She took Winthrop's and her
husband began upon the other, which was from Rufus. Asahel and
Winifred were standing anxiously by.

"What do they say?"

"You shall hear directly."

"Does he say any thing about me?" said Winifred.

But father and mother were deep in the precious despatches,
and the answer had to be waited for.

"Shagarack College, Dec. 1810.

"My dear friends at home,

"This funny little man says he will take letters to you; -- so
as it is a pity not to cultivate any good disposition,
Governor and I have determined to favour him. But really there
is not much to write about. Our prospects are as bare as your
garden in November -- nothing but roots above ground or under --
some thrown together, and some, alas! to be dug for; only ours
are not parsnips and carrots but a particularly tasteless kind
called _Greek_ roots; with a variety denominated _algebraic_, of
which there are quantities. At these roots, or at some
branches from the same, Governor and I are tugging as for dear
life, so it is no wonder if our very hands smell of them. I am
sure I eat them every day with my dinner, and _ruminate_ upon
them afterwards. In the midst of all this we are as well as
usual. Governor is getting along splendidly; and I am not much
amiss; at least so they say. The weather is pretty stinging
these few days, and I find father's old cloak very useful. I
think Winthrop wants something of the sort, though he is as
stiff as a pine tree, bodily and mentally, and won't own that
he wants any thing. He won't want any thing long, that he can
get. He is working _confoundedly_ hard. I beg mamma's pardon -- I
wouldn't have said that if I had thought of her -- and I would
write over my letter now, if I were not short of time, and to
tell truth, of paper. This is my last sheet, and a villainous
bad one it is; but I can't get any better at the little
storekeeper's here, and that at a horridly high price.

"As Governor is writing to you, he will give you all the
sense, so it is less matter that there is absolutely nothing
in this epistle. Only believe me, my dear father and mother
and Winnie and Asahel, ever your most dutiful, grateful, and
affectionate son and brother,

"Will. Rufus Landholm.

"My dear mother, the box was most acceptable."

After being once read in private, the letters were given aloud
to the children; and then studied over and again by the father
and mother to themselves. Winifred was satisfied wi