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Stanford, Feb 4, 1900

My dear Mother:

Your kind presents arrived yesterday morning and were the first reminders of my birthday. I thank you very much for the very toothsome remembrances. You and I, perhaps, were the only ones who knew that with the dawning of Saturday I should be twenty-two years old. I did not let the boys in the house know that it was my birthday, for had I done so this good right arm would have received so many enthusiastic punches that it would not now be able to direct the hand in this letter. I came near letting the secret out though. Mrs. Gillespie, our kind and thoughtful matron,