up stories for the girls and scribbling them off when kept in, which in
the past was frequent. This is what I wrote:

DR. PARKE ALDEN:

_Dear Sir_,--Eleven weeks and two days ago I heard you did not know
I was living. I am. I live in the Yorkburg Female Orphan Asylum,
and have been living here for nine years and four months and almost
a week. If you had known I was living all these years and had not
made yourself acquainted with me, I would not now write you. But I
heard, by accident, you did not know I had been born, so I am
writing to tell you I was. It happened in Natchez, Miss. I know
that much, but little more, except my father was an actor. I
worship his memory. My mother was named Mary Alden, and you are her
brother. If you would like to know more, and will write and ask me,
I think you will learn something of interest. Not about me, but
there are other people in this world.

Respectfully,

MARY CARY.

Three days have passed since I sent that letter off secret. I wouldn't
let Miss Katherine know for a billion dollars that I'd sent it, but I'm
glad I did. I'm sure she's got something in her heart she don't talk
about, for last night, when she didn't know I was looking, I saw that
same quiet proudness come in her face I saw the night of the ball.

I don't know how long it takes to go to Michigan, not knowing much about
travelling, as I've never been out of Yorkburg since I came in. But some