August 30, 1976

Highland Park, Ill.

Dear Shelly,

Sorry I didn’t write to you earlier, but now is the time. You will remember Rosie my sister. Well, She is being operated on for the removal of an aneurysm in her head. It is a very serious operation and we are all hoping she will come out well.

Chucky is going to Ravinia to hear an all Gershwin concert.

Selma and her two children, Robbie and Josh are visiting with us for the last month, while Selma and Sandy went off to travel in Spain. We have two dogs in the yard. They bark like a dozen and eat unlimited. Josh’s dog has to be chained to a post. Otherwise he eats all of Sheba’s meal.

The Mouse and the Cake

by Eliza Cook

A mouse found a beautiful piece of plum cake

The richest and sweetest that mortal could make

‘T’was heavy with citron and fragrant with spice

And covered with sugar all sparkling as ice.

“My stars,” cried the mouse while his eye beamed with glee

Here’s a treasure I found. What a feast it will be!

So I’ll hide with the cake lest they wander this way

Not a bit shall they have for I know I can eat

Every morsel myself and I’ll have such a treat.

So off went the mouse, as he held the cake fast