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XI. Facts and Fancies
Annettaisaquietlittlepussandamodelofgoodbehavior,butthereisn’tashadowoforginalityinher.Hereisherletter.—
“‘Dearestteacher,
“‘IthinkIwillwriteyoualettertotellyouhowmuchIloveyou.Iloveyouwithmywholeheartandsoulandmind...withallthereisofmetolove...andIwanttoserveyouforever.Itwouldbemyhighestprivilege.ThatiswhyItrysohardtobegoodinschoolandlearnmylessuns.
“‘Youaresobeautiful,myteacher.Yourvoiceislikemusicandyoureyesarelikepansieswhenthedewisonthem.Youarelikeatallstatelyqueen.Yourhairislikeripplinggold.AnthonyPyesaysitisred,butyouneedn’tpayanyattentiontoAnthony.
“‘IhaveonlyknownyouforafewmonthsbutIcannotrealizethattherewaseveratimewhenIdidnotknowyou...whenyouhadnotcomeintomylifetoblessandhallowit.Iwillalwayslookbacktothisyearasthemostwonderfulinmylifebecauseitbroughtyoutome.Besides,it’stheyearwemovedtoAvonleafromNewbridge.Myloveforyouhasmademylifeveryrichandithaskeptmefrommuchofharmandevil.Iowethisalltoyou,mysweetestteacher.
“‘IshallneverforgethowsweetyoulookedthelasttimeIsawyouinthatblackdresswithflowersinyourhair.Ishallseeyoulikethatforever,evenwhenwearebotholdandgray.Youwillalwaysbeyoungandfairtome,dearestteacher.Iamthinkingofyouallthetime...inthemorningandatthenoontideandatthetwilight.Iloveyouwhenyoulaughandwhenyousigh...evenwhenyoulookdisdainful.
