for a few months in his new home:

DEAR MOTHER: i am still to Mrs. D---- and i was so Busy that i Could
not Write Sooner i drive the horses and put up the Cows and clean out
the Cow Stable i am all well i pick stones and i have an apple tree 6
Feet High and i have got a pair of new pants and a new Coat and a
pair of Suspenders and Mr. D---- is getting a pair of New Boots made
for me We killed one pig and one Cow i am going to plow a little
piece of land and plant Some Corn. When Mr. D---- killed the Cow i
helped and Mr. D----had to take the Cow skin to be taned to make
leather and Mr. D---- gave the man Cow skin for leather to make me
Boots i am going to school to-morrow and I want to tell
lizzie--pauline--Charlie--Christie--maggie--george and you to all
write to me and if they all do when Christmas Comes i will send all
of you something nice if my uncle frank comes to see yous you must
tell him to write to me i Close my letter

From your oldest son A----.

A year after that time the mother died. Some time afterward an uncle began
writing for the lad to come back to the city--he coveted his small
earnings. But the little fellow had sense enough to see that he was better
off where he was. Finally the uncle went after the boy, and told him his
brother was dying in the hospital, and was calling constantly for him.
Under such circumstances his foster parents readily gave him permission to
return with the uncle for a visit. Before they reached the city the uncle
told him he should never go back. He sent him to work at Eleventh Avenue
and Twenty-ninth Street, in a workroom situated in the cellar, and his
bedroom, like those in most tenement houses, had no outside window. The
third day he was sent up-stairs on an errand, and as soon as he saw the
open door he bolted. He remembered that a car that passed Fourth Street
and Avenue C would take him to the People's Line for Albany. He ran with
all his might to Fourth Street, and then followed the car-tracks till he
saw on the large flag "People's Line." He told part of his story to the
clerk, and finally added, "I am one of Mr. Parsons' Fresh-Air boys and I
have got to go to Albany." That settled the matter, and the clerk readily
gave him a pass. A gentleman standing by gave him a quarter for his
supper. He held on to his appetite as well as his quarter, and in the
morning laid his twenty-five cents befor