Daddy-Long-Legs

arts, books, fiction, kids, family, stories · EN

Jerusha Abbott, raised in the quaint yet austere John Grier Home, a traditional orphanage, has always relied on the kindness of strangers. With her peculiar name—a blend of gravestone inspiration and randomness from a phone book—she finds herself at a crossroads at 18, having completed her education yet still laboring in the dormitories of the very institution that shaped her. One fateful day, after a visit from the orphanages trustees, Jerusha receives an unexpected offer from a mysterious benefactor a chance to attend college, along with a generous monthly allowance, provided she writes him letters each month. The catch? She must address them to Mr. John Smith, and he will never respond. All she knows is that he is a tall, long-legged man, leading her to affectionately nickname him Daddy Long-Legs. Although the college remains unnamed, it is hinted to be inspired by Vassar College, a place where she navigates new experiences and encounters young men from Princeton. With whimsical