I would like you to see the letter that Wilfred sent home. Dear Mother and Sis:—
To-day I’m using my fountain pen instead of my opera-glass. I’m giving the birds of the air an afternoon off. My pen doesn’t write very good—I guess it’s the opal. But I won’t take it off just for spite. I’m supposed to wear it so I will no matter what happens. I’m afraid I’m not going to drop dead. I feel fine. I can’t find my heart when I put my hand there but I guess it’s there all right. Don’t worry, I’m keeping my promise, safety first that’s what you say. Tom Slade’s all the time asking about you, Sis. He said I didn’t get my disposition from you.
What do you think? Al Berry is here with his patrol. I wish he’d keep still about me. He sneaked up and took a banner from the Ravens and I didn’t run after him so I got put out. I didn’t exactly get put out but they sort of said, here’s your hat. There’s a lame boy here and he makes me feel I don’t want to let anybody know I have anything the matter with me ’cause they’ll think I’m like him. Anyway there’s nothing the matter with me but don’t worry I’m keeping my promise no matter what, the same as I’m wearing my pin no matter what. I got that five dollars you sent me, Sis, and I’m saving it up for a scout suit.
I’m in the Elks now, and I have to swim in the contest. Don’t worry it’s not till August tenth. I’m going to see the doctor here on the first like Doctor Brent said. If he says my heart is still bad I’ll blame it to the opal—only he won’t say it. Anyway don’t worry. If I say I’ll do a thing I’ll do it. I like these fellows. Mom and Sis you have to come up for the tenth. I’m glad I’ll be in the water so I won’t see the people looking at me. I can do things as long as I can forget that people are looking at me like when I was looking at Madden I didn’t see the others. Anyway they won’t be looking at me, they’ll be looking at you, Sis. Tom Slade says I’ve got the same way of looking that you have. I told him a scout is observant—that’s in the book. I send you a four leaf clover, Sis. I’m all the time looking on the ground and taking it easy, notice how I underline taking it easy, Mom.
Wilfred.
P. S. The four leaf clover and the opal don’t speak to each other.
Wilfred liked the Elks so much that he did not ask any of them to walk down to Terryville with him where he intended to mail his letter. He wanted to walk there alone and think about his little triumph among them. They had fallen for him, as the saying is, and the realization of this was a balm to his spirit. One could not say the Ravens had not been good enough scouts t............