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13 Pomeworth Street, Stoneham, Mass.
July 17, 1931

Dear Folks,

Here I am the last minute, as usual, trying to get my letter in before the mail is collected. To-night, however, I am playing safe by addressing my envelope before I start writing. Now if I make a mistake, it will be on the inside, at least. 

Of course I was very glad to get the letters. I was sorry to learn, though, that Mr. Holmes was so badly upset, and that you are apparently doing more running down town than you ought to. Really you are doing the work of two people even without doing any down-town errands. You are nurse and housekeeper both. And you are not having any of the housekeeping work that so many have done outside done for you, and you are not as young as you were once upon a time, though you are very active. You really ought to save yourself whenever you can. Doris can settle the store business when she gets here next month. What would Mr. Holmes do if you got sick? He doesn't realize how he is crowding you. If he keeps on fretting about the store, I think that the best thing to do might be to close it up entirely; - lock the door and not try to do anything more until Doris gets here, though I do think that Jim is good and faithful. But you are more important than the old store. 

It was good of the Ballantynes to offer to take you berrying. I think that, on the whole, they are a comfort and advantage to you. When anyone is sick, it is good to have good neighbors around. I think, however, that perhaps it is well not to leave Mr. Holmes alone for so long a time, just as you said. I do hope that he is feeling better. If he could only bring himself to letting you and Doris and others shoulder the responsibility of business matters, and save his strength and energy to get well on, it would be so much better. 

This after-noon after a two-hour nap I went over to the berry pasture and got a part of a quart of raspberries. I have not eaten them yet, however, for when I got home Mrs P. gave me some potatoes creamed with a little chopped ham. My stomach has been very obstreperous, so to-day I went on a liquid diet until I ate to-night. I have had a bad time trying to sleep nights too. I consider it a very good night if I manage to get in five hours of sleep, and that badly broken by wakeful fits. Night before last I got only two at most, I guess. I would fall asleep after long spells of wakefulness, only to open my eyes again after three, five, or ten minutes. I do hope to get to going fairly well again before long. The nurse in the hospital said that I slept the least of anyone she eve saw. One night she even took off her shoes before coming in, but she said my eyes were on her in spite of the fact. That time, however, I don't myself remember about. 

I saw another little robin up in the pasture to-day. I am enclosing some pictures for you to send to the baby. 

Tell Mr. Holmes it is a duty he owes himself, you, and all the rest of us to be as happy and contented as he can possibly be. Doris will soon be here now. I got another very nice letter from Miss Dawson. She has invited me out to see her in Auburndale, where she is spending the summer. 

I was glad to read Alice's letter, and also glad that she is so well situated. She has a shrewdness that is rather pleasing. 

Now please, please be good to yourselves, both of you. 

Love,
Lena