Everybody is very poor. Not Granny, her sons have been good to her. People eat bacon. Granny often kills a chicken, but no one, not the richest people, eat roast beef. December 28. I forgot to tell you, mother darling, that the Sunday school teacher was colored. There were not any classes. She explained the lesson to everybody. I like her very much. She kissed me good-bye and told me to come again, but Sunday school is only once a month and so is church. Tell Charity I wear the sun-bonnet some days, and Granny says I shall wear it more when the sun gets hot. Darling Mother, I think of Father a great deal because I sleep in his bed and Granny showed me the first shoes he wore. They are all out at the toes. They are not little because he went barefoot. At first I used to cry but now I don’t. Granny says he was always jolly. I can make Granny laugh when I tell her about Boston. She pretends not to believe about elevators and sky-scrapers and telefones. I think she really doesn’t truly believe about telefones. December 30. You don’t mind if I sometimes skip a day, do you, Mother? Because sometimes I am busy. I am spinning. I am like Priscilla in Miles Standish. It is more fun to spin than to sew or cook or wash or iron. When Granny washes she makes a fire out-of-doors and boils water in a great big iron pot. December 31. I have written a New Year’s poem for you. Where did you come from, mother dear? Out of the skies and the atmosphere. Here is pussy Lucy, mother dear, She is named after you, do you hear? Pussy Lucy will die And so will you and I. Your affectionate daughter, HAZEL TYLER. January 1. Dear Hazel, A Happy New Year, darling! Last night I saw the Old Year out and the New Year in at the Perkins. There were thirty of us, and we sang, and Mr. Douglass played on his violin, until twelve o’clock. Then we all said Happy New Year to one another. [Illustration: “I am spinning. I am like Priscilla in Miles Standish”] The New Year has begun well for me in my business. I have ten people I go to every week. Just think of it! That is ten dollars a week shampooing hair! They say I have a gentle touch. You used to like to have me wash your hair, do you remember? I hope you are taking good care of it. You see I am getting quite rich. I do not do any laundry except Mrs. Hollingsworth’s. Mrs. Hollingsworth sent the pink tea gown the other day, and said it was not worth laundering again, and for me to keep it. So I have it for my little Queen of Sheba.