Denton,

Everyone's got a life now.
They aren't newsies anymore. They got real jobs.
Like Race, guess where he works? Yeah, right at Sheepshead. Never seen a happier fella. Got a cute little family. He got with some beautiful Brooklyn girl, Bianca. They have two kids. Well, one and a half kids. Henry is one of them, he just turned three last week. The next one's still coming. Should be only a month or two by the time you get this.
Racetrack visits me sometimes. He gets flowers every Friday for Bianca. He even quit smoking for her. Sweet guy. Be glad you knew him.
And Crutchy, he's got a job too. Had a heck of a time finding one. It's one he doesn't need to walk around much. He's a carriage driver. He loves it, and the horses. I try to plan out my schedule with his so we can see each other on my way home.
He doesn't have a family, I don't think he wants one. He never showed much interest in girls. As long as he's happy, I suppose.
Spot Conlon retired his post about three years back. He works at the docks now, and sometimes on the ships. Race and I think that he wants to leave New York someday. If you see him work, you'll notice. He stares at where the water meets the sky, like he's trying to picture what's just beyond there. He's a good sailor. All he needs is a boat, and Spot's gone.
All the boys you remember are out in the real world. Expect Les. He's 16, almost 17, and still carrying the banner. He goes out every weekend morning and days he can get out of school and stays out all day. How did we do it before? I don't know.
Les isn't on the top since he's not there all the time, that's Boots now. He's about to go out looking for another job. He's hoping to be a reporter, he got that idea from you. Les wants to make a difference in the world, like you. He practices interviewing the other boys. I don't think they appreciate that too much. But they know he's my brother, so they keep their thoughts to themselves.

Jack married Sarah the June before last.
And guess what? He made it. They left for Santa Fe only about two weeks ago. We all went to see them off at the station. You never could think that Jack could cry, would you? But everyone else was as well.
I miss him. I miss Sarah. I still don't see why he had to go. He has a big old family right here. We all love him. He even said himself that he wouldn't really know what to do out there. And Sarah's no farmer, she never liked getting dirty. We all hope she can convince Jack to come home.
It just ain't the same anymore. Growing up sucks, but you probably know that. No one calls me Davey anymore. Only Crutchy, but even that's rare. I'm just David Jacobs now. And even Spot doesn't say Jacky-boy, just Jack, or Kelly.
You want know what I've been up to? Well, I'm an editor. For The Sun. Thought of working for the Journal, but that brings back too many memories. People around The Sun talk about you. Highly, too. You made them famous. They're sad you left.
I don't have a family either. Not yet, at least. I'm still trying to get the courage to ask this one girl who works at Tibby's. She's really pretty, and sweet. We talk when it's not busy. She told me I'm charming! I think I might have a chance!
It's a slow life. A lot calmer than hawking headlines. We don't yell things anymore, just get yelled at.

Enough about us, we all want to know about you. What have you been up to?
"How's my king of New York?" That's from Racetrack.
Was it worth leaving in the end? Are you making a good life? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions. We're all just curious.

Please write back,
David Jacobs