Grandview, MO.
April 24, 1911
Dear Bessie,
You sure are all right, as they say in Texas, I was simply pining for Everybody's and mine hadn't come. The Ne'r-Do-Well is behaving beautifully this time. The story of course lets up at a very interesting point and leaves you on needles for the next issue. By all means send me Keith of the Border as I have never read it. It sounds mighty good. I am grinning and shall continue to only at stated intervals and they are only of short duration. That is when a pain runs up and down my leg. But I am doing really fine. I slept all night last night without a break and that is unusual to say the least.
I am somewhat of a philosopher I guess as I am not worrying any, although it is the very busiest time and there are one hundred things I could do to advantage. We happen to have two of the best hired men to be had anywhere and Vivian still has two legs so we can run as usual almost. I intend to exercise my fingers again and be a pianist for six weeks anyway as soon as I can get to it. It will be three weeks though before I get up.
You know I am like the Irish woman Uncle Joe tells about. She lived down here north of us a short distance long before the war. Her husband was drowned in Big Blue one night as he was coming home drunk. At the wake the woman would howl out every once in a while, "To think that Mike should a crossed the great ocean and thin he drowned in a hole like the dirty blue. Tis a disgrass inded it is."
That's the way I feel about that calf. To think that I had some really respectable falls and came off without a scratch and then have a sucking calf knock me down and actually break my leg. Tis indeed a disgrace. But perhaps I can live it down.
I had thirteen callers yesterday and the telephone bell is almost worn out. I really didn't know I had so many friends. It does me good to find it out even if I do have to stay penned up.
People out here are kidding me about following in the footsteps of my father. They say I do it in an altogether too literal manner. It was not intentional in this case by any means.
Mrs. White has postponed her recital. Not on my account but because some of her girls are not ready. Maybe she'll put it off long enough that we may go yet, because I intend to be well by July anyway.
Your letter did me lots of good, so please send another when you have time and I am most thankful for Everybody's and shall look forward to the book. I hope your incubator behaved well. Mamma has 112 young chickens and more coming every day. Write when you can to
Yours sincerely, Harry