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Congregational Parsonage Holden A. Putnam Minister Ludington, Mich., May 28, 1913 My dear Aunt Mary: Your letter was a great pleasure, and I have been meaning to write again before this. Our spring is late as usual in coming and it has kept cold and raw.Today however is quite warm, and we are hoping for settled weather before long. Then I shall hope to get rid of this pleurisy, which has hung on altogether too long. I was not able to go to the state meeting with Holden as I had hoped. It was last week at Cadillac, and I was on the program to lead the devotionals at the woman's hour, so I was especially sorry to fail. Holden enjoyed the meeting very much, tho' it was a busy time for him as it always is. The Superintendent of schools in Cadillac used to be in Hudson when we lived there, Mr. McGee, and they invited Holden over to tea one night. When he came away Mrs. McGee gave him a box of nice cookies to bring home to me. Wasn't that fine in her? Please excuse the looks of this writing. I did not like to waste so much paper on a wide margin. I think that women are naturally more frugal than men, don't you? Perhaps because the women do not have so much money to handle. How lovely it is that Roberts could go abroad. He is certainly a fortunate boy and no doubt ready to make the most of his opportunities. I think travelling is very broadening to anyone, whether in our own country or abroad. I wonder if Roberts will go to Wales and see, some of our cousins. I should care more for that than anything else, I believe. I suppose you will hear more often from Roberts. Please tell me about his travels when you write. Has John written you what Clarence is expecting to do? You know he will graduate from Oberlin in June, and he has accepted a position to teach the Protestant College at Beirut, Syria. He goes on a three years contract, so he will not come back during that time. He will teach commercial branches. It seems like a great opportunity for him, and we try to rejoice over that, but it surely will be hard for his father and mother to see him go as far and for so long a time. Still it is not for so long a time as the missionaries go. But Clarence has been away from home so little I know the separation will be hard. It will be a good thing for him tho' no doubt. Azia has not been at all well this spring, having a good deal of trouble with rhumatism. Did Lizzie write you about Claire's little boy? He came just the day before my birthday - Mary first - and is a nice healthy baby. They call him Lee Nathaniel Newcomer. Claire was getting along nicely the last I heard. Little Elizabeth is not very strong, but is a very sweet child. She will not be two for almost a month yet. Anna made us a flying visit when she went home for spring vacation just coming and staying over night. She will soon be going home for the summer now. I expect one of the Charlevoix teachers here for a little visit about the middle of June. Then after she goes Miss Clarke is coming for another visit. She feels so lonely since her sister died, and feels very much at home with us, as she spent so much time with us in Charlevoix. Elisabeth and I are neither of us very strong yet, but are sure the warm weather will help us out when it comes. The springs are so late here. Must as they are in Remsen