Thursday Jan 21, 1943

Dearest Paddy,

The rain has finally caught up with us and is taking advantage of its tardy beginning. It has been a very cold day - Booooo! I meant to go to the sheriffs office in Altadena but didn't because it was too cozy inside.

I made a wonderful pan of pecan rolls for supper. The children were gluttons. We had only vegetable soup and the rolls with milk so they ate their fill.

This de Sale book is wonderful. How can a man be so brilliant and so lucid? It is a great pity that he has died. His loss is irreparable. Do you recall my saying that every truth - every philosophy every deed and concept built up by mankind during these centuries was against our losing this war? This man says that that is exactly what Germany intends to do if she can - to destroy utterly what mankind has striven these thousands of years to develop and nurture. They deny everything we know to be right and base everything on this brutal idea of force with reason totally annihilated. You are engaged in much more practical matters. How goes it? I have skipped over your stay in Pittsburgh, Washington, etc, although you are at this moment still on your way. I hope you've had a good and profitable journey.

How is Moe? Give him my love and you would better tell him the "Foundation" story since I never seem to write. Still - you probably won't tell it very well.

I have realized at this moment that you may not receive this if the air mail is as delayed going East as it is coming West.

I hope you haven't been cold. It has been really chilly here yesterday and today.

I have been thinking what a shame it is that all advice and poetry about love has do with the "Mistress lover" variety and none for the good old prosaic man and wife kind. Too bad - they are the ones who need it. but [sic] alas - the muses are not properly stimulated by the fillet - the hearth - the husband - !

We are getting along well. The children are well and Petie has his hair cut. He and Linda and Crellie are all down here with me. Linus has gone back over to Flintridge to work on the Annual with Hubble — the editor.

Good-night.

Your girl,

Ava Helen

Thursday, 3PM

[1/21/1943]

Dearest little sweetheart,

I should be getting on my Washington train now - but we're still 50 miles from Chicago. We are running just two hours late. The main reason seems to be that we've had to come all the way with a steam engine, which can't get above 80 miles per hour (I've just timed it), instead of over 100, as do the Diesels. There is some snow out - perhaps 10 inches on the ground - but the sky is clear, as it has been all the way.

The conductor has wired ahead to transfer my reservation to a later train. Perhaps I'll be off to Wn. by 4 15.

I've spent most of the trip thinking over our life together - what a cute little girl you were and are, and how happy I've been with you all these years. I'll give you a good squeeze when I get home.

I've had nothing to read. I got up late this morning, and as I went to breakfast I met Mr Crotty [?] leaving, who gave me his copy of the United States News, edited by David Lawrence I read it from cover to cover! And got only slightly mad.

There are many big nests high up in the bare trees along in this Mississippi Valley region, and every once in a while there is a big owl, sitting perfectly still.

I'm going to put in the time into Chicago making a calculation about my new proposal to Conant.

I love you, you darling, and the children too.

Your

Paddy