"I wonder whether Cæsar used to write home to his father when he was at boarding-school. If he did, I should like to get hold of some of his letters."
"They would probably have to be altered considerably to adapt them to the present time."
"Well, give me a sheet of paper and I'll begin."
The boys undertook their new task, and finished it by nine o'clock. I should be glad to furnish a copy of Lemuel's letter, which was written with brilliant disregard of grammatical rules; but unfortunately the original, afterwards considerably revised in accordance with suggestions from Walter, has not been preserved.
"I've a great mind to send my letter home, Walter," said Lemuel. "Father expects me to write home every week, and this would save me some trouble. Besides, he'd think I was getting on famously, to write home in Latin."
"Yes, if he didn't find out the mistakes."
"That's the rub. He'd show it to the minister the first time he called, and then my blunders would be detected. I guess I'd better wait till it comes back from the doctor corrected."
"I expect to hear from home to-morrow," said Walter.
"Why to-morrow in particular? Do you generally get letters Thursday?"
"No, my letters generally come on Saturday, and I answer them Sunday. But to-morrow is my birthday."