contents are eagerly devoured.

"I will write you again very soon. The letters I write and
receive from home will be one of my principal sources of
pleasure. God bless you all, is the prayer of your affectionate
husband and father, "HENRY FROST."


It is hardly necessary to say that this letter was read with
eager interest. That evening all the children, including little
Charlie, were busy writing letters to the absent father. I have
not room to print them all, but as this was Charlie's first
epistolary effort, it may interest some of my youthful readers to
see it. The mistakes in spelling will be excused on the score of
Charlie's literary inexperience. This is the way it commenced:


"DEER FARTHER: I am sorry you hav to live in a log hous stuck up
with mud. I shud think the mud wood cum off on your close. I am
wel and so is Maggie. Frank is agoin to make me a sled--a real
good one. I shal cal it the egle. I hope we shal soon hav sum
sno. It will be my berth day next week. I shal be seven years
old. I hope you cum back soon. Good nite.
"from CHARLIE."


Charlie was so proud of his letter that he insisted on having it
enclosed in a separate envelope and mailed by itself--a request
which was complied with by his mother.