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Arlington VA. 14 Oct 1947

Dear Doris:

Letters are such unsatisfactory means of communication in the matter of emotions. What we wrote that riled you was under the stimulus of our loss of $5 thru what seemed to be pure carelessness on your part. I realize that for the first few days of school you are off your balance by the multiplicity of events to which you react over much. But as if you were driving say thru the Holland Tunnel at the rush hour, just put all your attention on getting yourself thru and watch the road and let all these diversionary sounds, sights and what not be shut out. You go straight ahead in your purpose of getting thru that tunnel. Much as I dislike Spenser and his Fairy Queen, the allegory is all right, and the same is true of Pilgrim's Progress, tho I could never read either of those writers. I much prefer the sane wholesomeness of Chaucer, with his realism and deep humor on life and folks. So let us consider you are not quite grown up when you lose $5 and allow us the privilege of scolding you. I remember how one of your early teachers used to describe you at school. You were the little dumbie of the class because you forgot everything essential. When you came to get ready to go home at night & put on your wraps, you would forget first one thing then another until the rest of the children, the teacher told me, were in an uproar of gaiety over you. I guess you still are a lot like that young one. Now don't forget yourself on your bike and wander in front of a car and get knocked off. And put your bike up in damp weather. It is the only bike we are likely to get.

I am sorry to convey the impression to Jean's father that I was of the late Geo Apley style. It isn't that I am a snob, but I think [[?]] people agrees that it is easiest for its young to 

P.S. About young Heer - he is probably as tongue tied as your own self - just practise on him how to draw him out. It is good for you to learn how to get people to talking. Don't ever despise any tongue tied youth, they usually have some approach if you are skilful in discovering it.