On his sixth birthday Grandpa contributes:
Concord, Freddie's
6th Birthday,
1869.
Dear Freddy,
I give you for your Birth Day Present this new Picture Book. It has plain words for you to pick out and read. The stories are short and about things that you know. Now, my little scholar, look among the leaves every day, and see how many words you can tell,—Very soon you will find you can read whole pages, spell the whole book through, and write the stories, word for word on your slate or in your little writing book. Then you will not be a little Dunce, and when Grandpa comes to see you, you will be glad to show him how well you can read.
Grandma gives the top to Johnny.
From Grandpa.
Grandma, not to be outdone, sent this:
Dear Freddy,
If worms give us the silk thread—can't we find time enough to find out how the Fabric is made which dresses are formed of—minutes and days—ours. Days and Years are passing away—let us be busy—and I guess we will get to the Vienna Exposition—
"How doth the little busy Bee"