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made acquainted with a book that has been a delight to me a hundred times since, for I usually keep it on a stand near the head of my bed, and if wakeful, I read one or more of the sketches and then go to sleep. I find that you have hit the same vein that makes Burns loved by the whole world--home scenes and home people are depicted so we fail not to recognize them. I rather like the conceit of Major Porter, and his party--it possessed the virtue of differing from my home village where there are ten girls to each young man. Then too what a good time "Tim" had at the Exposition with Uncle Bill's boys and the Peruvians, both male and female. That scene where the candy maker "dreamily whipping" a rope of candy which would not have been a bit too big for one boy. I was always fascinated by a candy maker at our county fair, and I have often stood on Euclid avenue, Cleveland, opposite the Soldiers Monument, watching a candy puller. He is gone now and so has the little two story shop and a sky scraper has taken its place. In the retail past there was a pretty Annie, who did up candy and served ice cream to the young men and old ones too, for I will be 74 on "Sat. Sept." 1, 1906.--and to the Mrs. LaGranges. I go back to the "Chatterbox" as my first love, and always get relief from care a pleasure in it. I have for a long time wanted to thank you for giving the world the sketches you have, and I heartily do so now Sincerely yours JHowells Miss? Edith Wyatt Chicago (?)

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