`` I 'll give one of those little jars of cherry preserve I made , '' said Cecily . `` I wo n't go near her , '' quavered Sara Ray , `` but I want to do something for Pat , and I 'll send that piece of apple leaf lace I knit last week . '' I decided to give the redoubtable Peg some apples from my birthday tree , and Dan declared he would give her a plug of tobacco . `` Oh , wo n't she be insulted ? '' exclaimed Felix , rather horrified . `` Naw , '' grinned Dan . `` Peg chews tobacco like a man . She 'd rather have it than your rubbishy peppermints , I can tell you . I 'll run down to old Mrs. Sampson 's and get a plug . '' `` Now , we must write the letter and take it and the presents to her right away , before it gets dark , '' said the Story Girl . We adjourned to the granary to indite the important document , which the Story Girl was to compose . `` How shall I begin it ? '' she asked in perplexity . `` It would never do to say , ` Dear Peg , ' and ` Dear Miss Bowen ' sounds too ridiculous . '' `` Besides , nobody knows whether she is Miss Bowen or not , '' said Felicity . `` She went to Boston when she grew up , and some say she was married there and her husband deserted her , and that 's why she went crazy . If she 's married , she wo n't like being called Miss. '' `` Well , how am I to address her ? '' asked the Story Girl in despair . Peter again came to the rescue with a practical suggestion . `` Begin it , ` Respected Madam , ' '' he said .
`` Ma has a letter a school trustee once writ XXXXX my Aunt Jane and that 's how it begins . ''
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