My Dear John, Tuesday night, Oct.19,

Your Daddy is at the Institute, Papa has left for the other house and here I am. Just finished pressing a hem in my dress, this after-noon I gave the bath room wood work the once over with a coat of paint, the hall is getting it’s fifteen year old dress scraped off in preparation for a new one; and this gives you an idea of what is going on here.

Glad to have gotten your letter last Sat. as we came back from the cottage, you didn’t say if you found it. Reese? In New York as you had said you expected to do, at any rate, you seemed to have entertained yourself right well judging from your letter.

With the “dim put” there, as you mentioned I am sure New York doesn’t look natural, for when one speaks of N.Y. you are reminded of it’s bright lights and sparkle.

How do you like the pictures of you and me? Poor Ben was only in one, and really not in that one. That’s not my fault. But I know one thing, dog if I get in any more, for I always look like something off last year’s Christmas tree. Evelyn called me to ask how the pictures turned out, so I took them Sunday for her to see, promising to have some made for her. The bad part is, the best ones of you are with me, and of course she isn’t interested in having my picture, so I told her to cut mine off and any of them are good of you, except one, and you will not have any trouble in picking that one out.

We came to the conclusion you had a wad of “bubble gum” in your jaw, or getting the mumps one. Whatever it is, it’s awful of you.

You should be her now, the hall is in a mess with being papered. Aren’t you glad you’re in the army?

I gave the order to-day for your Christmas fruit cake, but I hope I won’t have to send it to you, but that this year you will be home. Wonder if you will?

Haven’t heard anything yet as to a leave? I’m like you were in your last letter, nothing to write about, so here’s the pictures, keep what you like and throw the others away, so good night to you,

Love,

Mother