Daddy-Long-Legs

by Jean Webster

R.S.V.P.

December 19th.

Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,

You never answered my question and it was very important.

ARE YOU BALD?

I have it planned exactly what you look like—very satisfactorily—until I reach the top of your head, and then I am stuck. I can’t decide whether you have white hair or black hair or sort of sprinkly gray hair or maybe none at all.

Here is your portrait:

But the problem is, shall I add some hair?

Would you like to know what color your eyes are? They ’re gray, and your eyebrows stick out like a porch roof (beetling, they ’re called in novels) and your mouth is a straight line with a tendency to turn down at the corners. Oh, you see, I know! You ’re a snappy old thing with a temper.