er,
written to Charley Gray about this time. I lately found it among, some
old papers. It reads thus:

Fulton, Oct. 25th, 18--

Dear Charley,

As I cannot possibly see you, I will do the next best by writing to you
in answer to your kind and very welcome letter, which came to hand two
days since. I have so much to tell you that I hardly know where to
begin; but if I intend to finish I must make a beginning in some way.
I will first endeavour to tell you something about my home. You know I
feared Uncle Nathan might be like Farmer Judson; but never were two more
unlike; he never scolds or frets, and, although he is not a great
talker, somehow or other when he does talk I always like to listen to
what he says. I am sure you would like Uncle Nathan, and if you could
pay a visit to his farm he would not drive you off as Mr. Judson did. My
grandma and aunt live with my uncle. Grandma is a very old woman, but
she looks happy and contented as she sits day after day in her large
arm-chair, dividing her time between her knitting work and reading in
the large-print Bible which always lies close to her hand; sometimes she
says it tries her eyes to read, and then I wish you could see how pleased
she seems when I offer to read to her.

You remember the day Charley, when we were at school at dear old
Elmwood, when we were out at recess and that poor old beggar-man who
was nearly blind passed the play-ground, and dropped his cane into the
ditch. Some of the thoughtless boys set up a laugh, but you left your
play and ran and picked up the cane and placed it in his hand; and the
old man patted your head and said "I know you will make a good man, my
lad, if you live to grow up, for there is always good in the boy who
pays respect to the aged and helpless." The master who saw it all from
the open window did not forget to reprove the boys who laughed at the
poor old man, while at the same time he warmly commended your kind act,
"Take my word for it boys," said he "an act of kindness, or any mark of
respect to the old and feeble, will always leave a feeling of happiness
in your own hearts;" and I know now that our teacher told the truth.
Sometimes grandmother calls me to read to her when I am busy with study
or play, and at first I do not feel inclined to go, but I always do, and
I feel more than paid when I finish reading and she says, "thank you,
Walter, you are a good boy to remember poor old grandma and I hope if
you live to be ol