Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
15th November
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
Listen to what I've learned to-day.
The area of the convex surface of the frustum of a regular pyramid ishalf the product of the sum of the perimeters of its bases by thealtitude of either of its trapezoids.
It doesn't sound true, but it is--I can prove it!
You've never heard about my clothes, have you, Daddy? Six dresses, allnew and beautiful and bought for me--not handed down from somebodybigger. Perhaps you don't realize what a climax that marks in thecareer of an orphan? You gave them to me, and I am very, very, VERYmuch obliged. It's a fine thing to be educated--but nothing comparedto the dizzying experience of owning six new dresses. Miss Pritchard,who is on the visiting committee, picked them out--not Mrs. Lippett,thank goodness. I have an evening dress, pink mull over silk (I'mperfectly beautiful in that), and a blue church dress, and a dinnerdress of red veiling with Oriental trimming (makes me look like aGipsy), and another of rose-coloured challis, and a grey street suit,and an every-day dress for classes. That wouldn't be an awfully bigwardrobe for Julia Rutledge Pendleton, perhaps, but for JerushaAbbott--Oh, my!
I suppose you're thinking now what a frivolous, shallow little beastshe is, and what a waste of money to educate a girl?
But, Daddy, if you'd been dressed in checked ginghams all your life,you'd appreciate how I feel. And when I started to the high school, Ientered upon another period even worse than the checked ginghams.
The poor box.
You can't know how I dreaded appearing in school in those miserablepoor-box dresses. I was perfectly sure to be put down in class next tothe girl who first owned my dress, and she would whisper and giggle andpoint it out to the others. The bitterness of wearing your enemies'cast-off clothes eats into your soul. If I wore silk stockings for therest of my life, I don't believe I could obliterate the scar.
LATEST WAR BULLETIN!
News from the Scene of Action.
At the fourth watch on Thursday the 13th of November, Hannibal routedthe advance guard of the Romans and led the Carthaginian forces overthe mountains into the plains of Casilinum. A cohort of light armedNumidians engaged the infantry of Quintus Fabius Maximus. Two battlesand light skirmishing. Romans repulsed with heavy losses.
I have the honour of being, Your special correspondent from the front, J. Abbott
PS. I know I'm not to expect any letters in return, and I've beenwarned not to bother you with questions, but tell me, Daddy, just thisonce--are you awfully old or just a little old? And are you perfectlybald or just a little bald? It is very difficult thinking about you inthe abstract like a theorem in geometry.
Given a tall rich man who hates girls, but is very generous to onequite impertinent girl, what does he look like?
R.S.V.P.