Untitled Page 321

Stanford, Feb 4, 190[??]

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 Satur-
day 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 re-
ceived so many enthusiastic
punches that it would not now
be able to direct the hand in this
letter. I [ewwe] near letting the
secret out though. Mrs. Gillespie,
our kind and thougthful matron