Introduction

To begin with, it should be mentioned that Jerusha Abbott’s father and mother had died, and that’s why she was brought up in the asylum named the John Grier Home. One of the Trustees of this establishment believed that the girl had originality, and so decided to put her through college, thus Judy could be educated to become a writer. The only payment that the rich Trustee required was to get monthly letters from the girl, in which she was to tell of the progress in her studies and the details of her daily life. He just thought nothing helped better to become a writer than letter-writing. Thus, the book consists of Jerusha’s letters to the Trustee, who preferred to remain unknown, so the girl called him “Daddy-Long-Legs” according to the only slight impression of him that she had managed to catch. And being guided by these letters I’d like to describe Judy’s academic life in college: her failures and achievements.

Main Part

To begin with, Jerusha’s trouble with college was that she was expected to know such a lot of things she had never learned. And it was very confusing at times. But anyway, the girl was just as bright in class as any of the others – and even brighter than some of them. She realised that her mind was a deep abyss of ignorance, and that’s why she read a lot of books. So, gradually the girl was getting acclimated, and soon after she didn’t feel uncomfortable any more with the other girls. Unfortunately, she flunked mathematics and Latin prose during her first session at college, but that happened not because she hadn’t been preparing for the exams, but because the girl had learned such a lot of things not mentioned in the catalogue. Anyway, she passed both reexaminations, and was free from conditions for a while. After that experience Jerusha knew the secret and got through all the following exams with the utmost ease. The girl really liked to work and every summer was crazy to go back to college. She was beginning to feel at home in college, and in command of the situation. College was a very satisfying sort of life for Jerusha; the books and the study and regular classes kept her alive mentally, and then when her mind got tired, the girl had the sport hall and outdoor athletics. Besides, little by little she was becoming an author. The girl commenced this career when she was a Freshman, and when one of her poems appeared in the college monthly magazine. Then, being a Sophomore, Judy won the short-story contest and was even awarded a twenty-five dollar prize. A little later one of the magazines accepted the girl’s story and she was given fifty dollars for it. She also won a scholarship that had been founded by an alumna for marked knowledge of English with general excellence in other subjects. Being a Senior, she was the editor of the monthly, and when Jerusha graduated from college she managed to sold her story, and it was going to be published serially in seven parts, and then in a book. Thus, the girl began to earn for herself and to pay off her debt to Daddy-Long-Legs.

Conclusion

So, we can see that certainly Judy’s life at college wasn’t a complete bed of roses. She had not only good moments, but also net really pleasant ones. Anyway, the girl managed to overcome the difficulties. Besides, step by step Jerusha was getting quite independent. Her Trustee had put her on her feet and she could almost walk alone by then. She was beginning to feel at home in the world – as though she really belonged in it and had not just crept in. All in all, the little foundling was getting to be quite a prominent and sophisticated person.

Jerusha’s winter and summer holidays (“Daddy-Long-Legs”)