第5章
Laura，Anne，andScottBurtonwereherefortheplay，andLauraiscomingdownagaintospendtheweek。Ican"tabideher，andtherewillprobablybetroubleinthecamp。
Theflameofmygeniusblazeshighjustnow，butGeoffhasspoken，anditmustbesnuffed。Sogood-bye!
Sizz-z-z!!andI"mOUT!
POLLIOLIVER。
II。FROMPHILIPTOELSIE。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July8，188。
MydearElsie，——IbelieveIamtoinformyouconcerningthedailydoingsofourparty，notonanyaccount，however，permittingmyselftodegenerateinto"gossip"or"frivolousamusement。"
Theyevidentlyconsidermeaquiet，stupidfellow，whowillfulfilsuchataskwithnospecialfeelingofrepression，andIdaresaytheyarequiteright。
Theycallmethe"solidman"ofthecamp，whichmaynotbeveryhighpraise，tobesure，asGeoffreycarrieshisheadintheclouds，andJackis——well，JackisJack!So，asthelightofatallowdipisvaluableintheabsenceofsunandmoon，Iamraisedtoafictitiousreputation。
Wefellowshavehadverylittleplaysofar，forthefurnishingofthecamphasprovedanimmenseundertaking，althoughwehaveplentyoftherightsortofwoodandexcellenttools。
Wethinktheworkwillpay，however，asDr。PaulhasaboutdecidedtostayuntilOctober，oruntilthefirstrain。Hewritestwoorthreehoursaday，andthinksthathegetsonwithhisbookbetterherethanathome。Asfortherestofus，whenwegetfairlytorightsweshallhaveregularstudyhoursandlosenotimeinpreparingfortheexaminations。
Isupposeyouknowthatyouhaveafullbedroomsetinprocessofconstruction。Isay"supposeyouknow，"becauseitisaprofoundsecret，andthegirlscouldneverhavekeptittothemselvesaslongasthis。
Thelounging-chairismyallottedportion，andalthoughitisacomplicatedbitofwork，Iaccepteditgladly，feelingsurethatyouwoulduseitoftenerthananyoftheotherpiecesoffurniture。I
shallmakeitsodeliciouslyeasythatyouwillmakeme"KnightoftheChair，"andperhapspermitmetoplayasortofdevotedJohnBrowntoyourVictoria。Youwillneedonedullandprosysquiretoarrangeyourpillows，sothatyoucanlaughatJack"sjokeswithoutweariness，anddozequietlywhileGeoffandUncleDocaretalkingmedicine。
OfcoursethemostexcitingeventoftheweekwasthemysteriousdisappearanceandsubsequentrestorationoftheHeir-Apparent；butI
feelsuresomebodyelsewilldescribetheevent，becauseitisuppermostinallourminds。
Bell，forinstance，woulddressitupinfinestyle。Sheisnohistorian，butinpoetryandfictionnoneofuscantouchher；
though，bytheway，Polly"sabilitiesinthatdirectionareagooddealunderrated。It"sasgoodasaplaytogetherafterJackwhenheisinoneofhisteasingmoods。Theyarelikeflintandsteel，andifAuntTruthdidn"tseparatethemthesparkswouldfly。WithagirllikePolly，youhaveeithertolieawakenights，thinkinghowyou"llgetthebetterofher，orelseputonademeanourofgentlenessandpatience，whichservesasasortoflightning-rodroundwhichthefireofherfunwillplayalldayandneverstrike。
Pollyisagooddealofagirl。Sheseemsatfirsttohaveaprettysharptongue，butItellyoushehasaheartinwhichthereisswimming-roomforeverybody。Thismaynotbe"information"toyou，whomwelookuponasourclairvoyant，butitwouldbenewstomostpeople。
UncleDoc，Bell，Geoff，Polly，Meg，andIstartedforthetopofPicoNegrotheothermorning。BellrodeVillikins，andPollytookamule，becauseshethoughttheanimalwouldbeespeciallysure-footed。Hewas；infact，hewassosure-footedthathedidn"tcaretomoveatall，andwehadtotaketurnsinbeatinghimuptothetop。Weboyswalkedforexercise，whichwegottoourhearts"content。
ItisonlyfiveorsixmilesfromtheoldMountainMill(apictureofwhichJackwillsendyou)，andtheascentisprettystiffclimbing，thoughnothingterrific。Welostthetrailonce，andflounderedaboutinthechaparralforhalfanhour，tillBellbegantomakeapoemontheoccasion，whenwebecamedesperate，anddashedthroughathicketofbrush，tearingourselvestobits，butstumblingonthetrailatlast。Theviewfromthetopissimplysuperb。Thevalleysbelowareallyellowwithgrain-fieldsandgreenwithvineyards，withhereandtheretheroofsofastragglinglittlesettlement。Thedepressioninthesideofthemountain(youwillobserveitinthepicture)Pollysayshasevidentlybeen"bittenout"byaprehistoricanimal，anditturnsouttobetheloveliestlittlecanyonimaginable。
Wehavehadonenovelexperience——thatofseeingatarantulafight；
andnotbetweentwo，butfive，tarantulas。Wewereabouttwentymilesfromcamp，lopingalongastretchofhot，dustyroad。Jackgotofftocinchhissaddle，andsoweallstoppedamomenttoletourhorsesbreathe。AsIwaslookingabout，atnothinginparticular，I
noticedablackballinthedeepdustatthesideoftheroad。ItsuddenlyrolledoveronitselfandIcalledtotheboystowatchthefun。Wegotoff，hitchedourhorses，andapproachedcautiously，forIhadseenabattleofthesamekindbefore。Theretheywere——fivehuge，hairy，dirty，blackcreatures，aslargeasthepalmofDicky"shand，alllockedindeadlycombat。Theywrithedandstruggledandembraced，theirlong，curlinglegsfasteningoneachotherwithasoundthatwasactuallylikethecrackingofbones。Ittakesalittlecouragetostandandwatchsuchaproceeding，foryoufeelasifthehideousfellowsmightturnandjumpforyou；buttheyweredoubtlessabsorbedintheirownbattle，andwewantedtoseetheaffairtotheend，sowetooktherisk，iftherewasany。Atlasttheyshowedsignsofweariness，butweproddedthemupwithourriding-whips，preferringthattheyshouldkilleachother，ratherthandothethingourselves。Finally，fourofthemlayinthedust，doubledupandharmless，slain，Isuppose，bytheirownpoison。One，theconqueringhero，remained，andwedexterouslyscoopedhimintoatomato-canthatJackhadtiedtohissaddleforadrinking-cup，coveredhimupwithahandkerchief，anddrewlotsastowhoshouldcarryhimhometoDr。Paul。
Knowingthatthelittlebeastsweregregarious，wehuntedaboutforanest，whichwemightsendtoyouafteroustingitsdisagreeableoccupant。Aftermuchsearching，wefoundagroupofthem——quiteatarantulavillage，infact。Theirwonderfullittlehousesareclosedontheoutsidebyacircular，many-webbedmesh，twoorthreeinchesacross，andthiswebbetraysthespider"sdentothepersonwhoknowsthetricksofthetrade。Directlyunderneathityoucomeuponthetinycirculartrap-door，whichyouwillnoticeinthenestwesendwiththeseletters。Youwillseehowwonderfullyitismade，withitssilkenweavinginside，anditsbitsofbarkandleavesoutside；
andIknowyouwilladmirethehinge，whichthetarantulamusthaveinvented，andwhichisasprettyabitofworkmanshipasthemostaccomplishedmechaniccouldturnout。Wetoreawaythewebandthedoorfromoneofthenests，andthenpouredwaterdownthehole。Thespiderwasathome，cameoutasfactashisclumsylegswouldcarryhim，andclutchedtheendofthestickJackheldouttohim。Thenwetumbledhimintothetomato-canjustasheappearedtobemakingforus。Thetwodidn"tagreeatall。Oneofthemdespatchedtheotheronthewayhome——thesameherowhohadkilledtheotherfour；but，onhearinghisbloodyrecord，AuntTruthrefusedtohavehimaboutthecamp；sowegavehimanalcoholbath，andyoushallseehislordshipwhenyoucome。AsDr。Paulsays，theyhavebeenknowntoclearfourteenfeetatajump，perhapsyouwillfeelhappiertoknowthatheisinalcohol，thoughtheirbiteisnotnecessarilyfatalifitisrightlycaredfor。
Thegirlshavebeenpatronisingthelandscapebynamingeverypeak，valley，grove，andstreaminthevicinity；andasthereisnobodytoobject，thenamesmayhold。
Wecarryaboutwithusacollectionofstrong，flatstakes，whichhavevariousnamespaintedontheminneatblackletters。Jacklikesthatkindofwork，andspendsmostofhistimeatit；fornowthatDr。Paulhasboughtahundredacresuphere，weareallgreatlyinterestedinitsimprovement。
GeoffhasnamedthemountainPicoNegro，asItoldyou，andthelittlecanyononitssideiscalledtheGiant"sYawn。Thenwehave-
MirrorPool，TheLoneStump，FieldoftheCloth-of-Gold，CosyNook，TheImp"sWash-Bowl，Dunce-CapHill，TheSaint"sRest，andIlPenserosoFall(inhonourofDicky，whowasnearlydrownedthere)。
Ifanybodyfailstocalltheselocalitiesbytheirpropernameshehastopayafineoffivecents，whichgoestowardsbeautifyingtheplace。Dr。PaulhashadtopaytwofinesforBell，threeforAuntTruth，andsevenforDicky；soheconsidersitanill-judgedarrangement。
OurencampmentissupposedtobeintheForestofArden，andJackhasbegunnailingversesofpoetryonthetrees，likeasecondOrlando，savethattheyarenotlove-poemsatall，butappropriatequotationsfromWordsworthorBryant。Andthisbringsmetoourthrillingrenditionoftheplay"AsYouLikeIt，"lastevening；butitisdeservingofmorethanthepassingnoticewhichIcangiveithere。
Onething，however，Imusttellyou，asthegirlswillnotwriteitofthemselves——that，althoughBellcarriedofffirsthonoursandfairlycaptivatedtheactorsaswellastheaudience，allthreeofthemlookedbewitchingandactedwiththegreatestspirit，muchbetterthanwefellowsdid。
Ofcoursewedidn"tgivetheentireplay，andwehadto"doubleup"
onsomeofthecharactersinthemostridiculousfashion；buttheBurtonshelpedoutwonderfully，ScottplayingOliver，andLauradoingAudrey。TheyweresodelightedwiththecampthatAuntTruthhasinvitedthemtocomeagainonSaturdayandstayaweek。
AttheriskofbeingcalledconceitedIwillalsostatethatweboysconsiderthatthestagemanagementwasatriumphofinventiveart；weworkedlikebeaversfortwodays，andtheresultsweremarvellous，"ifIdosaysoasshouldn"t。"
Justconsiderwewere"sixmilesfromalemon，"asSydneySmithwouldsay，andyetwetransformedalloutofdoors，firstintoanelegantinterior，andthenintoaconventionalstageforest。
Agreatdealofworkisavailableforotherperformances，andsowedonotregretitabit；weproposedoing"AsYouLikeIt"againwhenyouaredownhere，andmeanwhilewegivediversifiedentertainmentswhichJackcallsvarietyshows，butwhichinrealityareverychasteandelegantoccasions。
Theothernightwehadaminstrelshow，wearingmasksofblackcambric，withredmouthspaintedonthem；youshouldhaveseenus，allinaduskysemicircle，seatedonboardssupportedbynail-kegs:
itwasascenebetterimaginedthandescribed。Thisiscertainlytheidealwaytoliveinsummer-time，andweshouldbeperfectlyhappyandcontentifyoucouldonlyshakeoffyourtroublesomecoughandcometoshareourpleasure。Wefeelincompletewithoutyou；andnomatterhowlargeourpartymaygrowasthesummerprogresses，therewillalwaysbeavacantnichethatnonecanfillsavethedearlittleSaintwhoisalwaysenshrinedthereinbyallherloyalworshippers，andbynonemorereverentlythanherfriend，PHILIPS。NOBLE。
III。THEKNIGHTOFTHESPECTACLESTAKESTHEQUILL。
ThispaperiswrituntohermostRoyalHighness，ourbelovedGoldElsie，QueenofourthoughtsandEmpressofallhearts。
Youmustknow，mostnobleLady，thatonewhoisyournextofkinandhighintheroyalfavourhaslaiduponusamostdifficultandembarrassingtask。
InourcapacityasDirectoroftheCourtGames，wehumblysuggestedthesubjectsfortheweeklybulletinwhichyourHighnesscommandedtobewritten；but，alas，withindifferentsuccess；fortheCourtiersgrowledandtheLadies-in-waitinghowledatthetopicsgiventhemforconsideration。
OnsolicitingourownsubjectsfromthePrivyCouncillorandKnightoftheBrush，LordJohnHoward，herevengefullyorderedmeto"edify"
yourMajestywithwiseutterances；asifsuchpoor，rudewordsasminecouldpleasetheearthatshouldonlylistentothesingingofbirds，thebabblingofbrooks，orthesilverytongueofgenius!
WhenmayyourdevotedsubjectshopetoseetheirgraciousSovereignagainintheirmidst?
Thecourtisfastdriftingintodangerousinformalitiesofconduct。
ThePrincessBell-Pepperpartakesoftheodoriferousonionateachnoon-daymeal，sothataroyalsalutewouldbeimpossible；thehandsoftheCountessPaulinalookasifyoumighthavechosenoneofyourattendantsfrom"Afric"ssunnyfountains，orIndia"scoralstrand"；
andasfortheCourtChaplain，Rev。Jack-in-the-Pulpit，hehaswoefullyforsakenthemannersofthe"cloth，"andinsistsuponretaininghisancienttitleofKnightoftheBrush；theDuchessofSweetMarjoramalonecontinuescircumspectinwalkandmien，forbloodwilltell，andsheismoreNoblethantheothers。
InourcapacityofCourtPhysicianwehavethricerelievedyouryouthfulpage，SirDickyWinship，ofindigestion，causedbytoogenerousindulgenceintheflowingbowl——ofmilkandcherries；wehavealsoprescribedforhisgracetheDukeofNoble，whoseducalearwaspoisonedbytheinsidiousoakleaf。
YourprivateboxawaitsyouinthePrincess"Theatre，andyourMajesty"sspecialinterpretersofthedramawillcelebrateyourarrivalasgorgeouslyasitdeserves。
ThehealthofourdearlybelovedSovereignengagestheconstantthoughtofallherloyalandadoringsubjects；theyhopeerelongtocullawreathoflaurelwiththeirownhandsandplaceitonabrowwhichneedsnaughtbutitsgoldencrownofhairtoaffirmitsqueenlydignity。Andasforcrownjewels，hasnotourEmpressofHeartsafullstore?——twodazzlingsapphires，hereyes；astringofpearls，herteeth；herlipstworubies；andwhensheopensthem，diamondsofwisdomissuetherefrom!
Come!andletthesightofthyroyalcharmsgladdentheeyesofthywaitingpeople!IssuedunderthehandofSIRGEOFFREYSTRONG，Bart。，CourtPhysicianandKnightoftheSpectacles。
IV。MARGERY"SCONTRIBUTION。
COSYNOOK，July11，188。
MyowndearElsie，——YourweeklychronicleisalmostreadyforMonday"sstage，andIamallowedtocomeinattheclosewithasmanypagesof"gossip"asIchoose；whichmeansthatImayrunontomyheart"scontentandtellyouallthelittlethingsthathappeninthechinksbetweenthegreatones，forUncleDochasrefusedtoreadthispartoftheletter。
Firstforsomecommissions:AuntTruthasksifyourmotherwillkindlyselectgoodsandengageMrs。PerkinstomakeuseachacoupleofScotchginghamdresses。Shehasourmeasures，andwewishthemsimple，full-skirtedgowns，likethelast；everybodythinksthemsoprettyandbecoming。Bell"stwomustbebuffandpink，Polly"sgreyandgreen，andmineblueandbrown。Wefindthatwehaven"tclothesenoughforathreemonths"stay；andtheout-of-doorlifeissoharduponour"forestsuits"thatwehaveaskedMrs。Perkinstosendusnewonesassoonaspossible。
WehavehadaverybusyandexcitingweeksincePollybeganthisletter，fortherehavebeenvariousinterruptionsandanunusualnumberofvisitors。
First，therewasourmountainclimbtothetopofPicoNegro；Philsayshehaswrittenyouaboutthat，butIhardlybelievehementionedthatheandtheotherboysworriedussadlybyhangingontothetailsofourhorsesastheyclimbedupthesteepestplaces。TobesuretheyweresoawfullytiredthatIcouldn"thelppityingthem；
butUncleDochadtriedtopersuadethemnottowalk，sothatitwastheirownfaultafterall。Youcannotimaginewhatadreadfulfeelingitgivesonetobeclimbingaslippery，rockypath，andknowthatagreatheavyboyispullingyourhorsebackwardsbythetail。
Pollyinsistedthatsheheardhermule"stailbreakloosefromitsmoorings，andonmeasuringitwhenshegotbacktocampshefounditthreeincheslongerthanusual。
Themuleactedlikeoriginalsinallday，andPollywassocompletelyworn-outthatshewenttobedatfiveo"clock；Jackwasagooddealtheworseforweartoo，sothattheygotonbeautifullyallday。Itisqueerthattheyirritateeachotherso，forIamsurethatthereisnolackofrealfriendshipbetweenthem；butJackisaconfirmedtease，andheseemstokeepallhismischiefbottledupforespecialusewithPolly。Ihavetriedtokeephimoutoftrouble，asyouaskedme；andalthoughitgivesmeplentytodo，Iamsucceedingtolerablywell，exceptinhisdealingswithPolly。Ilecturehimcontinually，but"everytimeheopenshismouthheputshisfootinit。"
Pollywasunderacloudthefirstoftheweek。Villikinswassick，andDr。WinshipsenthertoAuntTruthforabottleofsweetoil。
AuntTruthwasnotinsight，soPollywenttotheboxofstoresandemptiedawholequartbottleofsaladoilintoapail，andVillikinshadtotakeit，WHEELORWHOA(Jack"sjoke!)。Auntiewenttomakethesaladdressingatdinner-time，anddiscoveredherlossandPolly"smistake。Itwasthelastbottle；andaswecan"tgetanymoreforaweek，thesituationwasserious，andshewasverymuchtried。PoorPollyhadagoodcryoverhercarelessness，andcametothedinner-tableinaverysensitiveframeofmind。ThenwhatshouldJackdobuttellDickytotakeVillikinsaheadoflettuceforhissupper，andaskPollywhyshedidn"tchangehisnamefromVillikinstoSalad-in!Pollyburstintotears，andleftthetable，whileDr。
PaulgaveJackascolding，whichIreallythinkhedeserved，thoughitwasagoodjoke。Thenextmorning，theyounggentlemanputonapairofoldwhitecottonglovesandhisbesthat，gatheredherabouquetofwildflowers，andmadeherahandsomeapologybeforethewholeparty；sosheforgavehim，andtheyarefriends——untilthenextquarrel。
Onthenightbeforetheplay，LauraandScottBurtonarrivedonhorseback，andthenextmorningtherestofthefamilyappearedonthescene。WehadsentovertoseeifLaurawouldplayAudreyonsoshortnotice，andbringoversomeoddsandendsforcostumes。Weactuallyhadanaudienceofsixteenpersons，andwehadnoideaofplayingbeforeanybodybutAuntTruthandDicky。
TherewerethreeoftheBurtons，Pancho，HopYet，thepeoplefromthedairyfarm，andauniversityprofessorfromBerkeley，witheightstudents。Theywereonawalkingtour，andwerejustcampingforthenightwhenScottandJackmetthem，andinvitedthemovertotheperformance。GeoffreyandPhilwereacquaintedwiththreeofthem，andUnclePaulknewtheprofessor。
Laura，Anne，andScottwenthomethenextmorning，butcamebackintwodaysfortheirweek"svisit。TheboyslikeScottverymuch；hefallsrightintothecampways，anddoesn"tdisturbtheevencurrentofourlife；andAnne，whoisasweetlittlegirloftwelve，hasquitetakenDickyunderherwing，muchtoourrelief。
WithLaura"sadvent，however，achangecameoverthespiritofourdreams，and，totellthetruth，wearenotoverandabovepleasedwithit。Bytheway，shespentlastsummeratthehotel，andyoumusthaveseenher，didyounot?Anyway，Mrs。BurtonandAuntTruthwereoldschoolfriends，andBellhasknownLaurafortwoyears，buttheywillneverfollowintheirmothers"footsteps。LauraissodifferentfromhermotherthatIshouldneverthinktheywererelations；andshehasmanagedtochangeallourarrangementsinsomemysteriouswaywhichwecan"tunderstand。Igetonverywellwithher；shepositivelyshowersfavoursuponme，andImorethanhalfsuspectitisbecauseshethinksIdon"tamounttomuch。Asfortheothers，sherubsPollythewrongway，andIbelievesheisalittlebitjealousofBell。
Yousee，sheisseveralmonthsolderthantherestofus，andhasspenttwowintersinSanFrancisco，whereshewentoutagreatdealtopartiesandtheatres，sothatherideasareentirelydifferentfromours。
Shewantseverysinglebitofattention——oneboytohelpheroverthebrooks，onetocutwalking-sticksforher，anothertopeelheroranges，andanothertoreadSpanishwithher，andsoon。Now，youknowverywellthatshewillnevergetallthissolongasBellWinshipisincamp，fortheboysthinkthatBelldragsupthesunwhenshe"sreadyforhiminthemorning，andpusheshimdownatnightwhenshehappenstofeelsleepy。
We，whohaveknownBellalways，cannotrealisethatanyonecanhelplovingher，butthereissomethinginLaurawhichmakesitimpossibleforhertoseetherightsideofpeople。ShetoldmethismorningthatshethoughtBellhadgrownsovainandairyandself-consciousthatitwaspainfultoseeher。Icouldnothelpbeinghurt；foryouknowwhatBellis——brimfulofnonsenseandsparkleandbrightspeeches，butjustasopenasthedayandaswarmasthesunshine。
Ifshecouldhavebeenspoiled，weshouldhaveturnedherheadlongago；butshehasn"tabitofsillyvanity，andInevermetanyonebeforewhodidn"tseetheprettycharmofherbrightnessandgoodness——didyou?
Andyet，somehow，Laurasticksneedlesintohereverytimeshespeaks。Shefeelsthem，too，butitonlymakesherquiet，forsheistooproudandsensitivetoresentit。Icanseethatsheisdifferentinherways，asifshefeltshewasbeingcriticised。
Pollyisquitethereverse。Ifanybodyhurtsherfeelingsshemakescreationscream，andIadmirehercourage。
AuntTruthdoesn"tknowanythingaboutallthis，forLauraisadifferentgirlwhensheiswithherorDr。Paul；notthatsheisdeceitful，butthatsheishonestlyanxiousfortheirgoodopinion。
YourememberAuntTruth"shobbythatweshouldneverdefendourselvesbyattackinganyoneelse，andnoneofuswouldevercomplain，ifwewerehung，drawn，andquartered。
LaurawasmiffedathavingtoplayAudrey，butwedidn"tknowthatshecouldcomeuntilthelastmoment，andweweregoingtoleavethatpartout。
"Idon"tbelieveyouappreciatemygenerosityintakingthisthanklesspart，"shesaidtoBell，whenwewererehearsing。"Nobodywouldevercatchyouplayingsecondfiddle，mydear。AllleadingpartsreservedforMissWinship，byorderoftheauthors，Isuppose。"
"Indeed，Laura，"Bellsaid，"ifwehadknownyouwerecomingwewouldhaveofferedyouthebestpart，butIonlytookRosalindbecauseI
knewthelines，andthegirlsinsisted。"
"You"vetrainedthegirlswell——hasn"tshe，Geoffrey?"askedLaura，withaqueerkindoflaugh。
ButIwillleavetheunpleasantsubject。Ishouldnothavespokenofitatallexceptthatshehasmademesouncomfortableto-daythatitisfreshinmymind。BellandPollyandIhavetalkedthematterallover，andaregoingtotryandmakeherlikeus，whethershewantstoornot。Wehaveagreedtobejustaspoliteandgenerousaswepossiblycan，andseeifshewon"t"comeround，"forsheisperfectlydelightedwiththecamp，andwantstostayamonth。
Pollysayssheisgoingtosing"HomeSweetHome"tohereverynight，anddropdoubledosesofthehomoeopathiccureforhome-sicknessintohertea，withaviewofcreatingthedisease。
Good-bye，andahundredkissesfromyourlovingMARGERYDAW。
V。THECAMPPOETESSADDSHERSTOREOFMENTALRICHESTOTHEGENERAL
FUND。
Mydarling，——Ihaveathousandthingstotellyou，butIcannotpossiblysaytheminrhyme，merelybecausethecommitteeinsistsuponit。IsendyouherewithallthepoetrywhichhasbeenwrittenincampsincelastMonday，andithasbeenaveryprosyweek。
Ihavegiventhemtopapa，andhesaysthatthebestofmyown，whichareallbadenough，isthefollowinghammock-song。
IthoughtitoutwhileIwasswingingMargery，andhereitis!-
To——fro，Dreamily，slow，Underthetrees；
Swing——swing，DrowsilysingThebirdsandthebees；
Sleep——rest，Slumberisbest，Wakefulnesssad；
Rest——sleep，Forgethowtoweep，Dreamandbeglad!
Papasaysitisallnonsensetosaythatslumberisbestandwakefulnesssad；andthatitispossibletotellthetruthinpoetry。
Perhapsitis，butwhydon"ttheydoitoftener，then?AndhowwashetoknowthatPollyandJackhadjustgonethroughaterriblebattleofwordsinwhichIwaspeacemaker，andthatDickyhadbeenasnaughtyas——Nero——allday?Thesetwocircumstancesmademelookattheworldthroughblueglasses，andthatisalwaysthetimeonelongstowritepoetry。
IsendyoualsoGeoff"sverses，writtentomamma，andslippedintotheboxwhenwewereplayingMachinePoetry:-
Iknowawomanfairandcalm，WhoseshiningtendereyesMake，whenImeettheirearnestgaze，Sweetthoughtswithinmerise。
Andifallsilverwereherhair，Orfadedwereherface，Shewouldnotlooktomelessfair，Norlackasinglegrace。
AndifIwerealittlechild，Withchildhood"stimidtrust，Ithinkmyheartwouldflytoher，Andlove——becauseitmust!
AndifIwereanearnestman，Withemptyheartandlife，Ithink——(butImightchangemymind)-
She"dbemychosenwife!
Isn"tthatpretty?Oh，Elsie!IhopeIshallgrowoldasbeautifullyasmammadoes，sothatpeoplecanwritepoetrytomeiftheyfeellikeit!HereisJack"s，forPolly"sbirthday；hesayshegottheideafromarealpoemwhichisjustassillyashis:-
ApollywogfromawaysidebrookIsagoodlygiftforthee；
Butamilk-whitesteed，oravenisonsheep，Willdoverywellforme。
Foryouaquiveringasphodel(Twoducksandagoodfathen)，Formeawitheringhollyhock(Forsevenandthreeareten!)。
Rose-redlocksandapugforthee(Thefallingdewischill)，Adove，arope，andaroseforme(Oh，passionate，pale-bluepill!)。
Foryouagreenery，yallerygown(Hathonetombroomforfour?)，Digmeanarrowgravelethere(Oh，redisthestainofgore!!)。
ItoldJackIthoughtitextremelyunhitched，buthesaysthat"sthechiefbeautyoftheimitation。
IgiveyoualsosomeversesintendedforPolly"sbirthday，whichweshallcelebrate，whenthedayarrives，byagranddinner。
Yourememberhowweteaseheraboutherlovefortea，whichshecannotconceal，butwhichsheisashamedofallthesame。
Well!Ihaveprintedthepoemonacard，andontheothersideMargeryhasdrawnthepictureofacrossoldmaid，surroundedbysevencats，allfryingtogetadrinkoutofhertea-cup。ThenGeoffisgoingtogetalivecatfromthemilkranchnearhere，andboxitupformetogivetoherwhenshereceivesherpresentsatthedinner-table。Won"titbefun?
OWEDTOPOLLY
BECAUSEOFHERBIRTHDAY。
ShecampsamongtheuntroddenwaysForninstthe"MountainMill"；
AmaidwhomtherearefewtopraiseAndfewtowishherill。
Shelivesunknown，andfewcouldknowWhatPaulineistome；
AsdearajoyasaretoherHerfrequentcupsoftea。
Abirthdaythisdearcreaturehad，Fullmanyayearago；
Shesayssheisbutjustfifteen，Ofcoursesheoughttoknow。
ButstillthisgiftIbringtoher，Appropriatetoherage，Regardlessofherstifledscorn，Orwellconceal-edrage!
Shesmilesuponthesetenderlines，Asyouallplainlysee，Butwhenshemeetsmeallalone，Howdifferentitwillbe!
NowcomesGeoff"s，tobegivenwithaprettylittleinkstand:-
TherewasayoungmaidenwhosethoughtWassoairyitcouldn"tbecaught；
Sowhatdoyouthink?
Wegavehersomeink，Andcapturedherlight-wingedthought。
HereisJack"slastonPolly:-
There"sapertlittlepoppetcalledPolly，Whofrequentlyfallsintofolly!
She"saterribletongueFora"creetur"soyoung，Butifsheweredumbshe"dbejolly!
IhelpedPollywithareply，andwedelivereditfiveminuteslater:-
I"dratherbedeaf，MasterJack，ForifonlyonesenseImustlack，ToberidofyourvoiceIshouldalwaysrejoice，Normournifitnevercameback!
Andnowgood-nightandgood-byeuntilIamallowedtowriteyoumyownparticularkindofletter。
Thegirlsandboysaresingingroundthecamp-fire，andImustgooutandjointheminonesongbeforewegotobed。
Yourswithlove，nowandalways，BELL。
P。S——Our"HappyHexagon"hasbecomeasortof"ObstreperousOctagon。"LauraandScottBurtonarestayingwithus。Scottisagooddealofabookworm，andusesverylongwords；hisfavouritenameformeatpresentisCalliope；Ithoughtitwasasortofsteam-
whistle，butMargerythinksitwassomeonewhowasconnectedwithpoetry。Wedon"tdareasktheboys；willyoufindout?
VI。
CAMPCHAPARRAL，July13，188。
STUDIORAPHAEL。
DearLittleSis，——Theenclosedsketchesspeakforthemselves，oratleastIhopetheydo。Keeptheminyourprivateportfolio，andwhenIamfamousyoucanproducethemtoshowthepublicatwhatanearlyagemygeniusbegantosprout。
AtfirstIthoughtI"dmakethemreal"WilliamHenry"pictures，butconcludedtogiveyouavariety。
Can"tstoptowriteanotherline；andifyoumissedyourregularletterthisweekyoumustnotgrowl，forthesketchestookanawfullotoftime，andI"mjustrushedtodeathhereanyway。
Lovetomotherandfather。
Yourlovingbrother。JACK
P。S——Pollysaysyouneednotexpecttorecognisethatdeerbyhisportrait，shouldyouevermeethim，asnoonecouldexpecttogetaSTRIKINGlikenessatadistanceofahalf-mile。But，honestly，wehavebeencloserthanthattoseveraldeer。
CHAPTERV:THEFORESTOFARDEN——GOODNEWS
"FromtheEasttowesternInd，NojewelislikeRosalind；
Herworth，beingmountedonthewind，ThroughalltheworldbearsRosalind；
Allthepictures，fairestlined，ArebutblacktoRosalind；
Letnofacebekeptinmind，ButthefairofRosalind。"
Thegrandperformanceof"AsYouLikeIt"musthaveamoreextendednoticethanithasyetreceived，inasmuchasitsdoublewasneverseenonanystage。
ThereasonofthissomewhatambitiousselectionlayinthefactthatouryoungpeoplehadstudieditinDr。Winship"sShakespeareclasstheprecedingwinter，buttheywereactuallydumbwithastonishmentwhenBellproposeditfortheopeningperformanceinthenewtheatre。
"Itellyou，"sheargued，"therearenotmanypieceswhichwouldbeeffectivewhenplayedoutofdoorsbydimcandle-light，butthiswillbejustasromanticandlovelyascanbe。Youseeitcanbeplayedjust"asyoulikeit。""
PhilipandAuntTruthwantedamatineeperformance，butthegirlsresistedthisplanverystrongly，feelingthatthegarishlightofdaywouldbebadforthemakeshiftcostumes，andwouldbelikelytorobthemofwhatlittlecouragetheypossessed。
"Wegivethedecorationofthetheatreentirelyintoyourhands，boys，"Pollyhadsaidonthedaybeforetheperformance。"Youhavesomeofthehardestworkdonealready，andcanjustdevoteyourselvestotheornamentalpart；butdon"texpectanymoreideasfromus，foryouwillcertainlybedisappointed。"
"Ishouldthinknot，indeed!"criedBell，energetically。"Herewehavethewalldecorationsforthefirstscene，andallthecostumesbesides；andthetroubleis，thatthreeorfourofthemwillhavetobemadeto-morrow，afterLauracomeswiththetrappingsofwar。I