Dearest Auntie:
Herewith is "Bones." Also Sedgwick's letter, which will amuse you. Alice asks me to enclose hers. She tells me what she wants to say, and I write it down; then she copies it with infinite labor and equally infinite satisfaction. If brevity is the soul of wit, Alice is blessed with it, as she considers one sentence quite enough. She has gone simply dippy over writing -- writes all sorts of combinations of letters, whether they make words or not, and is delighted beyond measure when they do. You would be surprised to hear from her chatter with Josephine how much both of atmosphere and conversation she absorbed in Emporia. And her History of Mr. Man has gained infinitely in importance since you read aloud from it. Associations are going to have great emotional value for her always.
I haven't decided yet whether or not to bring her with me to Chicago. It must be a very short trip, for Henry missed me terribly while I was gone this last time. It took all the family to comfort him in the night; and in the day time he kept slipping, whenever he could, to the phone, ringing the bell and announcing to central in plaintive tones that he wanted "mama." The thought of leaving him again quite tears my heart. I will get into Chicago about eight-something the morning of the 7th, and leave at six o'clock the evening of the 8th. I am so glad you're going to be in town! [page 2]
Auntie darling, you certainly are the wisest and most wonderful woman in all the world. Forever an inspiration and an example, and a proof to me that all I believe in and hold most dear in life is worthy of belief and effort.
I am keen to read your book. It seems to me in these last mad years, when the whole world has had profound hysteria, you are one of the very few who have kept their sanity. Just how the book will take will depend, I suppose, to a certain extent anyway, upon just how much people have regained a rational point of view. And the signs do seem to be hopeful.
I did enjoy the Whites so much -- and just twice as much because we had the visit there together. I am sure you know how much it meant to me to "sit in" at the illuminating conversation of my elders!
Manuel joins me in much love to you and cordial greetings to Miss Smith.
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