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wakefulness sad； and that it is possible to tell the truth in poetry。
Perhaps it is； but why don't they do it oftener； then？ And how was
he to know that Polly and Jack had just gone through a terrible
battle of words in which I was peacemaker； and that Dicky had been as
naughty asNeroall day？ These two circumstances made me look at
the world through blue glasses； and that is always the time one longs
to write poetry。
I send you also Geoff's verses； written to mamma； and slipped into
the box when we were playing Machine Poetry：…
I know a woman fair and calm；
Whose shining tender eyes
Make； when I meet their earnest gaze；
Sweet thoughts within me rise。
And if all silver were her hair；
Or faded were her face；
She would not look to me less fair；
Nor lack a single grace。
And if I were a little child；
With childhood's timid trust；
I think my heart would fly to her；
And lovebecause it must！
And if I were an earnest man；
With empty heart and life；
I think（but I might change my mind） …
She'd be my chosen wife！
Isn't that pretty？ Oh； Elsie！ I hope I shall grow old as
beautifully as mamma does； so that people can write poetry to me if
they feel like it！ Here is Jack's； for Polly's birthday； he says he
got the idea from a real poem which is just as silly as his：…
A pollywog from a wayside brook
Is a goodly gift for thee；
But a milk…white steed； or a venison sheep；
Will do very well for me。
For you a quivering asphodel
（Two ducks and a good fat hen）；
For me a withering hollyhock
（For seven and three are ten！）。
Rose…red locks and a pug for thee
（The falling dew is chill）；
A dove； a rope； and a rose for me
（Oh； passionate； pale…blue pill！）。
For you a greenery； yallery gown
（Hath one tomb room for four？）；
Dig me a narrow gravelet here
（Oh； red is the stain of gore！！）。
I told Jack I thought it extremely unhitched； but he says that's the
chief beauty of the imitation。
I give you also some verses intended for Polly's birthday； which we
shall celebrate； when the day arrives； by a grand dinner。
You remember how we tease her about her love for tea； which she
cannot conceal； but which she is ashamed of all the same。
Well！ I have printed the poem on a card； and on the other side
Margery has drawn the picture of a cross old maid； surrounded by
seven cats； all frying to get a drink out of her tea…cup。 Then Geoff
is going to get a live cat from the milk ranch near here； and box it
up for me to give to her when she receives her presents at the
dinner…table。 Won't it be fun？
OWED TO POLLY
BECAUSE OF HER BIRTHDAY。
She camps among the untrodden ways
Forninst the 'Mountain Mill'；
A maid whom there are few to praise
And few to wish her ill。
She lives unknown； and few could know
What Pauline is to me；
As dear a joy as are to her
Her frequent cups of tea。
A birthday this dear creature had；
Full many a year ago；
She says she is but just fifteen；
Of course she ought to know。
But still this gift I bring to her；
Appropriate to her age；
Regardless of her stifled scorn；
Or well conceal…ed rage！
She smiles upon these tender lines；
As you all plainly see；
But when she meets me all alone；
How different it will be！
Now comes Geoff's； to be given with a pretty little inkstand：…
There was a young maiden whose thought
Was so airy it couldn't be caught；
So what do you think？
We gave her some ink；
And captured her light…winged thought。
Here is Jack's last on Polly：…
There's a pert little poppet called Polly；
Who frequently falls into folly！
She's a terrible tongue
For a 'creetur' so young；
But if she were dumb she'd be jolly！
I helped Polly with a reply； and we delivered it five minutes later：…
I'd rather be deaf； Master Jack；
For if only one sense I must lack；
To be rid of your voice
I should always rejoice；
Nor mourn if it never came back！
And now good…night and good…bye until I am allowed to write you my
own particular kind of letter。
The girls and boys are singing round the camp…fire； and I must go out
and join them in one song before we go to bed。
Yours with love； now and always；
BELL。
P。 SOur 'Happy Hexagon' has become a sort of 'Obstreperous
Octagon。' Laura and Scott Burton are staying with us。 Scott is a
good deal of a bookworm； and uses very long words； his favourite name
for me at present is Calliope； I thought it was a sort of steam…
whistle； but Margery thinks it was some one who was connected with
poetry。 We don't dare ask the boys； will you find out？
VI。
CAMP CHAPARRAL； July 13； 188…。
STUDIO RAPHAEL。
Dear Little Sis；The enclosed sketches speak for themselves； or at
least I hope they do。 Keep them in your private portfolio； and when
I am famous you can produce them to show the public at what an early
age my genius began to sprout。
At first I thought I'd make them real 'William Henry' pictures； but
concluded to give you a variety。
Can't stop to write another line； and if you missed your regular
letter this week you must not growl； for the sketches took an awful
lot of time； and I'm just rushed to death here anyway。
Love to mother and father。
Your loving brother。 JACK
P。S。Polly says you need not expect to recognise that deer by his
portrait； should you ever meet him； as no one could expect to get a
STRIKING likeness at a distance of a half…mile。 But； honestly； we
have been closer than that to several deer。
CHAPTER V： THE FOREST OF ARDENGOOD NEWS
'From the East to western Ind；
No jewel is like Rosalind；
Her worth； being mounted on the wind；
Through all the world bears Rosalind；
All the pictures； fairest lined；
Are but black to Rosalind；
Let no face be kept in mind；
But the fair of Rosalind。'
The grand performance of 'As You Like It' must have a more extended
notice than it has yet received； inasmuch as its double was never
seen on any stage。
The reason of this somewhat ambitious selection lay in the fact that
our young people had studied it in Dr。 Winship's Shakespeare class
the preceding winter； but they were actually dumb with astonishment
when Bell proposed it for the opening performance in the new theatre。
'I tell you；' she argued； 'there are not many pieces which would be
effective when played out of doors by dim candle…light； but this will
be just as romantic and lovely as can be。 You see it can be played
just 〃as you like it。〃'
Philip and Aunt Truth wanted a matinee performance； but the girls
resisted this plan very strongly； feeling that the garish light of
day would be bad for the makeshift costumes； and would be likely to
rob them of what little courage they possessed。
'We give the decoration of the theatre entirely into your hands；
boys；' Polly had said on the day before the performance。 'You have
some of the hardest work done already； and can just devote yourselves
to the ornamental part； but don't expect any more ideas from us； for
you will certainly be disappointed。'
'I should think not； indeed！' cried Bell； energetically。 'Here we
have the wall decorations for the first scene； and all the costumes
besides； and the trouble is； that three or four of them will have to
be made to…morrow； after Laura comes with the trappings of war。 I
hope she will get here for dinner to…night； then we can decide on our
finery； and have a rough rehearsal。'
'Well； girls！' shouted Jack； from the theatre； 'come and have one
consultation； and then we'll let you off。 Phil wants to change the
location altogether。'
'Oh； nonsense！' cried Madge； as the three girls ran towards the scene
of action。 'It's the only suitable place within a mile of the camp。'
'I think it will be simply perfect； when you have done a little more
cutting；' said Bell。 'Just see our advantages： First； we have that
rising knoll opposite the stage； which is exactly the thing for
audience seats； then we have a semicircular background of trees and a
flat place for the stage； which is perfectly invaluable； last of all；
just gaze upon that madrono…tree in the centre； and the oak on the
left； why； they are worth a thousand dollars for scenery。'
'Especially in the first sceneducal interior； or whatever it is；'
said Phil； disconsolately。
'Jingo！ that is a little embarrassing；' groaned Jack。
'Not at all；' said Polly； briskly。 'There is plenty of room to set
the interior in front of those trees。 It can be all fixed
beforehand； and just whisked away for good at the end of the first
act。'
'That's true；' said Geoff； thoughtfully。 'But we can't have any
Adam's cottage。 We talked it over last night； and decided it
〃couldn't be did。〃'
'Did you indeed！' exclaimed Bell； sarcastically。 'Then allow me to
remark that you three boys represent a very obtuse triangle。'
'Thanks； most acid Rosalind！' murmured Geoff； meekly。 'Could you
deign； as spokesman of the very acute triangle； to suggest
something？'
'Certainly。 There is the rear of the brush kitchen in plain sight；
to convey the idea of a rustic hut。 To be sure； it's a good distance
to the left； but let the audience screw round in thei