August 25
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
Well, Jervie is here, and we're having such a nice time!
At least I am, and I hope he is too.
He has been here ten days and doesn't show any signs of leaving.
The way Mrs. Semple spoils him is awful!
I don't understand how he turned out to be such a nice person.
He and I eat at a little table set on the side porch, or sometimes under the trees.
He just picks the spot where he wants to eat, and the maid brings out the table and dishes.
If she has to carry the food very far, he leaves her a dollar under the sugar bowl.
Jervie doesn't seem like a Pendleton at all.
He's so simple and sweet.
I know that seems like a funny way to describe a man, but it's true.
Unlike Julia, he doesn't care if people belong to the right sort of family.
He's extremely nice to the farmers around here.
They were suspicious of him at first, but now they like to talk to him.
It seems they didn't like his clothes very much!
I must say, his clothes are rather amazing.
He often wears white flannel trousers.
Just like a proper gentleman!
The other day we were going riding, and he came downstairs in fancy riding pants.
"Oh my!" Mrs. Semple walked around him and admired his clothes from every angle.
"Be careful where you sit.
You don't want to get those new clothes dirty."
Jervie rolled his eyes.
"Run along and do your work, Mrs. Semple.
You can't tell me what to do anymore. I've grown up."
"Why, Jervie Pendleton, you can't talk to me like that!"
Mrs. Semple pretended to be annoyed, but I could tell she was proud of him.
"I remember when I used to wash your face while you sat on my lap."
I burst out laughing.
I couldn't help myself!
"Why are you laughing?" they both said at once.
"He's so tall that it's hard to imagine him sitting on your lap!" I replied.
And he is tall, Daddy Longlegs.
Almost as tall as you.
"Well, he did," Mrs. Semple said.
"And you should have seen Mrs. Semple back then," Jervie said.
"She could run faster than I could!"
"So if he escaped from my lap, I could catch him!
Now run along, you two, I have work to do."
We've been having so many adventures.
We've explored the country for miles, and Jervie has even taught me how to fish.
August 28
We climbed Sky Hill yesterday afternoon.
That's a mountain near the farm.
There's no snow on the top.
It's not that high, but you're still pretty breathless when you reach the top.
"Let's stay and watch the sunset," Jervie said.
"We'll build a fire and cook our supper."
"I'd like to see the sun go down," I said.
"But I've never cooked outside before, never mind built a fire."
"Don't worry about a thing.
I'll do the cooking.
I'm used to camping."
So we had a delicious supper and watched the sunset.
We came back down the mountain by moonlight.
Fortunately, Jervie had a lantern, so we could find our way down the trail.
It was so much fun!
He laughed and joked and talked about such interesting things.
He has read all the books I've read, plus so many more.
It's amazing how many different things he knows.
September 3
I still haven't finished this letter!
Let me tell you what happened on Sunday morning.
"We must leave here by ten to get to church on time," Mrs. Semple said to Jervie.
"Very well, Mrs. Semple, you get the buggy ready," he replied.
"But if I'm not dressed, go without me."
"Oh, we'll wait," she said firmly.
"As you wish," he said.
"But don't keep the horses standing too long."
Then when she was dressing for church, he told me to change into my regular clothes.
We slipped out the back door and went fishing!
Did you ever hear anything so funny?
We cooked our fish over a campfire for lunch.
We didn't get home until four and then we went driving at five.
Mrs. Semple was disappointed that we didn't go to church.
She blamed herself for not training Jervie better when he was young.
But we think she was upset about something else—she wanted to show him off to her friends at church!
September 8
I'm sure you must move in the same social circles as Jervis Pendleton.
I wanted to ask him if he knew you.
But I couldn't because I don't know your real name.
You're Mr. Smith to me.
Isn't that silly?
I've been writing this letter for two weeks, so it's time I finally mailed it!
Affectionately,
Judy