y a stupid, foolish creature. Please to write and tell me
if I couldn't be a student for a little time, without neglecting my
housework. I suppose that couldn't be, though, could it? Well, well:
when once we're husband and wife, perhaps I may pick up a little of
your learning, and learn a little of this new, fashionable way of
speaking.

"I send you the Virginian tobacco, my dearest Amandus. I've packed my
bonnet-box full of it, as much as ever I could get into it; and, in the
meantime, I've put my new straw hat on to Charles the Great's head--you
know he stands in the spare bedroom, although he has no feet, being
only a bust, as you remember.

"Please don't laugh, Amandus dear; but I have made some poetry myself,
and it rhymes quite nicely, some of it. Write and tell me how a person,
without learning, can know so well what rhymes to what? Just listen,
now--

"I love you, dearest, as my life.
And long at once to be your wife.
The bright blue sky is full of light,
When evening comes the stars shine bright.
So you must love me always truly,
And never cause me pain unduly,
I pack up the 'baccy you asked me to send,
And I hope it will yield you enjoyment no end.

"There! you must take the will for the deed, and when I learn the
fashionable way of speaking, I'll do some better poetry. The yellow
lettuces are promising splendidly this year--never was such a crop; so
are the French beans; but my little dachshund, Feldmann, gave the big
gander a terrible bite in the leg yesterday. However, we can't have
everything perfect in this world. A hundred kisses in imagination, my
dearest Amandus, from

"Your most faithful fiancee,
"ANNA VON ZABELTHAU.

"P.S.--I've been writing in an awful hurry, and that's the reason the
letters are rather crooked here and there.

"P.S.--But you mustn't mind about that. Though I may write a little
crookedly, my heart is all straight, and I am

"Always your faithful
"ANNA.

"P.S.--Oh, good gracious! I had almost forgot--thoughtless thing that I
am. Papa sends you his kind regards, and says you have got to be, and
cannot help being, where and what you are; and that you are to rescue
me from a terrible danger some day. Now, I'm very glad of this, and
remain, on