January 17
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
Today is a very rainy day!
I like winter to act like winter with snow, not rain.
I still managed to have a good day because Julia's uncle came to visit again.
This time he brought a five-pound box of chocolates!
There are advantages to being Julia's roommate.
We had to ask permission to entertain him.
It's a good thing the dean didn't see Uncle Jervie.
If she knew how young and handsome he is, she'd never let him set foot in our study!
The three of us seemed to amuse Uncle Jervie.
In fact, he decided to catch a later train, so he could have tea with us.
I started to make cheese sandwiches on brown bread.
"Let me help you," Uncle Jervie said.
I handed him a knife, and he sliced the cheese.
Then we sat around eating sandwiches and drinking tea.
"I spent last summer at Lock Willow Farm," I said, passing him a cup of tea.
"Did you? I have many happy memories of that place."
We had a wonderful time gossiping about the Semples and all the farm animals.
"Mrs. Semple seems awfully fond of you, Master Jervie," I said.
He smiled when I called him Master Jervie, but he didn't seem to mind.
"And I'm very fond of her.
The last time I was there, the Semples had a new colt.
Now what was its name?"
He took a bite of sandwich.
"Oh, I remember. Grover."
I laughed. "You haven't been there for ages then!
Grover is so old that he can barely limp around the pasture."
"Well, it was a long time ago.
Does Mrs. Semple still keep doughnuts on the bottom shelf of the pantry?"
"Yes! In a yellow pot with a blue plate on top."
"That's how she stored them when I was a child.
Let's see what else I remember."
He took a sip of tea.
"Is there still a groundhog hole under the pile of rocks in the far pasture?"
I nodded. "And there are still groundhogs living there!
They must be the great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren of the ones you used to see."
So we chatted like that for the rest of teatime.
He talked mostly to me, leaving Julia and Sallie to talk to each other.
After he left, Julia said, "I've never seen my uncle in such a good mood.
He's usually so aloof that I'm afraid to approach him."
I think that's partly Julia's fault.
She doesn't know how to talk to men.
By the way, Uncle Jervie ate four cheese sandwiches.
Yours truly,
Judy
February 4
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
Jimmy McBride sent me a huge Princeton banner.
My roommates are not happy about it.
"I'm very glad he remembered me," I said, unfolding the banner.
"But I don't know what to do with it.
Look at the size of this thing!
It's as big as one end of our study."
"Well, you're not hanging it in here," Sallie said.
"It really clashes with our decor," Julia said.
I had to agree with that.
Can you imagine if I added a giant orange and black banner?
"But it's such nice, warm, thick felt."
I patted the banner.
"I hate to waste it."
"You're not hanging it in here," Sallie repeated firmly.
So now I have to figure out what to do.
Do you think it's improper to have Jimmy's banner made into a bathrobe?
My old one shrank in the wash.
I realize I haven't mentioned my studies.
Sometimes it's confusing to study five different subjects at once.
"The mark of a true scientist is a passion for detail," my chemistry professor says.
"Don't keep your eyes glued to the details," my history professor says.
"You must look at the broader view."
I hope I can remember which one wants what.
Exams are next week, but who's afraid?
Your student,
Judy
March 5
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
I never told you about exams.
I passed everything. Phew!
I know the secrets of studying now, so I'm never going to fail again.
This week I'm reading Hamlet for my Shakespeare class, which continues this semester.
It's WONDERFUL!
Lying in bed at night, I pretend I'm Ophelia.
But I change some things in the play.
I keep Hamlet amused all the time and make him dress warmly.
As a result, he's a happy fellow.
We're ruling Denmark.
The kingdom is running beautifully.
Hamlet governs while I'm in charge of the charities.
I've just built some first-class orphanages.
Let me know if you and the other trustees want to visit.
I'm sure you'll pick up some useful ideas for the John Grier Home.
Yours most graciously,
OPHELIA, Queen of Denmark