She writes that she's glad the relationship is settled finally; says she's certain that any kin of the Maine Remsens is a person of good, strong moral character." When the laugh had subsided, Remsen turned to West.
"Have you ever heard of Tommy Collingwood ?" "Wasn't he baseball captain a good many years ago ?" "Yes, and used to row in the boat.

Well, Tommy was a good deal better at spinning top on Academy steps than doing lessons, and a deal fonder of playing shinney than writing letters.

But Tommy's mother always insisted that Tommy should write home once a week, and Tommy's father wrote and explained what would happen to Tommy if he didn't obey his mother; and as Tommy's folks lived just over in Albany it was a small thing for Tommy's father to run over some day with a strap; so Tommy obeyed his parents and every week wrote home.

His letters weren't long, nor were they filled with a wealth of detail, but they answered the purpose in lieu of better.

Each one ran: 'Hillton Academy, Hillton, N.Y.,' with the date.