A Letter From Home By Wallace Irwin
From the Princess Boo-Lally, at Gumbo Goo, South Sea
Islands, to Her Brother, Prince Umbobo, a Sophomore at Yale
"It is spring, my dear Umbobo,On the isle of Gumbo
Goo,And your father, King Korobo,And your mother long for you.
"We had missionaries Monday,Much the finest of the
year—Our old cook came back last Sunday,And the stews she makes are dear.
"I've the loveliest string of knucklesWhich dear Father
gave to me,And a pair of shin-bone bucklesWhich I so wish you could see.
"You remember Mr. Booloo?He is coming over soonWith
some friends from Unatulu—We all hope they'll call at noon.
"Mr. Booloo's rather slender,But we'll fix him up with
sage,And I think he'll be quite tenderFor a fellow of his age.[Pg 523]
"Genevieve O-loola's marriageWas arranged so very
queer—Have you read 'The Bishop's Carriage'?Don't you think it's just too dear?
"I am hoping next vacationI may visit you a while.In
this out-of-way locationIt's so hard to know the style.
"Will you try and match the sampleI enclose—be sure
it's green.Get three yards—that will be ample.Velvet, mind, not velveteen.
"Gentle mother worries badly,And she thinks it is a
shameThat a man like Dr. HadleyLets you play that football game.
"For the way they hurt each otherSeems so barbarously
rude—No, you've not been raised, dear brother,To do anything so crude.
"And those horrid meals at college—Not what you're
accustomed to.It is hard, this quest for knowledge,But be brave."Your
sister, Boo."
"P.S.—"If it's not too great a botherAnd a mental
overtax,Would you send your poor old father,C.O.D., a battle-axe?"
Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg.
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