Viewing page 37 of 44

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The Studio—
34 Notre Dame des Champs—
Sunday—  Dec 23—

[[archival note:]] 1888

My dearest of Sisters - And her beloved sons - if you had any idea of the utter bliss I experienced when I opened your letter you would feel repaid for all the trouble you took to get that sweet picture—  I had sort of hoped to have some sort of a photo of them this Christmas but had not thought of anything so sweet as this—

Jamie seems much changed to me - his face a great deal longer more like his father and more like [[underscore]]Aunt Emily[[/underscore]] too - his is such a mixture of different people - but his expression is lovely—  Harry seems less changed all but his broad shoulders and the collar of his coat which is [[underscore]]very[[/underscore]] grown up - and very stylish (Hoyts I suppose—)  I can see your finishing touches all over them  And almost where you put the last pat - and know you 

[[left page]]
The other guests are to be Miss Scotter  Mr Harrison  Philip Hale and a Mr Adams whom I dont know—  I’m only sorry I have no very fascinating dress to wear - only Miss May Brown's silk which though very respectable and lady-like is not specially becoming nor festive—  I'm thinking of getting myself an aesthetic dress with which I can wear my Venetian buckle and turquoise beads - but this takes time and I hav'nt directed my attention to it yet—  Also Florence Esté has asked us down to breakfast time at half past eight - Just coffee - and to say "Merry Christmas"—   She is going to have little Miss Webster (The daughter of the Dr Webster who murdered a man in Boston and was hung) 
She is a sweet little old maid studying art—  And Miss Boyer   So nice I think in the Estés to give the homeless ones the chance of a little jollity on Christmas