age and woe as to cause fits of laughter among unsympathetic elders,
and tears to the author, who threw the unfortunate tragedy into the fire
on the spot.

Caroline, however, continued to write stories; and some of them are
alluded to in a series of little childish letters written to her by her
Aunt Jane, which survive, carefully pieced together with silver paper
and gum, and which are worth preserving for the presence in them of love
and playfulness, and the entire absence of condescension.

December 6.

MY DEAR CAROLINE,--I wish I could finish stories
as fast as you can. I am much obliged to you for
the sight of Olivia, and think you have done for
her very well; but the good-for-nothing father,
who was the real author of all her faults and
sufferings, should not escape unpunished. I hope
_he_ hung himself, or took the sur-name of _Bone_
or underwent some direful penance or other.

Yours affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.

Chawton: Monday, July 15.

MY DEAR CAROLINE,--I have followed your directions
and find your handwriting admirable. If you
continue to improve as much as you have done,
perhaps I may not be obliged to shut my eyes at
all half a year hence. I have been very much
entertained by your story of Carolina and her aged
father; it made me laugh heartily, and I am
particularly glad to find you so much alive upon
any topic of such absurdity, as the usual
description of a heroine's father. You have done
it full justice, or, if anything be wanting, it is
the information of the venerable old man's having
married when only twenty-one, and being a father
at twenty-two.

I had an early opportunity of conveying your
letter to Mary Jane, having only to throw it out
of window at her as she was romping with your
brother in the Back Court. She thanks you for it,
and answers your questions through me. I am to
tell you that she has passed her time at Chawton
very pleasantly indeed, that she does not miss
Cassy so much as she expected, and that as to