He kicked the little pail that lay in the doorway, and sent it into one corner; that did him good.

Then he sat down on the box, and began cutting letters out of a piece of newspaper.

Finding that the snippings littered the floor, he picked them up and began scribbling on his blotting-paper.

He tried the effect of different initials before the name Rose: G.Rose, E.Rose, L.
Rose, Rose, L.L., L.L.Rose.

When he had covered the sheet, he looked at it discontentedly a little while, then suddenly began to write a letter: "Beloved Sister, "It is a long while since I last wrote to you, but I have had no time.
This is the first morning I have been at home since I don't know when.
Em always expects me to go down to the farmhouse in the morning; but I didn't feel as though I could stand the ride today.
"I have much news for you.
"Tant Sannie, Em's Boer stepmother, is to be married tomorrow.