ENPages
page_0001
[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., [written] Sunday Feb 8th [printed] 18 [written] 63.
Old Bruno
You are a kind of a brick. But Bruno you mustnt go for to tell me how good Mrs Redfield is to kiss because dont you see I know that already and it makes me sorry that I cant be there to kiss her too. Wont I make her cry "Now stop"! next summer though neither. Maybe we wont have any fun or nothing next summer - I've refused sundry offers to go to the west Indies Boston and other places as that would take up time that I want to spend at home. I fear Ill hardly find it possible to leave here before June however. -
Bruno it is sad to be lazy, and without habits of application - I try to work hard at sundry things but the hardest work I do is to bully myself into boring down to the steady work. - I am going after this to work during the day in my
[page turned] OLIVE
page_0002
my old snake room as I find myself too much disturbed in the other work rooms during the day - People come in who talk about various interesting matters that I want to learn and so I get too good an excuse to be lazy and listen.
I am delighted Oh Bruno to see that you continue to improve rapidly in your writing and phraseology though there is room for much improve ment here as also in spelling. If you will allow me to criticise I would say that in your Chirography you run a little too much to flourishes. Try as the main object to write with perfect legibility. - A good looking handwriting is not necessarily a legible one.
In reply to your queries as to my falling in love I have to say that I'm not doing that as much as I was. I'm getting pretty well towards manhood now and the loveliest dodge with some other purilities is rather played out. I meet sundry pretty girls whom I admire as I do all that is
page_0003
[printed letterhead] No. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., 18
[written] is beautiful; but it must be something more than a pretty face that can wean my attention from spermophiles now! I go to see ladies sometimes when too stupid to work and when I require recreation.
We have a large number of Naturalists at work here now and tis something like the good old times; when in all our amusements we gained some knowledge - I wish you were here as you should be if only you could write decently. Henry Elliott a boy of 15 or 16 years old but who can write well works pretty steadily for Prof Baird and I and we shall probably be able to get him an allowence to pay his board. I thought how I wished it was you that were to be here when talking the matter over with Prof Baird. Oh Bruno what jolly times, and what useful hours and what mutual benefit and assistance we could be to each other if you
page_0004
you were here. I've not the slightest fear but that you'd work acquire habits of the closest industry if you were here and I'm sure youd enjoy and profit by it far more than we can now realize.
Work like the D-l on the spelling & writing book Bruno and well see what we'll see. But do write carefully and legibly. Youll find a poor hand a draw back throughout life.
Ill write to Poddy and the rest soon -
Why dont Molly write to me - Are she and father as great cronies as ever?
I'm a very good boy to day I'm not going to work but shall go to church with Lucy Baird then dine at Prof B's, talk over sundry matters with him come back here and get out a collection of Univs that I'm to have and then write letters etc
Love to you all Bob
How have you decided to write your name. I.B.K.? or I. Bruno Kennicott or Ira. B. K.?
