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Dec. I don't know but Tuesday morn after you left.
Darling Mammie:
I have just finished the usual morning
duties (11:25), and then just before beginning this cried over your beautiful
goodbye letter to us all. There is a very lovely snow storm outside - and
Juneau at its best.
When we tearfully left you last night Daddie
had said at least six times how sweet and attractive you looked, we drove by the
P.O. and brought home a pile of Christmas cards for you (the most gorgeous piece
de resistance, of course, from Dwight Meade), several for us, and a tiny, cute
one for Shirley Anne from Mrs.Boedeker -- just at this point Mrs. Rustgard
called to offer any needed assistance, - and so ten minutes later!
I asked Hilma how the precious one had been and
she told me triumphantly, I thought, that she had only been asleep for a few
minutes; that she was so sleepy that she decided to wake her up for her bottle
and that she had played with her for a long time on the table, and that she had
changed her three times! So, considering all, I decided to let her sleep
as long as she would. As a result, she demanded her bottle at 1:30 and
water at quarter of six. Today she is back on her own schedule, and I hope
for a more normal day.
The only package which had come at breakfast
was for the most popular member of the family, namely S.A.S. from good little
Carroll. Daddie assured John that of all the things the Baby had received
none would have been given more thought than his. We put it away for Xmas.
The Baby had her usual nap before her bath, and was so sleepy when I wakened her
that she was a little displeased and cried a little, but I got along better than
I expected and was only ten minutes late. It was awful gloomy, though, to
enjoy her without you. I tried the other feminine, it was quite a bit too
large and too long, so I guess e will have to struggle with the old kind for a
little longer. I am rinsing the diapers in the bathtub now, and believe it
is easier (you know Mrs. Abbey reduced by doing her washing in the bathtub!)
"She" is sleeping so peacefully that I am postponing her out of door nap until
later. Mrs. Janeksela (?) [sic] is using the vac. and the upstairs looks
nice.
Hilma just came up bringing some "Santa Claus."
She said again "My, your Baby get rich!", but this time only one for Her from
Martha.
Elsie's Box which she spoke of in her sweet
letter which came last has come, and two for you, which I will now open
according to direction. This is fun for me to enjoy your Christmas for
you, but what a shame they did not come a day sooner.
From Cousin Edna
a card for Scott C. Bone and family; for you a round article, about seven inches
across, under side brown felt, upper side looks like silver in very elaborate
design of houses figures, etc. Could it be to set her dishes on the dining
table? "To the sweetest Cousin O'! Mine A joyous Christmas with oceans of love
from Cousin Edna."
From Mrs. Densmore
the enclosed handkerchief, which, I thought you would enjoy using down there;
also enclosed sachet (you and Marguerite) will like to use it in your clothes
perhaps), and the gifts for "your dear little grandchild" are a lovely pair of
silk and wool stockings and a dear little pair of pink and white bootees on the
order of those in Mrs. Maltby's set. Wasn't that sweet of her, and
especially as I am sure I did not meet them when they were here; will you thank
you especially for me, in writing, as they come to you and your grandchild and I
could not be a personality to her. My, that sachet is scenting up the
whole room!
Elsie's exciting looking box is done up so
prettily that I think I had better not open it before Christmas (to see if a
gift for you is in it). It is addressed to us, but she thought you were
not coming when she wrote. She will tell you about it.
We have had lunch; all of us have read again
your loving last message, and even John said enthusiastically "That's fine."
I felt my precious in her crib and she is still asleep, one thirty. Daddie
heard her make a little noise, and rushed in hopefully saying, 'O, she is
awake," but came out dutifully and disappointed. "O, she went back to
sleep." Making up for yesterday, I guess; I hope it will last because I
plan to go down if she is good and look for Hilma's Indian Head and try to find
material to crochet an edge around for a fresh shawl for Baby's Xmas.
This is pretty lengthy for just half a day, and
I guess if I am going to get ready for the Great Day, with usual interruptions,
I had better stop. You see, I am still holding on to you; I asked Mrs.
Rustgard what she thought of a married person who was still so dependent on her
Mother! Of course this is for Marguerite, too; it will not compare to your
interesting recitals to her, though.
3:45
Later. I have been down town and came home to find that my Infant still
asleep at quarter past three. Wasn't that a wonderful sleep? She was
so wet I have undressed her and she is kicking in wonderful glee on her favorite
table. I have never seen her so frisky. She feels so fine I guess.
I forgot to tell you that I "scalped" her some more this morning. She
seems to like it; it makes her very sleepy. Another likeness to her
father! I got the eiderdown (they called it that) and some pale pink yarn
for the edge. As I started down the telegram came saying Mary's layette
had been shipped.
5:00 o'clock. Such a fine day for the
Babe. After I oiled her and dressed her I put on her wraps and took her
down and walked on the back porch, since she slept through her out door naps.
It made her sleepy, so she is sound in her basket again. I wonder if she
will be awake all night! Daddie has come and wandering around looking
lonesome. I must make "hay," now.
Wednesday 1:30
Dearest, can you imagine your darling in her bassinette in your room? I
have wheeled her in there so she can sleep quietly, I hope all afternoon while I
work in the other rooms. You cannot guess what the "unexpected" one did
this morning - I took her out on the porch with the hood of her carriage down
(it is a very mild, drizzly day after yesterday's snow), and she smiled
out there for nearly an hour, then fell asleep. Unfortunately, it then was
time for her bottle and she woke up at the finish. I nearly finished her
scalp treatment this morning, and it is queer how it soothes her to sleep.
You would have been delighted to see what a blond little head I uncovered; it
looks so pretty and red-gold now, not so heavy. But the best news of all -
Hilma and I weighed her and the kindly scales register 10:11 ounces!
That would be a gain of seven ounces since Sunday. So, undoubtedly she
will weigh eleven pounds by the time you reach Seattle. Her champion,
Daddie, said he knew it all the time. More packages for the popular
Miss Shirley Anne Starr. One from Mrs. Menzies, Wenatchee; another, I
think from Miss Orth; a large box from nice Mrs. Beaumont; a tie-appearing box
from Carroll to John. No more for you so far. The Baby played with
the buttons on my dress this morning; I think she is beginning to know me now,
she smiles such sweet contented smiles at me now, and looked so relieved when I
stood by her out on the porch. Went to choir practice last night, and I
suspect Daddie held her and walked her to his heart's content. Doesn't he
adore her? Oh, for you and Aunt Marguerite!
The enclosed note [no enclosure in this letter]
from Miss Marion I answered immediately to relieve her mind (I hope my letter to
her upon receipt of the gift reached her), so you will not have to unless you
like. Such loads of beautiful cards are coming for you and Daddie, as
usual. I will keep them all together for you in their envelopes.
Later:
She slept until 5:00, then she wakened more boisterous than I have ever seen
her. She shouted so loud that Hilma heard her and came up to say, "My, you
are a darling; everybody loves you." It ended in a cry, as you said it would.
7:00 I
have just undressed her and given her an oil rub. It seemed to rest her
and she has gone right off to sleep. I guess this is the time to do it, if
she is awake, right after dinner. Daddie says there is a boat early in the
morning, so I may end this very abruptly. It is ridiculously long for just
Baby gossip, but I knew the familiar routing would still be haunting you before
you get too immersed in college life. I know you and Marguerite will be
having the most wonderful time when this reaches you.
Next morning, 8:15. I hear a boat
whistling, so will hurriedly close this, though John thinks there is doubt about
it getting in in [sic] time. I lost my Baby last night; she slept in Aunt
Marguerite's room, clear away from us. I missed her sadly, but she slept
clear through the night without making a sound, and woke at seven thirty like an
alarm clock, so I guess she gets better air. (I suspect she hears her
father snore sometimes in our room.)
Will send this in Roger's care.
Whorls and whorls of love to you both,
Mildred
P.S. I just came back in and she
had fallen asleep looking at the light! No bottle.
Triumph
[There is no envelope.] |
