlesettlement。ThedepressioninthesideofthemountainyouwillobserveitinthepicturePollysayshasevidentlybeen'bittenout'byaprehistoricanimal，anditturnsouttobetheloveliestlittlecanyonimaginable。
Wehavehadonenovelexperience——thatofseeingatarantulafight；
andnotbetweentwo，butfive，tarantulas。Wewereabouttwentymilesfromcamp，lopingalongastretchofhot，dustyroad。Jackgotofftocinchhissaddle，andsoweallstoppedamomenttoletourhorsesbreathe。AsIwaslookingabout，atnothinginparticular，I
noticedablackballinthedeepdustatthesideoftheroad。ItsuddenlyrolledoveronitselfandIcalledtotheboystowatchthefun。Wegotoff，hitchedourhorses，andapproachedcautiously，forIhadseenabattleofthesamekindbefore。Theretheywere——fivehuge，hairy，dirty，blackcreatures，aslargeasthepalmofDicky'shand，alllockedindeadlycombat。Theywrithedandstruggledandembraced，theirlong，curlinglegsfasteningoneachotherwithasoundthatwasactuallylikethecrackingofbones。Ittakesalittlecouragetostandandwatchsuchaproceeding，foryoufeelasifthehideousfellowsmightturnandjumpforyou；buttheyweredoubtlessabsorbedintheirownbattle，andwewantedtoseetheaffairtotheend，sowetooktherisk，iftherewasany。Atlasttheyshowedsignsofweariness，butweproddedthemupwithourriding-whips，preferringthattheyshouldkilleachother，ratherthandothethingourselves。Finally，fourofthemlayinthedust，doubledupandharmless，slain，Isuppose，bytheirownpoison。One，theconqueringhero，remained，andwedexterouslyscoopedhimintoatomato-canthatJackhadtiedtohissaddleforadrinking-cup，coveredhimupwithahandkerchief，anddrewlotsastowhoshouldcarryhimhometoDr。Paul。
Knowingthatthelittlebeastsweregregarious，wehuntedaboutforanest，whichwemightsendtoyouafteroustingitsdisagreeableoccupant。Aftermuchsearching，wefoundagroupofthem——quiteatarantulavillage，infact。Theirwonderfullittlehousesareclosedontheoutsidebyacircular，many-webbedmesh，twoorthreeinchesacross，andthiswebbetraysthespider'sdentothepersonwhoknowsthetricksofthetrade。Directlyunderneathityoucomeuponthetinycirculartrap-door，whichyouwillnoticeinthenestwesendwiththeseletters。Youwillseehowwonderfullyitismade，withitssilkenweavinginside，anditsbitsofbarkandleavesoutside；
andIknowyouwilladmirethehinge，whichthetarantulamusthaveinvented，andwhichisasprettyabitofworkmanshipasthemostaccomplishedmechaniccouldturnout。Wetoreawaythewebandthedoorfromoneofthenests，andthenpouredwaterdownthehole。Thespiderwasathome，cameoutasfactashisclumsylegswouldcarryhim，andclutchedtheendofthestickJackheldouttohim。Thenwetumbledhimintothetomato-canjustasheappearedtobemakingforus。Thetwodidn'tagreeatall。Oneofthemdespatchedtheotheronthewayhome——thesameherowhohadkilledtheotherfour；but，onhearinghisbloodyrecord，AuntTruthrefusedtohavehimaboutthecamp；sowegavehimanalcoholbath，andyoushallseehislordshipwhenyoucome。AsDr。Paulsays，theyhavebeenknowntoclearfourteenfeetatajump，perhapsyouwillfeelhappiertoknowthatheisinalcohol，thoughtheirbiteisnotnecessarilyfatalifitisrightlycaredfor。
Thegirlshavebeenpatronisingthelandscapebynamingeverypeak，valley，grove，andstreaminthevicinity；andasthereisnobodytoobject，thenamesmayhold。
Wecarryaboutwithusacollectionofstrong，flatstakes，whichhavevariousnamespaintedontheminneatblackletters。Jacklikesthatkindofwork，andspendsmostofhistimeatit；fornowthatDr。Paulhasboughtahundredacresuphere，weareallgreatlyinterestedinitsimprovement。
GeoffhasnamedthemountainPicoNegro，asItoldyou，andthelittlecanyononitssideiscalledtheGiant'sYawn。Thenwehave-
MirrorPool，TheLoneStump，FieldoftheCloth-of-Gold，CosyNook，TheImp'sWash-Bowl，Dunce-CapHill，TheSaint'sRest，andIlPenserosoFallinhonourofDicky，whowasnearlydrownedthere。
Ifanybodyfailstocalltheselocalitiesbytheirpropernameshehastopayafineoffivecents，whichgoestowardsbeautifyingtheplace。Dr。PaulhashadtopaytwofinesforBell，threeforAuntTruth，andsevenforDicky；soheconsidersitanill-judgedarrangement。
OurencampmentissupposedtobeintheForestofArden，andJackhasbegunnailingversesofpoetryonthetrees，likeasecondOrlando，savethattheyarenotlove-poemsatall，butappropriatequotationsfromWordsworthorBryant。Andthisbringsmetoourthrillingrenditionoftheplay'AsYouLikeIt，'lastevening；butitisdeservingofmorethanthepassingnoticewhichIcangiveithere。
Onething，however，Imusttellyou，asthegirlswillnotwriteitofthemselves——that，althoughBellcarriedofffirsthonoursandfairlycaptivatedtheactorsaswellastheaudience，allthreeofthemlookedbewitchingandactedwiththegreatestspirit，muchbetterthanwefellowsdid。
Ofcoursewedidn'tgivetheentireplay，andwehadto'doubleup'
onsomeofthecharactersinthemostridiculousfashion；buttheBurtonshelpedoutwonderfully，ScottplayingOliver，andLauradoingAudrey。TheyweresodelightedwiththecampthatAuntTruthhasinvitedthemtocomeagainonSaturdayandstayaweek。
AttheriskofbeingcalledconceitedIwillalsostatethatweboysconsiderthatthestagemanagementwasatriumphofinventiveart；weworkedlikebeaversfortwodays，andtheresultsweremarvellous，'ifIdosaysoasshouldn't。'
Justconsiderwewere'sixmilesfromalemon，'asSydneySmithwouldsay，andyetwetransformedalloutofdoors，firstintoanelegantinterior，andthenintoaconventionalstageforest。
Agreatdealofworkisavailableforotherperformances，andsowedonotregretitabit；weproposedoing'AsYouLikeIt'againwhenyouaredownhere，andmeanwhilewegivediversifiedentertainmentswhichJackcallsvarietyshows，butwhichinrealityareverychasteandelegantoccasions。
Theothernightwehadaminstrelshow，wearingmasksofblackcambric，withredmouthspaintedonthem；youshouldhaveseenus，allinaduskysemicircle，seatedonboardssupportedbynail-kegs:
itwasascenebetterimaginedthandescribed。Thisiscertainlytheidealwaytoliveinsummer-time，andweshouldbeperfectlyhappyandcontentifyoucouldonlyshakeoffyourtroublesomecoughandcometoshareourpleasure。Wefeelincompletewithoutyou；andnomatterhowlargeourpartymaygrowasthesummerprogresses，therewillalwaysbeavacantnichethatnonecanfillsavethedearlittleSaintwhoisalwaysenshrinedthereinbyallherloyalworshippers，andbynonemorereverentlythanherfriend，PHILIPS。NOBLE。
III。THEKNIGHTOFTHESPECTACLESTAKESTHEQUILL。
ThispaperiswrituntohermostRoyalHighness，ourbelovedGoldElsie，QueenofourthoughtsandEmpressofallhearts。
Youmustknow，mostnobleLady，thatonewhoisyournextofkinandhighintheroyalfavourhaslaiduponusamostdifficultandembarrassingtask。
InourcapacityasDirectoroftheCourtGames，wehumblysuggestedthesubjectsfortheweeklybulletinwhichyourHighnesscommandedtobewritten；but，alas，withindifferentsuccess；fortheCourtiersgrowledandtheLadies-in-waitinghowledatthetopicsgiventhemforconsideration。
OnsolicitingourownsubjectsfromthePrivyCouncillorandKnightoftheBrush，LordJohnHoward，herevengefullyorderedmeto'edify'
yourMajestywithwiseutterances；asifsuchpoor，rudewordsasminecouldpleasetheearthatshouldonlylistentothesingingofbirds，thebabblingofbrooks，orthesilverytongueofgenius!
WhenmayyourdevotedsubjectshopetoseetheirgraciousSovereignagainintheirmidst?
Thecourtisfastdriftingintodangerousinformalitiesofconduct。
ThePrincessBell-Pepperpartakesoftheodoriferousonionateachnoon-daymeal，sothataroyalsalutewouldbeimpossible；thehandsoftheCountessPaulinalookasifyoumighthavechosenoneofyourattendantsfrom'Afric'ssunnyfountains，orIndia'scoralstrand'；
andasfortheCourtChaplain，Rev。Jack-in-the-Pulpit，hehaswoefullyforsakenthemannersofthe'cloth，'andinsistsuponretaininghisancienttitleofKnightoftheBrush；theDuchessofSweetMarjoramalonecontinuescircumspectinwalkandmien，forbloodwilltell，andsheismoreNoblethantheothers。
InourcapacityofCourtPhysicianwehavethricerelievedyouryouthfulpage，SirDickyWinship，ofindigestion，causedbytoogenerousindulgenceintheflowingbowl——ofmilkandcherries；wehavealsoprescribedforhisgracetheDukeofNoble，whoseducalearwaspoisonedbytheinsidiousoakleaf。
YourprivateboxawaitsyouinthePrincess'Theatre，andyourMajesty'sspecialinterpretersofthedramawillcelebrateyourarrivalasgorgeouslyasitdeserves。
ThehealthofourdearlybelovedSovereignengagestheconstantthoughtofallherloyalandadoringsubjects；theyhopeerelongtocullawreathoflaurelwiththeirownhandsandplaceitonabrowwhichneedsnaughtbutitsgoldencrownofhairtoaffirmitsqueenlydignity。Andasforcrownjewels，hasnotourEmpressofHeartsafullstore?——twodazzlingsapphires，hereyes；astringofpearls，herteeth；herlipstworubies；andwhensheopensthem，diamondsofwisdomissuetherefrom!
Come!andletthesightofthyroyalcharmsgladdentheeyesofthywaitingpeople!IssuedunderthehandofSIRGEOFFREYSTRONG，Bart。，CourtPhysicianandKnightoftheSpectacles。
IV。MARGERY'SCONTRIBUTION。
COSYNOOK，July11，188。
MyowndearElsie，——YourweeklychronicleisalmostreadyforMonday'sstage，andIamallowedtocomeinattheclosewithasmanypagesof'gossip'asIchoose；whichmeansthatImayrunontomyheart'scontentandtellyouallthelittlethingsthathappeninthechinksbetweenthegreatones，forUncleDochasrefusedtoreadthispartoftheletter。
Firstforsomecommissions:AuntTruthasksifyourmotherwillkindlyselectgoodsandengageMrs。PerkinstomakeuseachacoupleofScotchginghamdresses。Shehasourmeasures，andwewishthemsimple，full-skirtedgowns，likethelast；everybodythinksthemsoprettyandbecoming。Bell'stwomustbebuffandpink，Polly'sgreyandgreen，andmineblueandbrown。Wefindthatwehaven'tclothesenoughforathreemonths'stay；andtheout-of-doorlifeissoharduponour'forestsuits'thatwehaveaskedMrs。Perkinstosendusnewonesassoonaspossible。
WehavehadaverybusyandexcitingweeksincePollybeganthisletter，fortherehavebeenvariousinterruptionsandanunusualnumberofvisitors。
First，therewasourmountainclimbtothetopofPicoNegro；Philsayshehaswrittenyouaboutthat，butIhardlybelievehementionedthatheandtheotherboysworriedussadlybyhangingontothetailsofourhorsesastheyclimbedupthesteepestplaces。TobesuretheyweresoawfullytiredthatIcouldn'thelppityingthem；
butUncleDochadtriedtopersuadethemnottowalk，sothatitwastheirownfaultafterall。Youcannotimaginewhatadreadfulfeelingitgivesonetobeclimbingaslippery，rockypath，andknowthatagreatheavyboyispullingyourhorsebackwardsbythetail。
Pollyinsistedthatsheheardhermule'stailbreakloosefromitsmoorings，andonmeasuringitwhenshegotbacktocampshefounditthreeincheslongerthanusual。
Themuleactedlikeoriginalsinallday，andPollywassocompletelyworn-outthatshewenttobedatfiveo'clock；Jackwasagooddealtheworseforweartoo，sothattheygotonbeautifullyallday。Itisqueerthattheyirritateeachotherso，forIamsurethatthereisnolackofrealfriendshipbetweenthem；butJackisaconfirmedtease，andheseemstokeepallhismischiefbottledupforespecialusewithPolly。Ihavetriedtokeephimoutoftrouble，asyouaskedme；andalthoughitgivesmeplentytodo，Iamsucceedingtolerablywell，exceptinhisdealingswithPolly。Ilecturehimcontinually，but'everytimeheopenshismouthheputshisfootinit。'
Pollywasunderacloudthefirstoftheweek。Villikinswassick，andDr。WinshipsenthertoAuntTruthforabottleofsweetoil。
AuntTruthwasnotinsight，soPollywenttotheboxofstoresandemptiedawholequartbottleofsaladoilintoapail，andVillikinshadtotakeit，WHEELORWHOAJack'sjoke!。Auntiewenttomakethesaladdressingatdinner-time，anddiscoveredherlossandPolly'smistake。Itwasthelastbottle；andaswecan'tgetanymoreforaweek，thesituationwasserious，andshewasverymuchtried。PoorPollyhadagoodcryoverhercarelessness，andcametothedinner-tableinaverysensitiveframeofmind。ThenwhatshouldJackdobuttellDickytotakeVillikinsaheadoflettuceforhissupper，andaskPollywhyshedidn'tchangehisnamefromVillikinstoSalad-in!Pollyburstintotears，andleftthetable，whileDr。
PaulgaveJackascolding，whichIreallythinkhedeserved，thoughitwasagoodjoke。Thenextmorning，theyounggentlemanputonapairofoldwhitecottonglovesandhisbesthat，gatheredherabouquetofwildflowers，andmadeherahandsomeapologybeforethewholeparty；sosheforgavehim，andtheyarefriends——untilthenextquarrel。
Onthenightbeforetheplay，LauraandScottBurtonarrivedonhorseback，andthenextmorningtherestofthefamilyappearedonthescene。WehadsentovertoseeifLaurawouldplayAudreyonsoshortnotice，andbringoversomeoddsandendsforcostumes。Weactuallyhadanaudienceofsixteenpersons，andwehadnoideaofplayingbeforeanybodybutAuntTruthandDicky。
TherewerethreeoftheBurtons，Pancho，HopYet，thepeoplefromthedairyfarm，andauniversityprofessorfromBerkeley，witheightstudents。Theywereonawalkingtour，andwerejustcampingforthenightwhenScottandJackmetthem，andinvitedthemovertotheperformance。GeoffreyandPhilwereacquaintedwiththreeofthem，andUnclePaulknewtheprofessor。
Laura，Anne，andScottwenthomethenextmorning，butcamebackintwodaysfortheirweek'svisit。TheboyslikeScottverymuch；hefallsrightintothecampways，anddoesn'tdisturbtheevencurrentofourlife；andAnne，whoisasweetlittlegirloftwelve，hasquitetakenDickyunderherwing，muchtoourrelief。
WithLaura'sadvent，however，achangecameoverthespiritofourdreams，and，totellthetruth，wearenotoverandabovepleasedwithit。Bytheway，shespentlastsummeratthehotel，andyoumusthaveseenher，didyounot?Anyway，Mrs。BurtonandAuntTruthwereoldschoolfriends，andBellhasknownLaurafortwoyears，buttheywillneverfollowintheirmothers'footsteps。LauraissodifferentfromhermotherthatIshouldneverthinktheywererelations；andshehasmanagedtochangeallourarrangementsinsomemysteriouswaywhichwecan'tunderstand。Igetonverywellwithher；shepositivelyshowersfavoursuponme，andImorethanhalfsuspectitisbecauseshethinksIdon'tamounttomuch。Asfortheothers，sherubsPollythewrongway，andIbelievesheisalittlebitjealousofBell。
Yousee，sheisseveralmonthsolderthantherestofus，andhasspenttwowintersinSanFrancisco，whereshewentoutagreatdealtopartiesandtheatres，sothatherideasareentirelydifferentfromours。
Shewantseverysinglebitofattention——oneboytohelpheroverthebrooks，onetocutwalking-sticksforher，anothertopeelheroranges，andanothertoreadSpanishwithher，andsoon。Now，youknowverywellthatshewillnevergetallthissolongasBellWinshipisincamp，fortheboysthinkthatBelldragsupthesunwhenshe'sreadyforhiminthemorning，andpusheshimdownatnightwhenshehappenstofeelsleepy。
We，whohaveknownBellalways，cannotrealisethatanyonecanhelplovingher，butthereissomethinginLaurawhichmakesitimpossibleforhertoseetherightsideofpeople。ShetoldmethismorningthatshethoughtBellhadgrownsovainandairyandself-consciousthatitwaspainfultoseeher。Icouldnothelpbeinghurt；foryouknowwhatBellis——brimfulofnonsenseandsparkleandbrightspeeches，butjustasopenasthedayandaswarmasthesunshine。
Ifshecouldhavebeenspoiled，weshouldhaveturnedherheadlongago；butshehasn'tabitofsillyvanity，andInevermetanyonebeforewhodidn'tseetheprettycharmofherbrightnessandgoodness——didyou?
Andyet，somehow，Laurasticksneedlesintohereverytimeshespeaks。Shefeelsthem，too，butitonlymakesherquiet，forsheistooproudandsensitivetoresentit。Icanseethatsheisdifferentinherways，asifshefeltshewasbeingcriticised。
Pollyisquitethereverse。Ifanybodyhurtsherfeelingsshemakescreationscream，andIadmirehercourage。
AuntTruthdoesn'tknowanythingaboutallthis，forLauraisadifferentgirlwhensheiswithherorDr。Paul；notthatsheisdeceitful，butthatsheishonestlyanxiousfortheirgoodopinion。
YourememberAuntTruth'shobbythatweshouldneverdefendourselvesbyattackinganyoneelse，andnoneofuswouldevercomplain，ifwewerehung，drawn，andquartered。
LaurawasmiffedathavingtoplayAudrey，butwedidn'tknowthatshecouldcomeuntilthelastmoment，andweweregoingtoleavethatpartout。
'Idon'tbelieveyouappreciatemygenerosityintakingthisthanklesspart，'shesaidtoBell，whenwewererehearsing。'Nobodywouldevercatchyouplayingsecondfiddle，mydear。AllleadingpartsreservedforMissWinship，byorderoftheauthors，Isuppose。'
'Indeed，Laura，'Bellsaid，'ifwehadknownyouwerecomingwewouldhaveofferedyouthebestpart，butIonlytookRosalindbecauseI
knewthelines，andthegirlsinsisted。'
'You'vetrainedthegirlswell——hasn'tshe，Geoffrey?'askedLaura，withaqueerkindoflaugh。
ButIwillleavetheunpleasantsubject。Ishouldnothavespokenofitatallexceptthatshehasmademesouncomfortableto-daythatitisfreshinmymind。BellandPollyandIhavetalkedthematterallover，andaregoingtotryandmakeherlikeus，whethershewantstoornot。Wehaveagreedtobejustaspoliteandgenerousaswepossiblycan，andseeifshewon't'comeround，'forsheisperfectlydelightedwiththecamp，andwantstostayamonth。
Pollysayssheisgoingtosing'HomeSweetHome'tohereverynight，anddropdoubledosesofthehomoeopathiccureforhome-sicknessintohertea，withaviewofcreatingthedisease。
Good-bye，andahundredkissesfromyourlovingMARGERYDAW。
V。THECAMPPOETESSADDSHERSTOREOFMENTALRICHESTOTHEGENERAL
FUND。
Mydarling，——Ihaveathousandthingstotellyou，butIcannotpossiblysaytheminrhyme，merelybecausethecommitteeinsistsuponit。IsendyouherewithallthepoetrywhichhasbeenwrittenincampsincelastMonday，andithasbeenaveryprosyweek。
Ihavegiventhemtopapa，andhesaysthatthebestofmyown，whichareallbadenough，isthefollowinghammock-song。
IthoughtitoutwhileIwasswingingMargery，andhereitis!-
To——fro，Dreamily，slow，Underthetrees；
Swing——swing，DrowsilysingThebirdsandthebees；
Sleep——rest，Slumberisbest，Wakefulnesssad；
Rest——sleep，Forgethowtoweep，Dreamandbeglad!
Papasaysitisallnonsensetosaythatslumberisbestandwakefulnesssad；andthatitispossibletotellthetruthinpoetry。
Perhapsitis，butwhydon'ttheydoitoftener，then?AndhowwashetoknowthatPollyandJackhadjustgonethroughaterriblebattleofwordsinwhichIwaspeacemaker，andthatDickyhadbeenasnaughtyas——Nero——allday?Thesetwocircumstancesmademelookattheworldthroughblueglasses，andthatisalwaysthetimeonelongstowritepoetry。
IsendyoualsoGeoff'sverses，writtentomamma，andslippedintotheboxwhenwewereplayingMachinePoetry:-
Iknowawomanfairandcalm，WhoseshiningtendereyesMake，whenImeettheirearnestgaze，Sweetthoughtswithinmerise。
Andifallsilverwereherhair，Orfadedwereherface，Shewouldnotlooktomelessfair，Norlackasinglegrace。
AndifIwerealittlechild，Withchildhood'stimidtrust，Ithinkmyheartwouldflytoher，Andlove——becauseitmust!
AndifIwereanearnestman，Withemptyheartandlife，Ithink——butImightchangemymind-
She'dbemychosenwife!
Isn'tthatpretty?Oh，Elsie!IhopeIshallgrowoldasbeautifullyasmammadoes，sothatpeoplecanwritepoetrytomeiftheyfeellikeit!HereisJack's，forPolly'sbirthday；hesayshegottheideafromarealpoemwhichisjustassillyashis:-
ApollywogfromawaysidebrookIsagoodlygiftforthee；
Butamilk-whitesteed，oravenisonsheep，Willdoverywellforme。
ForyouaquiveringasphodelTwoducksandagoodfathen，FormeawitheringhollyhockForsevenandthreeareten!。
Rose-redlocksandapugfortheeThefallingdewischill，Adove，arope，andaroseformeOh，passionate，pale-bluepill!。
Foryouagreenery，yallerygownHathonetombroomforfour?，DigmeanarrowgravelethereOh，redisthestainofgore!!。
ItoldJackIthoughtitextremelyunhitched，buthesaysthat'sthechiefbeautyoftheimitation。
IgiveyoualsosomeversesintendedforPolly'sbirthday，whichweshallcelebrate，whenthedayarrives，byagranddinner。
Yourememberhowweteaseheraboutherlovefortea，whichshecannotconceal，butwhichsheisashamedofallthesame。
Well!Ihaveprintedthepoemonacard，andontheothersideMargeryhasdrawnthepictureofacrossoldmaid，surroundedbysevencats，allfryingtogetadrinkoutofhertea-cup。ThenGeoffisgoingtogetalivecatfromthemilkranchnearhere，andboxitupformetogivetoherwhenshereceivesherpresentsatthedinner-table。Won'titbefun?
OWEDTOPOLLY
BECAUSEOFHERBIRTHDAY。
ShecampsamongtheuntroddenwaysForninstthe'MountainMill'；
AmaidwhomtherearefewtopraiseAndfewtowishherill。
Shelivesunknown，andfewcouldknowWhatPaulineistome；
AsdearajoyasaretoherHerfrequentcupsoftea。
Abirthdaythisdearcreaturehad，Fullmanyayearago；
Shesayssheisbutjustfifteen，Ofcoursesheoughttoknow。
ButstillthisgiftIbringtoher，Appropriatetoherage，Regardlessofherstifledscorn，Orwellconceal-edrage!
Shesmilesuponthesetenderlines，Asyouallplainlysee，Butwhenshemeetsmeallalone，Howdifferentitwillbe!
NowcomesGeoff's，tobegivenwithaprettylittleinkstand:-
TherewasayoungmaidenwhosethoughtWassoairyitcouldn'tbecaught；
Sowhatdoyouthink?
Wegavehersomeink，Andcapturedherlight-wingedthought。
HereisJack'slastonPolly:-
There'sapertlittlepoppetcalledPolly，Whofrequentlyfallsintofolly!
She'saterribletongueFora'creetur'soyoung，Butifsheweredumbshe'dbejolly!
IhelpedPollywithareply，andwedelivereditfiveminuteslater:-
I'dratherbedeaf，MasterJack，ForifonlyonesenseImustlack，ToberidofyourvoiceIshouldalwaysrejoice，Normournifitnevercameback!
Andnowgood-nightandgood-byeuntilIamallowedtowriteyoumyownparticularkindofletter。
Thegirlsandboysaresingingroundthecamp-fire，andImustgooutandjointheminonesongbeforewegotobed。
Yourswithlove，nowandalways，BELL。
P。S——Our'HappyHexagon'hasbecomeasortof'ObstreperousOctagon。'LauraandScottBurtonarestayingwithus。Scottisagooddealofabookworm，andusesverylongwords；hisfavouritenameformeatpresentisCalliope；Ithoughtitwasasortofsteam-
whistle，butMargerythinksitwassomeonewhowasconnectedwithpoetry。Wedon'tdareasktheboys；willyoufindout?
VI。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July13，188。
STUDIORAPHAEL。
DearLittleSis，——Theenclosedsketchesspeakforthemselves，oratleastIhopetheydo。Keeptheminyourprivateportfolio，andwhenIamfamousyoucanproducethemtoshowthepublicatwhatanearlyagemygeniusbegantosprout。
AtfirstIthoughtI'dmakethemreal'WilliamHenry'pictures，butconcludedtogiveyouavariety。
Can'tstoptowriteanotherline；andifyoumissedyourregularletterthisweekyoumustnotgrowl，forthesketchestookanawfullotoftime，andI'mjustrushedtodeathhereanyway。
Lovetomotherandfather。
Yourlovingbrother。JACK
P。S——Pollysaysyouneednotexpecttorecognisethatdeerbyhisportrait，shouldyouevermeethim，asnoonecouldexpecttogetaSTRIKINGlikenessatadistanceofahalf-mile。But，honestly，wehavebeencloserthanthattoseveraldeer。
CHAPTERV:THEFORESTOFARDEN——GOODNEWS
'FromtheEasttowesternInd，NojewelislikeRosalind；
Herworth，beingmountedonthewind，ThroughalltheworldbearsRosalind；
Allthepictures，fairestlined，ArebutblacktoRosalind；
Letnofacebekeptinmind，ButthefairofRosalind。'
Thegrandperformanceof'AsYouLikeIt'musthaveamoreextendednoticethanithasyetreceived，inasmuchasitsdoublewasneverseenonanystage。
ThereasonofthissomewhatambitiousselectionlayinthefactthatouryoungpeoplehadstudieditinDr。Winship'sShakespeareclasstheprecedingwinter，buttheywereactuallydumbwithastonishmentwhenBellproposeditfortheopeningperformanceinthenewtheatre。
'Itellyou，'sheargued，'therearenotmanypieceswhichwouldbeeffectivewhenplayedoutofdoorsbydimcandle-light，butthiswillbejustasromanticandlovelyascanbe。Youseeitcanbeplayedjust"asyoulikeit。"'
PhilipandAuntTruthwantedamatineeperformance，butthegirlsresistedthisplanverystrongly，feelingthatthegarishlightofdaywouldbebadforthemakeshiftcostumes，andwouldbelikelytorobthemofwhatlittlecouragetheypossessed。
'Wegivethedecorationofthetheatreentirelyintoyourhands，boys，'Pollyhadsaidonthedaybeforetheperformance。'Youhavesomeofthehardestworkdonealready，andcanjustdevoteyourselvestotheornamentalpart；butdon'texpectanymoreideasfromus，foryouwillcertainlybedisappointed。'
'Ishouldthinknot，indeed!'criedBell，energetically。'Herewehavethewalldecorationsforthefirstscene，andallthecostumesbesides；andthetroubleis，thatthreeorfourofthemwillhavetobemadeto-morrow，afterLauracomeswiththetrappingsofwar。I