LITTLE JOE'S LETTER TO ADAM

Adam Cartwright, the oldest son of Ben Cartwright had been away at college for three months now, and he missed his family very much, especially his baby brother, Little Joe, who had turned six years old on October 31.

As Adam was returning to his dorm room, he was handed a letter from Little Joe. Adam looked at envolope and he smiled, and he quickly went up to his room so he could read the letter from his baby brother. He sat down at his desk and he began to read the letter.

" Howdy Adam, it's me, Little Joe. I wanna fank ya fer my birthday presents. I really wuv em !"

" Them soldiers get along great wiv my other soldiers. Even my injuns like em too. Hoss dun gived me more buildin's fer my fort. Ya know what, he dun maded em fer me. Ain't that somethin'?"

" Papa gived me more horses fer my soldiers and they all gots horses now. Them horses are purdy. Ain't no pinto's though. I guess only injuns gots em, but I know that some day Imma gonna have a pinto of my very own."

"I wuv all them books ya gots me fer my birthday. I really wuv all them drawin's in em too. Guess what, I can sorta read them books. Papa helps me wiv the words I dun't know. Papa said that he is so proud of me fer the way I can read. See, Imma a big boy now !"

" Papa reads ta me at bedtime, but dadburnit, I always fall ta sleep before he gets very far in the book. He's readin' the one 'bout the pinto pony now."

" I sure miss ya readin' ta me Adam. I wuv all them voices ya make when ya read. Papa dun't do that much. Please Adam, ya just gotta come back home, so ya can read ta me again. I really miss ya."

" Hop Sing made fried chicken fer dinner on my birthday, and it was so good. He maded me a chocolate cake too. I wanted ta send ya some cake, but Papa said it would get too old by the time it gots ta ya."

" Me and Hoss went fishin' the other day and we gots lots of fish fer dinner. Hop Sing dun told us that he was proud of us fer gettin' dinner that day."

" I told Papa that I was gonna come ta see ya, but he dun told me that ya are too far away fer me ta go. I dunt wanna get lost ya know."

" I've been practicin' my ropin' too. I can rope them moo cows now. Ain't that great? I even roped Hoss one day, but he wasn't so happy 'bout that. He dun told me that he ain't no cow. Ain't that funny?"

" How's fings in Boston? Do ya gots snow yet? We do ! Me and Hoss dun maded a snowman in the yard. He sure is big. Wish ya coulda been here ta help us make that snowman."

" Me, Hoss and Papa had a big old snowball fight and me and Hoss talked Papa inta makin' a snow angel. Ya know what, he gots all wet when he maded his snow angel. Me and Hoss gots all wet too."

" Papa said that Fanksgivin' is comin' soon. Ya gonna come home fer Fanksgivin" ? Papa said ya can't, but I thought I would ask ya anyway. Can ya come home? Can ya ?"

" I dunt like school much. That Miss Jones gives us work ta do at home all the time. I tried ta tell her that Hoss and me gots lots of chores ta do and that we ain't gots no time fer homework, but she dunt care 'bout that."

" Sheriff Coffee gived me a whole lotta ' wanted posters '. So far, I ain't seen none of them bad men 'round here, but I always look out fer em when I'm ridin' my pony. If'n I see's them bad men, Imma gonna arested em and puts em in jail !"

" Adam, does ya still wuv me, Papa, Hoss and Hop Sing? Yer so far away that ya just might stop wuvin' us. We still wuv ya, ya know."

" Imma tryin' so hard ta be a good boy, but I just can't help it and I gets inta mischief. Papa said that's the way I am. Is that good?"

" Please come back home Adam ! Ya can always go ta school wiv me and Hoss. I know that Miss Jones would like that. Dunt tell anyone, but I fink she likes ya. If'n ya do come home and go ta school wiv me and Hoss, ya could live at home wiv us again."

" I help take care of yer horse, Beauty. She sure misses ya too. Do ya miss her? Hoss and me took her out fer a ride yesterday, and that was fun ! I gots ta sit in yer saddle and Hoss sat behind me. Beauty had fun too."

" Papa said me and Hoss can ride Beauty ta school, but not everyday."

" Does ya gets ta see yer grampa much Adam? I wish I had a grampa too, and a gramma too."

" Fank ya again fer all my birthday presents Adam. I really wuv all them soldiers and them story books too !"

" I sure do miss ya Adam, and I wuv ya too. PLEASE COME HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wuv,
Little Joe

By the time Adam had finished reading Little Joe's letter, he was in tears.

" I miss you so much little buddy, and I love you more than anything else. I wish I could home, but I love it here at college. I promise you baby, I will come home as soon as I can for a visit," Adam softly said to himself.

The End

RETURN TO LIBRARY