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#2189: Willa Cather to Roscoe Cather, [November 10, 1941]

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With relaxed hand. My Dear Brother1

Such a funny family! Nobody will take any money—awful proud! Dear Roscoe let me have the pleasure of having done this5 much for an old friend. There is a special reason why I wish it. When I was at home the last time (now ten years ago, before the drouth came on) it was Mollie6 and Carrie7 and Mary Creighton8 who made that visit such a happy one. For some reason poor Elsie9 was on the defensive—seemed afraid I would try to snatch something from her. But after she went back to Lincoln10 I had a wonderful three weeks. MMother's11 loving little maid Lizzie Huffman12 kept the home13 just as she had in mother's time. The old friends came in at night and stayed late. It was a last, intense experience of "home". Mollie was a large part of it. You didn't owe Mollie as much as I did. Let me feel that I have given something back to her. When I was a kid, working in Father's14 old office over the Bank, I always thought I would someday do something for Mollie. (over) This time I must be selfish and send you back your check, dear. Mollie was my affair.

Your letter about Elsie explains a great deal to me. I do thank you for all the trouble you took to explain the situation to me. About that I'll write you later. My hand still gets tired15 very soon.

Lovingly Willie

Thank Meta16 for the clippings about Yaltah17. Poor child!18 In some ways she was quite as gifted as Yehudi19, but she wouldn't work.

What I mean is that if one can't pay those debts of loving memory, then one has utterly failed.
FROM CATHER 570 PARK AVE.3, NEW YORK CITY2 Mr. R. C. Cather1, First Savings Bank of Colusa, Colusa4, California. NEW YORK, N. Y2 NOV 10 1941 9 AM