April 2, 1 9 2 9. Miss Jean Ironside, 39 Gramercy Park, New York City. Dear Kid, I am enclosing the Affidavit swearing that you were born! Now, don’t you get over into that North country among the swedes and discover that you are not because I know you are! Well, to be serious, you certainly have your nerve and I am wishing you the happiest trip you have ever taken and hope your plans on this trip will go 100%. I sit here at “Trail’s End” and am only sorry that so many outside things nag at me because I want to play in the garden and sit down; I guess I’m getting too fat. While you are rambling around trying to make enough money to take a long sea voyage and a longer walk and improve your mind. Well, here’s best wishes to it all! I’m awfully happy to have the Risleys next door. Of course. I have always been fond of them and they were such good friends of mine for the past twenty or more years. I see a great improvement in both of them. Daddy has his up and down spells but he always did have those. Taking it altogether, he is doing nobly; has about fifty baby chicks, is putting in a garden, so the hours that he is busy he is happy. But those awful hours of idleness spell the good that he gets from the forgetfulness of his troubles. Until a fellow’s partner is completely gone, you don’t realize what it means to the one left and poor Daddy realizes every day what a tower of strength and solace Duaa was to him. He told me about your letter from Washington and said he would bring it over for me to read but hasn’t done so yet. I also heard of you through Ann. Among the three of us, we should keep in closer touch with you. Maybe I didn’t tell you, but the little boxesof Viola came and one is upstairs being used and the other down- stairs. Thanks much for my smooth lips! You’ll be interested to know Mrs. Trigg and Josephine -1- -2- Miss Ironside - Apr. 2, 1929 will be here the fifteenth. Mrs. Trigg had been out of the house just twice since Christmas so you can guess how she is going to enjoy the sunshine down here. I had a letter from Effie Thoroughman and she had been off of the ranch just once since the tenth of January and then got stuck in the snow and were five hours going ten miles and walked one and a half miles of that distance. Their car was pulled in by a team. More power to the horse! I hope you find your acquaintance Sonia in Berlin, because to meet someone whom you know will be great as they will be able to tell you what to see and what not to try to see – you can’t see it all! Yes, Ted received the “Yearbook of Alaska” and he is pretty onery [sic] not to acknowledge it. I’m afraid it is association with the Russells. Jack was home for four days at Easter. He is almost as tall as I and I’m crazy about him. Lots of love and good wishes Sincerely, NCR:ED airmail [Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-11-02]