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leaving an alley between our house and Voight's (who have, already, re built a two story frame house, which, when finished and painted will, I trust, present a better appearance than their old one. The main building is to be 30 feet deep and the extension about the same, but 8 feet less in width, thus giving all the rooms? the best of light and ventilation. Perhaps you will understand our plan best from a diagram; thus:

drawing of house layout--image Verandah 14 feet dining room 14 feet sitting room 15 1/2 feet large window 30 feet parlor 16 feet porch hall stairs outside stairs bathroom girls bedroom bedroom 14 rear chamber closets stairs 14 front chamber 15 1/2 feet hall bed room 8 feet

The kitchen and laundry would be in the basement under the extension, 16 feet wide and 28 feet long, while that part of the basement under the main building would be used only as a cellar, furnace room etc. Of the backyard, about 60 feet would be partitioned off by a trellis to be covered with vines, behind which a little indispensable house would be screened. Such is our plan, but as yet it is only a plan, nothing more. Be fore executing it, I have to consider many things: the cost of the building material and labor especially, which at present time, is extravagantly higher and will remain so for several months yet. At the very best the house could not be finished before October or November. Meanwhile we have to look about for some other house to remove to by the first of May. It will not be quite easy to find one suited to our purpose, since most of the houses which are to rent on the West side, are of the same kind as our brick house in Chicago Avene was, and mama declines to live in a house where there is so much climbing of stairs. Yet, with a little patience, I expect to find what we want. Now, my dear Mathilde, you have got a letter three times as long as any you ever wrote me and I hope you will reciprocate. For, surely?, you cannot have less leisure to write letters, than I have. I desire you to give my best respects to grandmama and Mr. Riett?. Your affectionate father Hermann Raster