Free Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

helpful suggestions. I remain, sir, Yours most graciously, OPHELIA, Queen of Denmark.
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    24th March, maybe the 25th Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
    I don't believe I can be going to Heaven--I am getting such a lot of good things here; it wouldn't be fair to get them hereafter too. Listen to what has happened.
    Jerusha Abbott has won the short-story contest (a twenty-five dollar prize) that the Monthly holds every year. And she's a Sophomore! The contestants are mostly Seniors. When I saw my name posted, I couldn't quite believe it was true. Maybe I am going to be an author after all. I wish Mrs. Lippett hadn't given me such a silly name-- it sounds like an author-ess, doesn't it?
    Also I have been chosen for the spring dramatics--As You Like It out of doors. I am going to be Celia, own cousin to Rosalind.
    And lastly: Julia and Sallie and I are going to New York next Friday to do some spring shopping and stay all night and go to the theatre the next day with `Master Jervie.' He invited us. Julia is going to stay at home with her family, but Sallie and I are going to stop at the Martha Washington Hotel. Did you ever hear of anything so exciting? I've never been in a hotel in my life, nor in a theatre; except once when the Catholic Church had a festival and invited the orphans, but that wasn't a real play and it doesn't count.
    And what do you think we're going to see? Hamlet. Think of that! We studied it for four weeks in Shakespeare class and I know it by heart.
    I am so excited over all these prospects that I can scarcely sleep.
    Goodbye, Daddy.
    This is a very entertaining world. Yours ever, Judy
    PS. I've just looked at the calendar. It's the 28th.
    Another postscript.
    I saw a street car conductor today with one brown eye and one blue. Wouldn't he make a nice villain for a detective story?
    7th April Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
    Mercy! Isn't New York big? Worcester is nothing to it. Do you mean to tell me that you actually live in all that confusion? I don't believe that I shall recover for months from the bewildering effect of two days of it. I can't begin to tell you all the amazing things I've seen; I suppose you know, though, since you live there yourself.
    But aren't the streets entertaining? And the people? And the shops? I never saw such lovely things as there are in the windows. It makes you want to devote your life to wearing clothes.
    Sallie and Julia and I went shopping together Saturday morning. Julia went into the very most gorgeous place I ever saw, white and gold walls and blue carpets and blue silk curtains and gilt chairs. A perfectly beautiful lady with yellow hair and a long black silk trailing gown came to meet us with a welcoming smile. I thought we were paying a social call, and started to shake hands, but it seems we were only buying hats--at least Julia was. She sat down in front of a mirror and tried on a dozen, each lovelier than the last, and bought the two loveliest of all.
    I can't imagine any joy in life greater than sitting down in front of a mirror and buying any hat you choose without having first to consider the price! There's no doubt about it, Daddy; New York would rapidly undermine this fine stoical character which the John Grier Home so patiently built up.
    And after we'd finished our shopping, we met Master Jervie at Sherry's. I suppose you've been in Sherry's? Picture that, then picture the dining-room of the John Grier Home with its oilcloth-covered tables, and white crockery that you CAN'T break, and wooden-handled knives and forks; and fancy the way I felt!
    I ate my fish with the wrong fork, but the waiter very kindly gave me another so that nobody noticed.
    And after luncheon we went to the theatre--it was dazzling, marvellous, unbelievable--I dream about it every night.
    Isn't Shakespeare wonderful?
    Hamlet is so much better on the stage than when we analyze it in class; I appreciated it before, but now, clear me!
    I think, if you don't mind, that I'd rather be an actress than a writer.