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National Museum, Wash.D.C.
10 Dec. 1946.

Dear Doris:
While I am waiting for my plates to dry under the pressure of all my books, I will rattle off a letter to you. I have been pasting up my drawings for my paper till my back aches from bending over. It is a job to get them all even and at equal distances and my math powers are strained to the utmost in the ordeal, and my fingers all gummed up with liquid cement and my temper frayed to say the least. Thanks be it is most done for this paper, all but the labelling.

Tonight at long last Dad brings home the Dago, and I have to leave early to get up a supper worthy of my countrymen. I have a piece of Hubbard squash, some onions, a tomato aspic salad all ready to put together, and piece de resistance, - steak. I haven't decided what to give him for dessert, but shall probably stir up some chocolate pudding as it is easiest. after the dinner my job will be over, except for dishes, and I prefer to trying to carry on a conversation in Italian English. I don't believe Dad will keep him over night, hope not. I shall go off to bed if they stay up too late.

Everyone here is off to the entomological meetings down at Richmond, all but Chapin, and he has a grouch on, and says, "When the Museum grants me the time to go on such meetings without having to go down on my knees and beg them to let me go at my own expense and time, I shall go but not till then." Mrs. Willis is away and he is improving his time, he would like to retire her mighty well, but can't. Altogether life is very unkind to him!       Sophy is hunting for peachcolored bedroom slippers to go with her dressing gown -- her trip to N.Y. with David is occupying her thoughts. I trust she will be a good little girl, but suspect Sophy is getting desperate as the years go on. She doesn't want to let him slip thru her fingers. And medics are notorious for being fickle and fancy free to the end. Haven't seen Julia for days, - she is working desperately hard to get off the 17th for Japan, for six months. I am going to try to buy her saccharine, she plans to give that to the natives. 

It has been perfectly lovely weather this week here, - sunny mild days, and I have gone back to wearing my light coat. The longer winter holds off the shorter the time to spring and flowers. But we shall catch it good and plenty in Jan and Feb as we never get out of winter here. Haven't seen the Williamses much. Mr. W. said his wife isn't very well, I shouldn't wonder if she really is tubercular, she looks it. Mrs. Douglas still has her smudges. I never catch sight of Joan. She is a poor colorless thing. The Bryans have some new kind of heating that doesn't necessitate shovelling [[shoveling]] coal around 2 a.m.

Only two weeks now before you will be here. Dad may get part or the whole of the 24th off. Dolores called up Sunday night to talk over things, said she was working 20 hours a week and trying to do all her studying too, - poor child. She is looking forward to seeing you. I asked her to come to supper Friday and stay the night after the Lysistrata, and she accepted. 
Love, Mother.