Grandview, Mo.
April 27, 1911
Dear Bessie,
My pleasure is not to be expressed in words for the nice long letter you sent me so soon. Of course, now I have nothing else to do but write and read, and I certainly appreciate the fact that you wrote so promptly because you I know are busy. I'm not and can write immediately.
I don't expect an immediate reply but I appreciate it very much when it comes.
Your mentioning Miss Hunt makes me think of someone who hasn't entered my head for a long time. But all of the boys thought Miss Hunt was fine. The girls of course didn't think so well of her. Why, I never could explain. You remember when she told us that our class had given her three gray hairs and how she cried when they roasted her in that "banquet?" I really felt sorry for her then. Miss Phelps says Miss Hunt knew also_____ nothing about pedagogy whatever that is. I don't care we had lots of fun with her.
I am glad you had such good luck with your incubator. It does damp the strongest enthusiasm to sit up till 5___ doesn't it? You'll have to time it differently this time. Make them begin at that time and then you can watch all day. If they began at night next time I'd let them go to Guinea. Mamma's hundred don't give her much trouble. She feeds them two or three times a day and the hens do the rest. You see they can run all over forty acres and more if they want to.
I shall be worse spoiled than an only child when I get well. Papa buys me candy and fruit as if I were a two-year-old, and Mamma spends half her time making me comfortable and making my favorite pies. You really don't know how much you're thought of until you get knocked out. I shall try and keep my head though.
I am very thankful that I'll have two feet when I'm well as usual. I do certainly feel sorry for Edward Paxton. I would rather be the poorest laborer in Christendom and be physically whole than be John D. and have some of me gone, wouldn't you?
Such things as broken legs are only chasteners anyway. I shall know exactly how to sympath (I've lost my dictionary and forgot how to spell the last syllable, ain't it awful) with my friends when they have like accidents. I didn't before.
I am sitting up today in a Morris chair and I tell you it is restful to get out of bed once in seven days. I had been thinking all along how nice it would be if I could only sleep for seven days straight. I have the opportunity now and can scarcely get in six hours at a time. That is always the way, we are never exactly satisfied with what we can get.
I shall continue to look for the book. I have been improving my mind with Harold MacGrath the last day or two, his Splendid Hazard. It's fine.
I got a note from Ethel saying she would write me in a day or two. I guess they are very busy now and haven't much time for correspondence. I hope you will take this for what it is worth and consider it worth an answer as I most certainly do appreciate your letters. I'll try and do better next time but my pet won't let me sit up long at a time, much as I want to.
Write when you can soon to
Yours sincerely, Harry