James Whitcomb Riley Letter to Miss Helen Downing

              Dec. 12 1898 Miss Helen Downing-  Dear friend and fellow citizen:  It is just impossible for me to write a suitable article for "The High School Budget," in the time you give me, being now a child no more.  But I want you to tell "the graduating class," for me, that, as their view of the world which they are now about to enter might make [illegible] after his plans quite a great deal, each worthy pupil ought to think ahead, and so put the great Master to the least possible embarrassment.  Well can I fancy - in the old days - with what surprise He ultimately found an utterly unpromising "scholar" amounting to something, or likewise found the most sedate and promising pupil of the school taking, at last, an utterly [illegible] for [illegible] in alcholic [illegible].  So, I say to you - in lieu of any literary attempt on any part to break into "The Budget" while the editors are looking the other way, - tell