The
extra ten dollars is pure sentiment.
Kirk had known in advance just about what the letter contained,
and now laughed aloud. It was so like the old gentleman! Why, he
could almost hear him dictating it.
Spurred by his present exhilaration, he wrote an answer, which he
read with a good deal of satisfaction before sealing it up.
DEAR DAD,-Your affectionate letter, with the kind offer to take
charge of a siding out in the Dakotas, is at hand. I would like to
help you along with your business, but "Upward and onward" is my
motto, and you'll have to raise that salary a bit. I am drawing
two hundred and twenty-five dollars a month at present, quarters
furnished and promotion promised. I have made some good
investments, and there are no debts to settle. Enclosed find my
last bank statement, which will doubtless prove a great
disappointment to you.
If you need a good Master of Transportation, I would be pleased to
consider an offer at any time, provided the salary is
satisfactory, but your proposal to edit my acquaintances is out of
the question. My decency and self respect are doing well, thank
you, and I like the climate.
Outside my window a mocking-bird sings nightly, and I have a tame
rabbit with ears like a squirrel and baby-blue eyes--also a
Jamaican negro boy who, I fear, could not stand our harsh Northern
winters.
Pages:
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347