Wednesday, 11 AM

[May 25, 1932]

Dearest sweetheart:

You are my sweet little wife, and I love you with all my heart. I'll be the happiest paddy in the world when I get home to you next Monday at 7 ⁴⁰ . I'm glad that I'm coming on the same train you came on.

After our dinner last night + after writing to you I went to bed + slept till 9 ³⁰ this morning. I dreamt a great deal — some way there were many blankets + things to pack which I couldn't get in the trunk, then I had to take another train + couldn't catch it, + so on — all about traveling home to you. The enclosed picture shows that your close-calls at missing trains in Boston + Chicago might have been worse.

This morning I've corrected some problems I gave the students in Crystal Structure. I'll go down to the Institute now. I wish tomorrow would soon come. I have one lecture to give, at 4 ³⁰ this afternoon, in place of my usual Thursday lecture.

I adore you, little sweetheart. When I come home on Monday you'd better w.y.o.d. [sic], but even if you don't events won't be altered.

Your own

Linus

[Enclosure: comic (from the New Yorker?) showing a woman running to catch a train, signaling a conductor to wait, with only her undergarments on, slip over her arm, pantyhose at her ankles, dress and hat under her other arm, and several passengers and conductors on the platform laughing at her. A sign over the door she's running out of reads "CHEMINS DE FER DE L'ETAT/RELAIS-TOILETTE DOUCHES"]

"Le Signal du Départ.—Le Sourire."

Wednesday at noon

Dearest Ava Helen:

Your letter saying I had written came to the Institute. I think you must not have kept count of my letters, for I have written every day, and often twice in a day. Of course when you get three or four letters in one day you can expect some days to go by without any.

I hope today will go by quickly, & tomorrow too. You are such a sweet girl. I do hope that Liny and Petey don't make you work too hard. I wish I were home with you, little darling. I'd hold you on my lap and kiss you and make you feel happy. I'll be glad to see a new little baby, too, and I hope she looks like you. I think three children is about enough for us, don't you? You are such an adorable little wife. You are my most important interest & happiness in life. We shall always have lots of fun together. I like traveling with you, or staying at home with you.

Your own husband,

Linus

[corner end of paper cut off right up to his closing]

Wednesday, 3 PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

My train leaves in a little more than an hour from now, and I am all excited about coming to you. I'm all in a sweat, as a matter of fact; but this may be due to the temperature of over 90°, combined with high humidity. This morning I took off all my clothes before packing my trunk, and dripped perspiration too. I filled the trunk full - it is very heavy - and my bag is stuffed too. Yesterday was the hottest May 25^th they had ever recorded.

Last night I went with Joe Boyce & the Brodes to the Harrisons for a very nice dinner, followed by singing from Gilbert & Sullivan. Even I sang a little with the others. At 10 ¹⁵ Helen called & asked me to lunch, & when over the phone I said "I'll come over at twelve, Helen", everyone laughed, & later said "Isn't it time you started now - you mustn't be late". I hadn't seen Helen since the wedding. I had lunch with her & John & took her some flowers, also sending some to Mrs Conant. John & Helen are going to Europe, third class on the Bremen, round trip $130 from Boston (i.e. fare to New York included 0). Helen is worried about the new PhD's who haven't jobs.

Mrs [sic] Harrison seemed nice. She talked some about lack of money, it is true.

The Boyce's mother has moved here to live with him. They have been living mainly on money given them by his uncle, a steel man in Pittsburgh, who, however, has now lost most of his money; so I'm afraid Joe will not get married unless he finds a rich girl.

A nice letter - your last - arrived this morning. I was glad to get it. ... I adore you, little darling wife, and I'm very lonesome for you, and glad that soon I'll be on the way home. You are such a lovely girl, and such a good companion for this paddy. I adore you, you darling.

Your own

Linus