Transcription
July 19, 1939
Dear Milt and Irene:
Once again I had my birthday up north and once again we had a very nice family celebration. I’m lucky in that I am practically always up north for my birthday, which means that it is always possible to have a good family gathering to help me celebrate.
You would have gotten a real laugh over the poems the children wrote, particularly to hear them read them. I am enclosing copies of them as well as copy of the very nice poem Uncle Doc wrote for me.
I want to thank you for your contribution. I treasure these. I think I have on file what you have sent me for each of my birthdays.
While I was up north, one day at the dinner table we got to talking about the famous cruise you took us on when we had to make a forced landing in the storm. Billy and Judy both agreed that the cruise was the biggest event of all. They have had many interesting experiences up north, but that cruise will always stand out in their memories as an experience in a class by itself. Had it not been for you, we never would have had that experience.
I would like to include a little news in this letter but I am dictating under pressure, inasmuch [sic] as I am trying to get a lot of things cleaned up today before leaving for up north. I was supposed to go up last Friday so as to have a full week’s vacation before bringingthe [sic] family down, but some unexpected business developments forced me to stay here, so I am going to get only a two or three-day vacation instead of a week.
However, I can be thankful that I am too busy instead of being like some of these striking WPA workers who are not even grateful for relief work.
Lots of love.
Affectionately,
Bill
WPS
las
Mr & Mrs Milton W Harrison
33 Highland Circle
Bronxville N YTranscriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
EnglishNotes
aTranscription
Willard’s 47th Birthday
Cedar Lodge June 28, 1939
When man approaches fifty years
In this oft-called our “vale of tears”,
It’s well to seek along the way
What facts and figures have to say
Of years and months already spent --
In short, how well he’s paid the rent
For living so far on this earth,
Years forty-seven after birth.
First I point out children three.
You often wonder what they’ll be,
When they have children of their own
And have to manage them alone.
I don’t know what they’ll have from you
In dollar bills to help them through,
But they will have a great deal more
Than means to purchase at the store.
You’ve given them much that’s best in life
Helped and well-helped by your wife.
A love for Nature and for Art –
An honest purpose in each heart
To do their jobs and do them well –
To hang on till the closing bell –
That simple things are always best
As lining for the family nest.
Loving Nature as you do –
Wild life and the waters blue –
May you sit each natal day
Overlooking Hessel Bay.
With your children all about –
And listen to their joyous shout:
“Daddy, we are strong for you
And these “up North” birthdays too!”
Uncle DocTranscriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
EnglishNotes
bTranscription
DADDY
When we go North, just a week after school,
The block house is open, all fresh and cool.
Dad goes to the block house, about nine at night,
Pulls out his paper and lights up his pipe.
Mother wakes up, about one in the morn,
Puts on her slippers that are really torn.
She goes to the flag pole – calls to my Dad,
He comes in a minute and he is quite sad.
For he knows he shouldn’t work up here,
But he starts it again the very next year.
Billy.
TO DADDY
Oh, father dear, I now relate
A funny thing about your fate.
This story I have told and told –
That you are not so very bold,
When swimming in water that is cold.
If I swim in a lake or pool
He tells me I’m a big, big fool
To stay in the water and keep nice and cool.
Now this man I’m sure you all know
And I love him but he’s not a hero.
Anne
June, 1939
TO DADDY
When Daddy’s working very hard,
When Daddy stays up late,
To do some office business,
Or draw plans for our estate,
When the livingroom [sic] he’s working on
Just hasn’t enough space,
His face takes on a look that we
All call his “Crying Face”.
He doesn’t really know it,
When he tries to concentrate,
But his forehead gets all wrinkled
And his mouth is grim and straight.
So when we see him look like that
We laugh at him and say
Oh, Daddy laugh and please don’t have
Your “Crying Face” today.
Judy
June, 1939Transcriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
English
