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#2439: Willa Cather to Elsie Cather, June 9, 1941

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notes written by someone other than Willa Cather Note in another's hand
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My dear Elsie1:

I know you are not much interested in "fan" letters, but I think this one will perhaps claim your attention. It warmed my heart more than many letters from the good and the great. Think of Margie's3 having a niece4 who could write a letter so simple and clear, and with all so dignified. Her Aunt Margie had a kinder fate, certainly, than some of her aunts. One of Mrs. Anderson's5 older daughters, "pore Allie6", married a terrible brute who frequently beat her up. The last beating he gave her killed the child she was carrying, the child was born dead, and Allie naturally died from blood poisoning. When you have read Mrs. Ackroyd's letter and my reply to it, please send her letter, my reply, and this letter of explanation to Roscoe7. I think this correspondence would interest him. He may even remember Margie's mother.

My hand8 is certainly improving, although I still wear my metal gauntlet9 and have massage every day. I begin to feel that I will eventually be able to write with it again, though I suppose I will always hold the pen between my middle and third fingers.

AffectionalyWillie