_Dear Master Bolax_: When you receive this letter you will say who is this lady? I never knew her, so I must introduce myself. I am a very old friend of your mother's; we were schoolmates. When you were a tiny baby I saw you and held you in my arms, since then I have been traveling in Europe and did not see your dear mother until we met down here. We often walk out together, and talk of old times, but Mamma's chief topic of conversation is her "boy." You are the core of your mother's heart, and she so hopes to be able to say as you grow older, "This is my blessed boy, is he not noble? I am so proud of him," and you will feel all the nobleness of your nature grow greater, for any boy who can write such sweet, tender letters has the Christ Child in his heart and cannot go far wrong; only you let the little Pixie, a very tormenting spirit, sit on your shoulder at times, and that is the trouble; just you work him off and keep him off; his name is "Lack of Application," and he whispers in your right ear, "don't study hard, let's have some fun; you'll get on somehow."