Martyrs' Manse,
Kingsport,
Dec, 1931
John,
We are in chaos over the Martyrs' Christmas pageant. First off, we weren't going to have one. But the children rioted and poor Miss Thompson, who teaches Sunday School, had to organize an eleventh-hour one. All the children want a part. All I know is that Elle and Sophy are lambs. I can't see it myself. Kitty's corrupted them.
Speaking of, Teddy coaxed Kitty into attending the Station House Christmas party, and no one can work out how he did it. Kitty hates functions. Helen dragged Kitty shopping on purpose. Kitty bought nothing, on account of being an underpaid journalist, but she's letting Mara sew something smart for her. Faith's relieved she's not sewing, and Helen perplexed. Do you know your granddaughter is getting a reputation for her samplers? Faith says all the time the stork meant her for Una but couldn't find Singapore.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch,
Jo
Ingleside,
Glen St. Mary,
January, 1932
Jo,
You have outdone yourself this year. Thank you, in the first instance, for the inclusion of Kitty's piece on the Lapsly murder, and also the pictures of that infamous station house Christmas function. I wish I could tell you what Teddy did to get our resident journalist there, but am as stumped as anyone. Teddy won't tell, and neither will Kitty. Faith's hunch is that Teddy promised Kitty a story out of it. Kitty can't be bribed the normal way, but she'll do anything for front page news. As to why Teddy felt the need to punch that poor constable in the nose –that's anyone's guess. Teddy said the man deserved it while looking like Walter the day he fought Dan Reese.
Other news included a detailed recapitulation of the Martyrs' Christmas Pageant and Helen's role as Mary, a detail which left Miss Abby in much awe of her. There was much worship of Dulce by Iain, who still wants a dog like Tintin's Snowy, and still doesn't have one, to Susan's dismay. Never did I think the day would come when Susan championed the bringing of dogs into the home. She wouldn't have let in Dulce if sheer numbers hadn't gone against her. I really believe she would give Iain the moon if he asked.
Nan and Jerry visited one last time before their move. She coaxed Forest Green from the piano, and her children taught Di's the best way to decorate pine cones. The whole thing made me heart-glad. Nan and Di were always so close; It's good to see their children are, too. It brings back a taste of the old days, when the Ingleside Twins filled the house with their secrets and schemes and dreams.
Rilla, Ken and family came, too, and are almost back on what Anne calls wartime footing. Sissy's at that trying age where she thinks you can't see her mischief if she can't see you, and they tackle her with much shared humour. I think the little boys have even begun to forget there was ever a gulf between their parents. But Jims made me feel old, telling me stories about McGill. He cannot be in university, Jo. He just can't.
But his engineering degree is showing, because after Susan laid out a Christmas feast for the ages, I dragooned him into helping Alastair and I build one of those Lionel Electric Train Sets for Anthony. We were thoroughly defeated by the instructions, but couldn't let it go. You know the way. Jims and Bruce built it in minutes, sans instruction manual. So, naturally us Ancient Ones affected terrific indignation. Alastair even said we did all the hard parts for them.
After all that, Anthony didn't care a jot. He climbed onto the piano beside Rosemary and asked if she could teach him Sleepers Awake. Rosemary likes a challenge, but a solid half hour later they compromised on We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Sissy took over the train set, and the porcelain doll Santa brought her wound up in Miss Abby's hands. As of this letter, Sissy hasn't missed it once.
Poppy – you remember the girls' old university friend – visited, too, and that killed any hopes the rest of us had for anything like a long chat with the girls who pinned hopes.
Poppy's husband turned to Shirley with a grin and said as he always does when they meet, 'Surplus to requirements, again.'
'Always,' said Shirley.
There was no regret or apology from them, just acceptance. The thing is, truer words were never spoken. Get those girls – women these days – together, and it's like watching magnets converge. Even the grandchildren don't try to intervene. Consequently, all I know about the current run of Private Lives at the Crown Imperial comes from young Iain. He's witnessed so many rehearsals he can quote the lot. Anne did a bit better. She caught Nan for a legendary five minutes; I think she only succeeded because Nan needed another writer's opinion on a tricky part in her latest book.
Happy New year, Jo.
Love ever,
Gil