Nov. 9th, 1889.

LONDON, 20 Alfred Place, Bedford Square, W. C.

MY DEAREST TROTTY :

Upon our return to London this morning we found your letter awaiting us, and it pained us to hear that you had been homesick. By this time, however, you have probably recovered your cheerfulness. We are greatly pleased to know that you like your associates and your surroundings. I have no doubt that in a little time you will become deeply attached to your new home. All that reconciles me to your separation from me is the conviction that school life is what you should have. You are my only daughter, and I find it hard to have you away from me, yet you will find, as you grow older, that it is the sincerest love that makes the severest sacrifices. I have a letter from Mr. Ballantyne telling me that my books are out at last and that everybody is praising them. Of course, now that there is only a small edition printed (only 250 copies of each) everybody wants a copy; but there is none to be had. The cost of these books was about $1,100, or, in German money, 4,400 marks. That is a good deal of money, isn't it? As soon as my private copies of the volumes arrive I shall send you two, and you must show them to Fräulein Gensen and to Prof.

Eugene Field to his Children

49

Ruhle. I send you by to-day's mail a number of Christmas and New Year's cards, thinking that you might like to send them to little friends in America. Please ask Miss Gensen if my letters to you are addressed correctly. Your mother says that if you need the shoes, Miss Gensen will get them for you; but she wants you to bear in mind that we are poor, and that it is by rigid economy that we shall be able to give you and the boys the advantages we wish you to have. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch have gone to Manchester to-day. They will return to-morrow, and we hope to see them in the evening. Your mother will write you shortly, and I shall drop you a line every now and then, for I like to think of you and talk with you. To-day I walked to the Strand and back. All the way I saw the familiar shops that reminded me of you. Good-bye, my darling, for a brief space. Affectionately yours,

EUGENE FIELD.

DEAR BOYS:—

I am hoping that you had a pleasant Christmas and that you did not drive Madame Ruhle wild with those boxing gloves. Your mother and I had a very quiet time, having agreed to make no presents to one another this year. We went to Mr. Lynch's on Christmas eve and saw little Leigh's Christmas tree, which was exceedingly pretty and covered with toys. We are anxious to know what each of you boys did with your five marks. You have not told us whether you have any skates or not. Little Leigh got a set of boxing gloves. How does it happen that Pinny wants another watch when he already has one? The watch I gave him ought to last a year at least. When you write letters, you should not devote them all to complaints about your brothers; you should tell us about what you are doing from day to day; how you are progressing in your studies and what difference you find between America and the German country. When I was of the age of Melvin, I used to write letters in Latin to my father; yet neither of you boys is able to write correctly in your own language. Hereafter I shall correct every misspelt word which occurs in your letters and shall send the list to you. You must take pains with your handwriting, remembering that every intelligent boy should write tlearly and