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 3
[[underlined]] DIARY [[/underlined]]

Syracuse, N.Y.
January 1, 1926.

This year I intend to follow a different policy in regard to a diary. I am going to keep a journal in this book, writing as much or as little for each day as I have opportunity to, not prescribing a certain amount of writing each day as in a diary. Under the circumstances, I think it is by far the best plan. And so my Willie's notebook shall serve a worthy purpose, I trust, and will contain a journal I shall be happy to keep and refer to in days to come.

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Ahead lies a new year once more, unmoulded formless clay to be worked into beauty or ugliness as we will. I trust this record will tell a story of creation worthwhile; I trust I shall make this year what I hoped to make last. Its months unborn lie waiting, holding treasures of beauty and joy for those who care to take them. And may God grant that this time we may find success, that when these months have finally passed away and we again look back upon the history of our year, we may look with pride of accomplishment truly worthwhile -- on dreams made true, hopes blossomed into realities, ideals done justice at last. With this purpose, we step forward to do, to achieve, to make good.

This morning I took Willie out for a real walk, the walk I had promised her in real honest-to-goodness snow. We put on heavy but uncumbersome things and started for Mausoleum where we found some wonderful drifts easily ten feet deep. Wilie was delighted and wanted to join me in jumping head-over-heels into them but on account of her good skirt, didn't dare try it. I have several pictures we took up there. The wonderful view from the hilltop delighted Willie just as it always does me. She cried out but in pure joy at it. We saw skiis, snowshoes and toboggans, so felt we had at least touched the border of northern winter life, and finally returned to the house quite satisfied and extremely hungry.

This afternoon Willie and I went over to call on the Rices, young Mrs. Ed Rice having been Franny Ward, formerly of Louisville and an old schoolmate of Willie's. I had never met young Rice although we have both lived here always. I recall Fanny Gilman speak of him years ago when we were youngsters. He impressed me as being a nice sort of boy, very gentlemanly, rather quiet, and not the least bit the millionaire's son type which one might expect. I was very glad to see Fran again, whom I'd not talked with since the night we played bridge at the Browns and Bud had continually pointed his blunt finger at Fran across the table and said in his irrepressible way, "I want YOU -- for the U.S.Marines!" And here now is Fran married and with the dearest little baby I have ever seen -- one Boots, the jolliest young Deke who ever set foot upon the earth. And