Is sending clipping from the Auburn Granger, so scathing she may never be able to go to Brownsville again. Pictures were excellent, especially those of the Episcopal church after they piled the prayer benches into the aisle. Such fun! School grind starting again soon. Will be in Lincoln about September 20. Willa Cather [Stout #18]
Received the book she sent right after getting back from Nebraska, when trying to recover from a cold and needing something good to read. Enjoyed visiting with her sister in Chicago. Has had a good report [about her mother?] from the Mayo Clinic. Willa Cather [Stout #667]
Just over a bad case of influenza. Edith was gone to her mother's funeral. Please send the measurements for father's window [at Grace Episcopal Church, Red Cloud, Nebraska]. Willie [Stout #937]
Sorry to have received her letter too late to accept invitation, but probably couldn't have accepted anyway. Will be in New Hampshire in December. Willa Cather [Stout #1134]
Doesn't like pictures like this, in the Grant Wood style, on Christmas cards, but bought them to help someone. Might think of the cowboy-looking shepherds as C.C.C. fellows [Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal initiative] and one of the angels above as President Roosevelt. W. S. C. [Stout #1346]
Doesn't really care for Christmas cards in the Grant Wood style. Maybe they are C.C.C. boys with Roosevelt trumpeting in the sky. Such bad times! Willa Cather [Stout #1347]
Appreciated his letter about dedicating the altar rail at Grace Church, a place she loves as she loves few others. Remembers the evening of her and parents' confirmation, which meant so much to them all. Glad to hear Molly Ferris was able to be there for the dedication. Hopes to visit Red Cloud this winter and talk with him about the things that have kept her away. Willa Cather [Stout #1493]
Would Houghton Mifflin be willing to pay the $1,091.63 shown on her last statement now instead of in March, as is the usual practice? Income will be considerably higher next year, and would like to keep her income tax down. Is pleased with the national election because Roosevelt will support England better than Willkie would have. Willa Cather [Stout #1504]
He has probably heard about her hand problem. Used it too soon and had a relapse. Please address her by first name, as friends in Red Cloud do. Had a pleasant if not merry Christmas in the hospital. Enjoyed hearing the nurses speak French. Wishes she could have been in Red Cloud for the funeral of Mollie Ferris. One consolation for hand problem is she will be able to get to Lenten services more often than usual. Will be thinking about Grace Church and her Bishop. Willa Cather [Stout #1530]
Appreciates his kind words in his Second Reader, three years ago now, and appreciates his reprinting of Kenneth Grahame's Golden Age, as well as his bringing to her attention the paper on Boswell by Pottle. Recommends Johnson without Boswell, recently published by Knopf. Is it really he who is acting in The Man Who Came to Dinner? Such a surprise! Recommends French Hospital, where nurses speak French and even cooks are French. Had very good care and good food. A Catholic hospital, but nurses not nuns, so no black habits about. One accompanied the wife of ex-president of Chile on airplane when President Roosevelt provided her transportation back to Santiago. American airmen so fine—keep up her faith in America in spite of Communists having gotten hold of much of the country. Willa Cather [Stout #1533]
