udy wrote to her dear friend,
Mr. Allen, or which she got aunt Madge to write the next time she went
to Portland.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

DEAR MR. 'GUSTUS ALLEN:

When you went off to the wars aunt Madge cried some, for I saw her
wiping her eyes. You asked me if I loved you for the candy, but I
didn't; I loved you for the nuts and oranges.

I think you was real good to write me a letter. I had just as lief
kiss you as not if you _wasn't_ my father; and aunt Madge says she'll
answer it, 'cause you couldn't read my writing; _but_ I hain't got any
pig! He was a pinky winky little thing, but grandpa kept a keepin' him
eatin', and he got so big once when I was gone that they had to kill
him.

But he didn't go to heaven, and I'm glad, for I don't ever want to see
_him_ again. That was last summer, when I was a _little_ girl. I don't
like pigs _now_.

Of course I'm going on five, for if I wasn't most five my grandpa Read
wouldn't be dead most two years.

I've got my presents, but they ain't took off the tree yet. Mother
gave me a tea-set. O, I wish you could see it, 'cause you wouldn't
break a single thing. And I had a doll, and lots of candy and books,
and a new dress, and a scarf, and some shiny shoes.

I'm glad you wrote me that darling letter. I can't think of any thing
to think of. The skeeters bit me when I was to grandma's. I hate
_live_ skeeters. They might be flies, and I wouldn't care then. They
used to get into my skin just as easy, and sting me all up.

Won't you write me another letter? Please to.

Susy fastened her tooth to the door-latch once. It got so loose it
shook in her mouth, and it hurt her so I had to cry. But _my_ teeth
are drove in real hard. I mean it hurt her when 'twas pulled, that's
what I mean.

I saw a cow the other day in the road, that wasn't hitched. Susy said,
"Go long goff, sir," but he didn't, and then a man shoo-brauded him,
and he went.

We had a dear little toady in the garden, and when I talked to him he
winked. He had a nest in the flower-bed last summer.

I like to stay at grandma's, so I can jump off of something. Mother
won't let us hunt for any eggs to Portland--'cause we haven't any
hens.

Horace was a captain to his men. He made me a sled. I had a new dress
on the Christmas-tree, and a sugar basket.

I've got a bad cold, but Susy hasn't. My head is all snuffed up.

When are you goin' to come home?

I haven't seen Grace and Horace for so long! They went home after