T2020.102.465

United States Army School of Aerial Photography Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y.

December 20, 1918

Mrs Grandy:

Dear Friend: "Ma" Grandy gets a letter this time too. Your letter came in today and adds much to the great pleasure I have derived from the good fortune that befell me when I first saw Alice in the P.O. at Arcadia. Some people would not understand, but I have lived long enough to know that happiness does not come from keeping money or excessive property. The greatest of happiness, perhaps, that that spring to a parent's heart when the

Just now you and Mr. Grandy are able to do what is needed and I hope will be able to continue to do so, but I feel that if anything should happen that interfered with your discharge of this wonderful duty, I should wish to stand ready to do for them what I could.

Now you know that, in this world, little or nothing is preferred or done except for anticipated reward.

This is true, in this case, as in any other, except that the reward is an intangible thing, a sense of being useful and of being needed by somebody. Then if these, little, somebodies are such characters as your little girls, the reward becomes greater in proportion.

the little boy or girl daily unfolds and develops as a flower before their eyes. The greatest wound is caused by the failure of the child to live up to the parent's hope.

Having no children, but loving them more than anything else in the world, it is only the most logical thing in the world that when I have found, not one, but three all of whom I like better than any other children I ever knew. I should think of them a great deal and love them deeply.

Mrs. Grandy, I have already hinted in my letters, especially to Helen, that I felt a personal interest in seeing them grow to womanhood with the advantages of school and the protection they need.

I do not want to spoil them and do not think that I will. When they know that it is the fact that they do not act conceited and are unselfish, in other words, are entirely unspoiled, that it is because of these things, I love them I do not think they will throw these qualities away too cheaply.

Since knowing them, I have been a much more contented and happier man. Their letters keep me in touch with youth and help keep me from growing old. No one wishes to grow old and they are my antidote.

Mess-

Just back again so will finish up my letter to Arcadia.

United States Army School Of Aerial Photography Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y.

December 18, 1918

Miss Alice Grandy

Dear Alice: So Alice has scratched up her nose. She must be more careful next time and Gal, as usual, got the letters first. It pays to be on the job, doesn't it?

As I told Helen, it is not that it is nice of me to write to you "kids" so often. It is just for the great pleasure I get from your letters and the thought that my little "nieces" are pleased to receive letters.

It is not everybody that can have such correspondents as your children are.