ers. Tell me all that is going
on. Even trifles will serve to amuse us here.

"Tell Frank to send me Harper's Weekly regularly. Two or three times a
week I should like to have a daily paper forwarded. Every newspaper that
finds its way into camp goes the rounds, and its 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.

CHAPTER XIII. MISCHIEF ON FOOT

As may be supposed, John Haynes was deeply incensed with Frank Frost for
the manner in which he had foiled him in his attack upon Pomp. He felt
that in this whole matter he had appeared by no means to advantage.
After all his boasting, he had been defeated by a boy younger and
smaller than himself. The old grudge which he had against Frank for the
success gained over him at school increased and added poignancy to his
mortification. He felt that he should never be satisfied until he had
"come up" with Frank in some way. The prospect of seeing him ejected
from the farm was pleasant, but it was too far off. John did not feel
like waiting so long for the gratification of his revengeful feelings.
He resolved in the meantime to devise some method of injuring or
annoying Frank.

He could not at once think of anything feasible. Several schemes flitted
across his mind, but all were open to some