.MTM1.MzE5NTk

  Clinton Dec 22, '51. 

My dear Mother,

  Your letter came Saturday night, and it seemed as I could hardly wait for Monday morning to come, that I might answer it and relieve your anxiety about me. I was very sorry when I read your letter and found how uneasy you were, that I had not written several days before, as I ought to have done, to tell you how nicely I am getting along. The only excuse I have is, that I was waiting to hear from your first; which you know is not a very good one, as I knew all the time that you would be anxious about me. And now, my dear mother, I must ask you to forgive me and I will try to do better in future. Do not give yourself any anxiety for fear of Mrs. Burchad distressing me, for she is a great deal better. I have not heard hardly anything of her for two weeks; she is very quiet indeed now, and in a great many things, quite rational. Dr. has strong hopes that she will recover. She walks out every day with either husband or nurse and comes back as quietly as any one. You ask if I am able to keep warm now Thanks to you for this good warm shawl you left with me, for without it, I fear I should have been obliged to to answer no, but with it I have have kept very comfortable indeed. I wear this in the day time, and in the night I have a great thick blanket around me. We keep the fire going day and night , but we do not let it get so hot as it did the night you were here, by any means. I feel very much encouraged about my health as my back seems to be gaining a little in strength which shows very plainly that the inflammation is leaving it. And another thing almost if not quite as