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#2923: Willa Cather to Louise Guerber Burroughs, September 6 [1938]

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⬩W⬩S⬩C⬩ My Dear Louise1;

What's this you tell me? A railroad accident and a friend badly hurt? That was a bad way to end a vacation. All vacations were disappointing this year, I'm afraid. For the first three weeks we4 were here2 it rained steadily on this island and all along the Maine5 coast and in Jaffrey6. Since then the weather has been fine, but the cold of late autumn has come on a month earlier 2 than ever before.

It was shameless of me not to thank you for the candy. But when I left town3 I promised Dr. Garbat7 that I would write no letters at all this summer. I had been sleeping so badly and eating not at all. You see I had to write so many letters and sign so many papers to help my brother Roscoe8 who is the only one left who can carry on Douglass9' affairs. There are so many paupers in the family that those affairs must be carried on. Douglass 3was the only member of the family who had any property to speak of. It has been a tedious, dreary, heart-breaking business for me. I often wish that all he owned could have vanished with him. It was his—he made it out of nothing, and loved it as people do love the things they have made single-handed.

Even up here I've had to keep on writing and telegraphing to California10. But for the last month I have been sleeping well and feel generally relaxed and free from engagements.

4

I am leaving here a week from today, probably go on to Quebec11 for a week or two. I've just finished Salambô12 for the ninth time, as I find from the dates pencilled in on the fly-leaf. I never found it more absorbing nor was I ever more glad to be absorbed.

I hope the autumn has begun in town, after the dreadful summer, and that you are well and happy

Affectionately W. S. C.

I enclose a check for the "History of the Valley"13 which proved to be very useful14. It awakened old memories.

From W. S. Cather WHALE COVE GRAND MANAN2 NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA Mrs. Bryson Burroughs1 106 East 81st Street New York, N. Y.3 U. S. A.