Correspondence between Angie and Van Riper

Correspondence between Van Riper and Angie, a 6th grader from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Angie's teacher had read them some of Van Riper's stories and said he was writing a new book entitled the Last Days of Cully Gage.

Dear Mr. Gage. Please read this.

The Last Days of Cully Gage

An old man sits in a corner
His weary hand moving slowly
Across his typewriter writing His last piece.
Always watching listening; hearing all.
He is a quiet man sitting in a room of crimson and gold
His heart is open to all that will talk.
He is a master of writing in all of 'his wonderful tales.
His heart still runs free in the woods of the Upper Peninsula
hoping that someone will follow him.
The weight of the world in one man's books.
Writing all that he sees and hears.
His books overflow with words of wisdom and joy
He is very old in his last days
When he goes away he will still be in our hearts as a good writer.
Thank you,
Angie Burnham

P.S. I hope you feel better

Below is Van Riper's answer:

5/1/91

Dear Angie:
Oh that was was a wonderful letter you wrote me, my friend. You write very well. Maybe when you grow up you'll write books like I do and get fine letters too. I love to tell tales to kids just as I loved to hear them when I was a boy long, long ago. I had a wonderful Grampa Gage who told me a new one each day, usually a crazy one so here's one for you.Please send me something else you have written.Tell me a story about a girl named Angie.

Yours,

Cully Gage
3821 W. Milham
Portage, MI 49002

Last modififed April 3, 1999