“Dear Ezra and Louisa:—We are all well, and hope you are the same. I suppose you are expecting Walter home before long, this summer, and I got the impression from you that he was not going back again. I think I can give him a job this fall and winter if you agree to it, and I’ll see that he has good wages. I have always, with Lydia’s help, as you know, managed my store and post–office myself, but I expect I shall need the help of a clerk. I have sold a lot of land, timber land, to Mr. Bezaleel Baggs; and I am putting up a steam mill, and I am interested in it, and it is going to take me away from the store a good deal. Then I have engaged to supply the crew at the life saving station with provisions, and also to take their mail to them. So you see somebody has got to go and look after their orders, and fetch their goods, and it is more than I can conveniently look after. What do you say to letting Walter come here the first of September? Please let me know soon.
“Your affectionate brother,
“Boardman Blake.”
“Well, Ezra, what do you say?”
“I—I—don’t know. I sort of hate to have him away, Louisa.”
“So do I.”
“I suppose though, he must start some time to be doing for himself.”
“Oh, here is a postscript! Tucked away up in one corner. I almost lost sight of it.”
“What does it say?”
“‘P. S.—He can come home every week.’ That makes it different, Ezra.”