September 10
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
School opens in about two weeks.
I'll be glad to start working again, although I've worked quite a bit this summer.
I wrote six short stories and seven poems.
I sent some to magazines, but they were all quickly rejected.
Jervie read a few of my stories when he was here.
He brought the mail in every day, so I couldn't hide the rejection letters from him.
"What's this, another rejection?" Jervie tossed a thick envelope at me.
I glanced at the return address.
It was from a magazine in New York. "Yep," I replied.
"Open it," Jervie said.
I opened the envelope and read the brief note.
"My story isn't quite right for them," I said.
"But I don't mind. Writing the story was good practice."
"Let me see your story."
Jervie took it and sat down in the parlor.
I paced in front of him while he read.
"I don't care that it was rejected," I mumbled.
"But I really hope you like it."
"Judy, this story is dreadful!" Jervie looked up at me.
"It's even worse than the last one you sent out.
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!
People don't act like this in the city!"
I laughed. "Don't worry about hurting my feelings!
Just blurt out the awful truth." I said, making a face at him.
What else could I do?
Jervie tried to hide a smile.
"What are you working on now?"
"A story set at college.
But I don't want to show it to you, if you're just going to make fun of it."
I snatched my story from his hand.
"At least you know something about college," he muttered.
"It might be more convincing than the one you sent to the magazine."
"Well, maybe I'll let you see it when I'm finished."
So a couple days later, I showed him my new story.
Amazingly, he liked it!
He had a secretary type it for me, and I sent it to a magazine.
But I haven't heard anything yet.
At least it wasn't rejected right away!
Jervie has gone back to New York City.
Everybody misses him, especially me.
I'm finding Mrs. Semple's conversation pretty boring.
Yours ever,
Judy
September 14
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
The postman just arrived with two letters for me.
The magazine accepted my story and will pay me fifty dollars.
I'm an AUTHOR!
The second letter is from the college.
I've won a scholarship that will pay for my tuition and board for two years.
The scholarship is for someone who has done exceptionally well in English and has also succeeded in other subjects.
I applied at the end of the school year.
But I was afraid I wouldn't get it because I'd failed those two exams my freshman year.
Now I won't be such a burden to you.
All I'll need is my monthly allowance.
I can probably make that amount writing or tutoring.
So I'll eventually be able to pay you back.
I can't wait for school to start!
Yours ever,
Jerusha Abbott, author of "When the Sophomores Won the Game"
September 26
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
I'm back at college, where I am now a junior!
I'm rooming with Sallie and Julia again.
Our room is very nice this year.
Julia, who has an unlimited allowance, spent a lot of money on furniture and rugs.
I have been busy hemming curtains for our study, and welcoming back fifty dear friends.
I'm also unpacking two trunks full of clothes.
Quite a change from when I arrived here two years ago!
I received your letter—I mean, your secretary's letter.
I know you don't want me to pay you back.
But I want to do that.
And with this scholarship, I'll owe you less money than I once thought.
I don't understand your objections to the scholarship.
But it doesn't matter because I've already accepted the scholarship.
Affectionately,
Judy
September 30
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
I can't believe you're still complaining about that scholarship.
I never knew such a stubborn man.
You say that I shouldn't accept gifts from strangers.
Well, what do you think you are?
I wouldn't know you if I met you on the street!
Besides, this scholarship isn't a gift.
It's more like a prize that I've earned.
I refuse to give up the scholarship.
And if you keep bothering me about it, I won't accept your allowance.
I'll spend endless hours tutoring freshmen.
You say that if I take the scholarship, I'm depriving another girl of an education.
If you care so much about educating girls, send another orphan to college!
I've given in to your demands in the past.
But this time I will stand FIRM.
Yours, with my mind completely made up,
Jerusha Abbott