The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1

"The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 1" by R. H. Newell is a funny story that uses made-up letters to share thoughts on what life was like in America during the Civil War. Readers meet Orpheus C. Kerr, who uses smart and funny jokes to talk about doing things in Washington D.C. and things going on at the time, like the war. The story starts with Orpheus talking about growing up and his family before he got to Washington. He makes fun of his town and talks about things that affected him as a kid, like his family's strange doctor. He thinks about being young with both happy and sarcastic feelings, and he shows himself as someone who is both part of and watching the big things happening. This interesting start gives a hint of the strange and silly parts of war and society that will probably show up as the letters go on, making the story a mix of jokes and looking closely at society.