Dec 16

1935

11 ⁴⁵ PM Sunday

Dearest little wife:

I love you very much, dear Ava Helen. I hope that you are sound asleep and happy and comfortable in a pleasant room and bed, and that your mother is well and that the day has not been too hard for you and that you have not had any unpleasantness with anyone. Did you like getting my telegram? You should receive two letters tomorrow. We haven't yet heard from you.

Today I made waffles, and Lola broiled bacon. Then I went to the laboratory, and talked with Jack and James and Beach. James said that ballet tickets are selling fast-I shall buy some for us. Last night Mary Helen and Robert called for a while, with a letter about Dr. Noyes' brother-Robert's aunt said that they called him Snuffer Noyes, but that his mother called him Dove Eyes. He died some years ago, leaving no money. His son began clerking in A&P's (he and his wife refusing Dr. Noyes invitation to come and live with him) and is now manager of a store and well thought of. After the Mullikens left, offering to do anything they could, I read a book and went to bed, sleeping with Linda.

We had a good lunch, and then read the papers and listened to the concert. Then I went to the institute and worked on hemochromogens [?] with Coryell till five. On returning I found the house a bedlam-Angy in the kitchen bothering Lola, who was trying to get dinner, and Bob

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and Siegrid in the living room, with the Ward girl beating Peter and Linda and raising Hell generally, while Eric yelled in order to be doing his part. Bunny grounded Linda's head on the floor, jumped wildly on the davenport and cushions, and in general behaved in such a way that I had difficulty in restraining a desire to blister her behind and then throttle her. They stayed until six-I managed to get some order restored during the latter half of the hour. They ask ed me to come to dinner, but I said I preferred to stay with the children. We had a fine dinner, too-a flank steak with peas and carrots and mashed potatoes, and a chocolate cake. The children are now in bed, with Linus in our bed, this being his turn. Linus has been very good; in fact all of the children have been fine. They are even better about eating than when you are here!

After the children went to bed I rewrote (for the last time) my paper with Ermon, and then read a mystery story, which I have just finished. Oh-I heard the broadcast last night; it was very good-fifteen minutes devoted to an old alchemist scene reenacted and to sound effects from high-voltage laboratory, and then fifteen minutes to Millikan's talk, which was not especially good but was also not bad. I love you, darling, and I'd like to hold you close. Your Lover

Linus