not been only a fair specimen of what Ida has been daily receiving
since her father's death. She then read us one from Indiana, addressed
to herself, and written, as the newspapers would say, with a view to
matrimony, but couched in quite a business-like strain:

"MISS IDA GREELEY:

"May I not surprise you by the fact that I desire an acquaintance with
you. I send you my photograph (which however is too light to be
perfect), hoping yours in return. If answered, I in my next will give
my age and history generally.

"Yours truly

"------ ------."

Another was from a widow with a son at college, who was very badly in
debt. The mother appealed to Ida as a lady of fortune and generosity,
and the only person to whom they could look for aid, to pay the son's
debts, "And," Ida added with mock indignation, "she does not even
promise that I shall be ultimately rewarded with the young man's hand."

A third was dated Illinois, and bore the sonorous signature of Greeley
Barnum M------. This epistle was extremely prolific, inasmuch as it
gave the occupations, ages, and a personal description of not only the
immediate members of the writer's family, but even extended to cousins
once or twice removed. He had also much to say about his name of
Greeley; sometimes he was proud of it, and sometimes the reverse,
according to the company he was in. Passing over all this prelude, we
discovered that Greeley Barnum M------'s object in writing was to
request a complete outfit for his sister who was about to go to school.
"You are a young Lady, Miss greeley," the writer touchingly said, "and
know everything that my sister would be likely to want." The clothes,
he kindly intimated, could be put up in a box, and sent by express,
prepaid; and having done so, Ida was requested to notify his sister and
also an uncle and aunt at some distant point, that they might not be
distressed by thinking their niece was going to school without a
suitable outfit.

The next letter that Ida took up was from a Kansas man, more modest in
his requests than the others, for he neither asked for her hand nor a
loan, but being anxious for self-improvement, solicited a little
assistance from her in that line. This letter was written in an even,
flowing hand, with very few mis-spelt words.

"WICHITA, KANSAS.

"MISS IDA GREELY:

"Well, here is another fool, will no doubt be the first thought that
will pass through your mind, and it is quite likely