Viewing page 38 of 99

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

U.S. Nat. Museum, Wash. D.C.
6 April 1948.

Dear Doris:
Army Day with its usual parade coming off. Little squads of uniformed men are passing up Constitution Ave. now to form up by the Capitol and soon we shall hear the beating of drums and the bands playing. I shall go down and look out of a window with Barber or someone else. He asked me if I was coming down. Usually we talk over things during a parade, with only a glance now and then out the window. Parades in Wash. D.C. are a pretty common occurrence, alas.
I have been over to Kann's to find something to present to the baby when we go out to Corell's to supper tomorrow night. They were having a sale of infant's clothing, and I picked out a little dotted muslin dress daintily trimmed with lace for a dollar. I wanted a hat that I saw there, but didn't have the chink, maybe I will go back for it tomorrow. Dad said he was sick of seeing me in my present hats yesterday. The one I trimmed up from last summer shrank somewhat in the revamping, and perches very precariously on my head, more in style than I had thought!
The old cat is still not feeling very well. We have been dosing him regularly with pink pills, and he has gotten so he spits them out as regularly, as if it were a game. So we have to hold his jaws till he gets tired of it and swallows the pill. He thinks it a game, though, and doesn't get cross. Dad has been dealing out oysters to him and last night I got a piece of liver that I inflicted on the whole family. Dad didn't mind very much and the cat was delighted.
Sunday afternoon we took a little ride and I made a sketch and have been watercoloring it every since. I wish Mrs. Taggart would come and take me out painting. Things are so pretty. Two little girls, each with a handful of flowers came to the door last night to sell their bouquets. They reminded me of you and Carolen and I bought the little handfuls and they went off highly pleased. So far the children have been very nice about my garden, they stand and admire it from afar. Bobby Phelps even brought his mother over to see it, and was all around pointing out his favorites.
I have been drawing a beetle all the forenoon. It started off dark and rainy but the sun has come out so I have wonderful light. I want to finish before the parade. The last exhibit is hung down stairs, and I hunted vainly for Mr. Jones' attempt, but guess it wasn't accepted. I shall have to be very careful about mentioning exhibits when I next meet him. I wish it could have been hung, if only to keep up his interest. He is going down on the Cape as usual his summer.
I think of you doing your notebook. Hope you won't get all tuckered out. Did you have time to study on your way up? I don't see how we could have avoided her very well, and maybe you got more accomplished with her than with a young man.
Write.
Love,
Mother.