Lena listened with delight.  It would be an event to have little Rose Atherton come to Avondale!  She told of Uncle John’s frequent visits, and of long drives enjoyed with him.

“And here’s something that made me laugh,” said Polly.

“I told you about Evangeline Longfellow Jenks,” she continued, “and she’s written some more verses, and Rose copied this one.  Just listen while I read it.”

Polly took a slip of paper from the envelope, and read this absurd verse that was written upon it: 

 [Illustration with caption:  “Lena listened with delight.”]

   “I’m to be a poet when I get big,
     And I’ll write a book that’s bigger’n me. 
     My poems I make now are to practice on,
     But when I’m big they’ll be fine to see.”

“Does she think that’s poetry?” said Lena, laughing because the verse was so absurd that she could not help it.

“If you think that one is funny, just listen to this,” said Polly, turning the slip over, and reading from the other side.

    “The sea is wet, and so is the brook;
     The earth swings round and round. 
     The cat’s asleep, and so are my feet,
     So I’ll write no more till anon.”

“Why, what does she mean?” said Lena, when she could stop laughing long enough to ask.

“I don’t know,” said Polly, laughing as heartily as Lena did, “and the funny thing is that Evangeline says anyone could write poetry that folks understand.  She says it’s just twice as bright to make verses that nobody could understand!

“I wouldn’t want to have to play with her, and Rose says she runs away whenever she sees Evangeline coming,” said Polly.

“I should think she would run,” said Lena, “I would.”

After the sweet little letter had been read, and Lena had asked for a second reading, Polly put it back into its envelope, and they talked of what Rose had written.

“Only think,” said Polly, “her Aunt Rose doesn’t wish her to be away from the house to go to school, so she’s to have a private tutor at home, a music teacher, and a dancing teacher, and they’re all to come to her house.  She won’t be in school with other little girls at all.”

“I wouldn’t like that,” said Lena, “we have fine times together when school commences, and I don’t believe I’d like teachers that came to my house.  Well, I don’t mean I wouldn’t like the teachers, but I think it’s more fun to go to school.”

“I don’t see how she’s ever to get acquainted with other little girls,” said Polly, “I think it sounds very lonesome!”

“So do I,” said Lena, “but perhaps she doesn’t.  We’ll know when she comes to your house, because I’m most sure she’ll tell us.”

“And we’ll go to school the third week of next month,” said Polly, “and Rose isn’t to begin her lessons until two weeks later than that.  She’s coming to stay with me and spend the two weeks.  Oh, won’t we have fun?”