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Oak Park, Ill. May 17th/96 My Darling Love, One year ago tonight I called to bid you a good bye for my long trip, after I had returned from the Agassiz Museum at the Institute, - then on that night too was it the last time I talked with your dear mother. Never shall I forget how she gave me an encouraging word for my long trip and I knew that night it was her will that we should be all and all for each other. Oh, how I dreaded to say goodnight to you, - you remember how I hesitated and we walked out in the hall and to the porch. Darling One, how great have been our gifts this past year, - if we can but
keep on trusting Him, we shall still make progress, - the recollections of the past and how you gave me the pack of letters of introduction are all as vivid in my mind as if it were an hour ago. What a change, - Leicester is reading a magazine quietly sitting at my right, me writting in your library to you my "Blessing" of how you now know I love you and in every word I write there seems a whispering answer of "Ditto" or my "otherself", - all in the quietness of night and a delightful sense of restfulness. Can it be you are in Paris today? We (Elsie & I) do hope you will manage to take that trip
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for all Europe and foreign customs will mean so much more to you. You are really not "abroad" while in Great Britain, - but just crossing the channel brings you into such an entirely strange environment. Yes, on Friday your Matlock letter came to me, - but how sorry it made me feel for you to know you were ill where I could not take care of and make you comfortable. I do pray you will be spared from future illness on your trip; please advise with Dr. Buzzard in London, - perhaps his fame may be of great service to you. At last we can say the new house is to be, - the cellar is being torn to pieces, and I
have moved my book cases and books down to my office, also my tables (study), - so now my office looks more like a habitable place. During the next week the carpeting will be done and my fixtures placed. One week from today is the Doctorate Sermon and by Wednesday May 27. 1896 you can think of me with a title, - not an Earl or a duke, but you know, a "Possum" etc. Last night we had a terrific black storm of thunder, lightening and rain, we adjourned our Agassiz chapter meeting at eight oclock, just after the first shower, - the boys all started for home and in just
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twenty minutes came the remainder of the storm in acts II III & IV each lasting about forty minutes. The boys all arrived home and it was one of the wisest moves I have ever made. - This morning the streets were strewn with limbs of trees which were twisted by the storm. Elsie and I congratulated ourselves of the event of the week and thought how a week before he was on his back - now his environment is wholesome, his legal companions are excellent and he wished first to tell you about it, so now that done I am at liberty to say, - already the boy has left his cog as a part of a wheel, within wheels
and is now enjoying profitable work in anticipation of his legal career. Spelling is no good tonight, I have driven up to Norwood with our Kitchen Queen, left her, tra la!! and made an appointment to get a new one of a better quality, about the same quantity (adv) tomorrow. This is my first trip up since the cold ride just before you left for New York. My instrument business is going on fine, - will hope to receive a fine outfit as my compensation. Am not working hard, do not think so for I am resting a deal as I keep busy. All love for you and your dear father. All house people send their love. Your ever loving, Clarence E. Hemingway
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OAK PARK ILL MAY 18 1896 12 M Miss Grace Ernestine Hall, c/o James Henry Randall, Artillery Mansion, Westminster, London, England
