but a few minutes, as the constant cracking beneath my skates was too 



suggestive ,altough there were numbers out, and even some ice boats 



were skinning around. Thfet time represented only tat few minutes that 



I usually give to the Chicago paper after dinner. 



Yo;;r paper knife perhaps looks fierce to an unaccustomed eye. If 



you could see the one that I had made for myself (since I could not 



buy what I wanted) you would think that yours was very in of fensive-lob/C- 



ing. The blade of mine is just 12 inches long -- long enough to cut 



the long side of a quarto at one fell swoop! (llave to have it so to 



save time!) It is steel, ground very thin and flexible consequently, 

 7 



like a spatula. 



My dear fellow I wish you could co3.e out here to see ME. It is 

 no so very much further than to Ithaca. Can't you make an excuse to 

 come and see your Chicago people and then run u|j anfcsee us ? v/e are 

 only four hours and a half from Chicago. Dear me, how I she- Id like to 

 have you here. Arrange it for next Easter or for the summer. Do ; now. 



V/e are delighted to hear that your wife is getting better, and we 



cannot send any more sincere, nor I think any more welcome , wishes for 



the New Year,thaft that she will continue to improve and soon regain 



the full vigor of health that is so precious. My- wife has been called 



again to Hweep with those that weep" , by reason of the death of her 



sister's husband about the Thanksgiving holidays. She was with her 



sister until a week ago,and comes back feeling rather the worse of 



the strain, but I think will soon pick up again. Her eyes still pre- 

 vent her reading or sewing except at intervals. W mother's health 

 remains pretty good. We all join in most hearty good wishes for you 



and yours. Believe me, spite of appearances, 



Yours , faithfully , 



