re expecting company or he
might not have been there for a week in spite of his promise.

It took nearly an hour to reduce the telegram to ten words, but at last
they settled on:

Bonnie welcome. Am writing you both to-night. No money
necessary.

(Signed) STEPHEN'S MOTHER AND FATHER.

The letters were happy achievements of brevity, for it was getting late,
and Mother Marshall realized that they must be up early in the morning
to get all that shopping done before two o'clock.

First the letter to Bonnie, written in a cramped, laborious hand:

DEAR LITTLE GIRL:

You don't know me, but I've heard about you from a sort of
neighbor of yours. I'm just a lonely mother whose only son
has gone home to heaven. I've heard all about your sorrow
and loneliness, and I've taken a notion that maybe you would
like to come and visit me for a little while and help cheer
me up. Maybe we can comfort each other a little bit, and,
anyhow, I want you to come.

Father and I are fixing up your room for you, just as we
would if you were our own daughter coming home from college.
For you see we've quite made up our minds you will come, and
Father wants you just as much as I do. We are sending you
mileage, and a check to get any little things you may need
for the journey, because, of course, we wouldn't want to put
you to expense to come all this long way just to please two
lonely old people. It's enough for you that you are willing
to come, and we're so glad about it that it almost seems as
if the birds must be singing and the spring flowers going to
bloom for you, even though it is only the middle of winter.

Don't wait to get any fixings. Just come as you are. We're
plain folks.

Father says be sure you get a good, comfortable berth in the
sleeper, and have your trunk checked right through. If
you've got any other things besides your trunk, have them
sent right along by freight. It's better to have your things
here where you can look after them than stored away off
there.

We're so happy about your coming we can't seem to wait till
we hear what time you start, so please send a telegram as
soon as you get this, saying when the doctor will let you
come, and don't disappoint us for anything.

Lovingly, your friend,