Grandview, Mo.
December 21, 1911
Dear Bessie:
You cheated me out of two pages. Aren't you ashamed? If you only knew how glad I am to get them, you wouldn't be so short with them. I suppose I am too crazy about you anyway. Every time I see you I get more so, if it is possible. I know I haven't any right to but there are certain things that can't be helped, and that is one of them. I wouldn't help it if I could you know.
I guess you are lucky that you don't care-as even the best of fellow, which I am not, couldn't very well make a girl happy on nothing a week and a hat- full of debts. You see, I was fool enough or good enough, whichever way you look at it to go in with daddy even on his debts. Say, don't ever mention that as no one knows he has any, especially his relatives, See?
Really though if I thought you cared, I bet I could win out anyway in spite of all the kin in creation.
This is a mighty poor Christmas letter but our dear relatives have succeeded in giving us the bluest Christmas since grandmother died. If you could see the allegations in the brief, you'd think my mother was the prime lady villain. It makes me so mad I could fight a boilermaker. They even accused our grandmother of being weak minded and most everything else-when she was the best businesswoman I ever expect to see. If we'd ever mentioned property to her, that itself would have finished us-as it should have done.
Bessie, if my dear men friends who invited themselves to dinner here Christmas go home on the afternoon train, I am going to try and see you Christmas evening if you are at home. I'll call up if I can, or if I can't, about five-thirty. But don't stay at home on my account because I may not get to come. I'll bring you a copy of Richeileu if I come. I got Edwin Booth's prompt copy for fifteen cents. It's a stirring play I tell you. Mamma and Mary are going to see Julius in the afternoon. Maybe you'll run into them.
I sent you a piece of tin jewelry the other day. I got it some time ago but found a busted link in the chain and had to have it renewed, so when I got it again I just sent it--that's why so early. With a Merry Christmas, I am, as always,
Your Harry,