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Oak Park, Ill - 8 P.M. May 13. 1896. -
My dearest Grace,
Again I write you on Wednesday night with no word from you since the first ship letter. Never fear - my love never changes and I only wish you could see my scribbling each day as you did while in New York. -
Tonight I am alone in your big house, just an occassional June bug whizzes about my head to remind me he is here a month ahead of time. - Leicester is at Law College so I came over to write to you and light
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the house so as to give him a weclome. - He said this morning he wrote you about his little siege of [] or enlarged inflamed tourists, - he was very good to me and we nursed and doctored each other to our own satisfaction. - No one was worried but dear old Grand Ma Hall who insisted on cableing your people, or at least writing, but I promised her Les would be about before her letter would get to New York and so he was - Darling we have grown to be just as brothers during our constant companionship night and day for three days - And dear
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Elsie appreciates it all more than I can tell. You must not expect me to blow my horn about such a simple matter, but he feels its magnitude terribly. Hulda and Mrs. Hennegan and my mother are very kind to your boys here at home. You have only to be thankful that we are so near each other and can help each other in any and every way - you would have laughed to see your Claire acting as House Physician, Headnurse, brother, sister, fattie, and maid, cook etc etc etc - But with most excellent results none the worse for wear. - When you are getting this, no doubt you will
be breathing Derbyshire air and climbing those hills and following along the Derment, - my "Creek", but do not forget our Des Plaines and our Garden of Eden, - the scarlet tanagers are here all ready to welcome Sunshine, but only her "otherself" is here which they think is a "rather" incomplete reception comittee. You can scarcely realize how free I am after all my exams are over, - the instrument [" ? "] is going on nicely and I keep out of mischief but am filling out my cheeks and my hair is all ready so long that my hat is too small again.- Will soon have to put on a toboggan
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cap or a knit jersey bonnet of some sort. Do not hesitate to tell those good Howe cousins how truly I appreciated their kindness to me last summer and tell them my dear [Henry, Harvey ?] is very likely to come over in another six or eight weeks and I will "send him around", to Matlock, so they must be on their good behavior. His name you remember is James Alexander Harvey, a scotchman, but American born, but as true a man as I have ever known Tell Connie to be at home with a milk maids cap and a glass of nectar. She will know, but I have an idea "Jim" may escape going
to Matlock, - but trust not - All at house are well and usually happy. Mr. Masters is now upstairs putting in screens by the light of his "old faithful" lantern. So I am not at all lonesome. Please do not forget to let me know when you sail and on what steamer. I am now beginning to think of moving my medical works and "tricks" down to 105. - But will not sleep there nights until after you come home. - The new house is soon to be started. Your ever loving faithful, Clarence Edwards Hemingway
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CHICAGO MADISON ST MAY 14 1896 Miss Grace Ernestine Hall, c/o James Henry Randall, Artillery Mansion, Westminster, London, England
