Tell George not

to get sick any more,

when he gets to Worcester.

 

"Ranger", Vallejo, Cal.

September 5, 1882

 

Dear Alice,

                        Am awful sorry that you have to be taken away from your New York school, but it can't be helped. You, Mama Frank & George have all been sick with those fevers, & I hate to go away South again for 7 or 8 months & first one & then another of you getting sick. I shall feel easier if I know you are in Worcester where you are all well cared for. If I was on duty in or near New York I would prefer you to be in New York. But I am too far away.

 

            About your schooling, I / know it is a great disadvantage for you & Frank to be changing, but I think you had better do it for one winter. Perhaps the system in Mass. does not differ so much from New York.

 

You and Frank are so smart, that you are ahead of others of your ages, so you wont lose much by the change. I don't want you to graduate before I get home. When you talk of graduating I feel quite old.

 

Of your English studies & your music & French you & Mama must talk over & decide which is best to keep up in Worcester, and Franks also. Tell Mama I am writing her this mail. 

 

I hope you will have a good time in Worcester, wish I could be with you, had rather be in Worcester than where we are going I can tell you.

 

            I am going to buy a fan before we go & fill it up with the names of the places we have visited on this coast.

 

            I am going to send a roll of Pampa grass, in a case, I think, before we go away, will send it to Worcester. You can tell Mama to divide with Emma.

 

            I hope you will be all pleasantly fixed in Worcester & above all, that you will have good health. 

 

The Adams leave Saturday next, perhaps before. Mrs Potts returns to Baltimore. She is very much disappointed, as she was at first anxious to remain in S.F. or Oakland, until M^r Potts came back, but it is too uncertain, & she does not like either O. or S.F.

 

            Are you not glad that you don't have to go around on crutches like Annabel Adams? Take good care of yourself we will have to make a trip to Niagara or somewhere when I get back, or else a trip across the water.

 

            We are all ready for sea, & may go at any time, but if they don't trouble us from Washington I suppose we will remain until about same time as last year.

 

With much love & wishing I was with you,

                                                                       

Good bye, from Papa.

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