2

do the work when she does have it
made. I was sorry I could not give
her something more than what I did
for a birthday present. What do you think
my present was? Well, I'll tell
you I had forgotten it was her birthday
until I got home Monday morning
on my vacation. So the best I could
do, under the circumstances, was to
give Ma the, [underlined: pleasure], of having my,
[underlined: presence], at home for a whole week for
a birthday present. Don't you think
that a loving present? Well, I will
try and do better than that, yet one wk.
from tomorrow, is payday at the
Asylum and I will pay the rent and
grocery bill which will be just as
good as a birthday present. I have
been helping Ma with washing and
washing dishes this morning. Today is
the first nice day we have had this
week. All the rest have been rainy and
cold. Yesterday, it snowed quite a bit