Anyhow, when she saw _how_ glad I was, and how I jumped for the letter, she drew back, and looked somehow as if she'd been hurt, and said: "I did not know, Marie, that a letter from--your father would mean so much to you." I don't know what I did say to that.

I guess I didn't say anything.
I'd already begun to read the letter, and I was in such a hurry to find out what he'd said.
I'll copy it here.

It wasn't long.

It was like this: MY DEAR MARY: Some way Christmas has made me think of you.

I wish I had sent you some gift.