Between the time Anna wrote to know if I were ready for the letter and its arrival, my first grandchild, a girl, arrived at our home so I have had a busy two weeks and must get this off tonight as tomorrow my son-in-law and his father and mother will arrive for the weekend. Helen is feeling so well I think she can be around part of the time. R.R. made good time till held up by sickness so I hope it will travel fast enough to make up for that delay now.

Most of the time I am going the same old round - housekeeping and trying to get my family hither and yon, working at my flowers when I can snatch a moment if the weather is fine. At present I have a border of about twenty varieties of iris in bloom and a mass of many colors of columbine. But it is so very cold I fear every thing may freeze. We had such a severe winter most peach and cherry trees froze and there will be little fruit of any kind here. Follow-the blizzards came the flood. With this place high on the hill, we were caught in town in our dinky apartment. At first we tho't it a joke but when we saw a man washed down trying to wade down across from us, and nothing could get to us and the water continued to rise for seven hours more till we had 42 in. in our entrance and the current continued, we listened and waited for the foundation to wash from under the small building we were in. But it didn't and at last morning came with falling water and by afternoon we managed to get out to the farm. Dr. Pringle had been caught at the hospital on the hill and could not get to us or reach us on the phone so spent an anxious night. I had spent such a delightful time with Marion Dibert Suppes at her lovely home in Johnstown (went over to hear a violinist) and was so anxious to know how they fared that I drove over again. The water had been way higher than my head in her yard, and several feet deep in the house tho it stands high - had gone right over her grand piano etc. I am wondering if she has had the courage to do anything with flowers for she had had one of the loveliest yards I have seen and it was a mass of mud. I wonder how many more of the class were in floods.

Tomorrow my daughter Dorothy is to go with Margaret Boles, (1911) to Balt for alumnae day and class reunions. Both are teachers in our H.S. so can't stay for commencement. I had tho't of going along but will not be able to, but do hope to get away the next week to go to Delaware, Ohio to see Ruth graduate from Ohio Wesleyan. She has specialized in Physical Education there with Math and science as side lines for teaching if she can get a place to try. Seems to think she would like to go on with pre-med or else special nurse training, she has already had so much science, but she will have to work first.

I have gotten out from under the loads of recent years and held few offices, but still belong to numerous church affairs. We are trying the 'Van-Ward' plan in our church this year and find a good deal to do. I am still on the library board but that is more or less routine work a good part of the time since we have a tax to support it. I still enjoy the contacts in Womens club work, but was not very active last year. However last week I was made president of our county federation, so will have to wake up. We have only two meetings a year but there are many contacts and conferences between times.

I was sorry not to see any of the class during my visits to Chicago. Tried to contact Laura the first year, but the second year we had just one day there as an incident of a lake trip from Buffalo. I have always been fond of being around the water and that was my longest trip on it. I once had a European trip planned when one of the party died and the rest gave it up. Then I married and have often jokingly remarked there was no hopes of my going now till I took my grand-children. Maybe I better begin to plan now!

I am still having education thrust upon me. My youngest daughter hates to read so I have helped her with her H.S. work a lot this year and have had to read with her some of the English classics which some way I missed in my school days - I wouldn't dare tell which ones or some of our brilliant teachers would throw up their hands in horror. Then my youngest - George who is already taller than I tho not quite 14. Started Latin this year and didn't like it till lately I have tried to teach him to play the violin, too, and he does play in his scout troop orchestra but I can't say much for my success as a teacher. He want to play a wind instrument instead so as to get into the band, be able to parade in a gay uniform and get into games free. He is just at the 'Scout' age and as their leader is very active he is always going somewhere with the scouts. Last year their troop won the big trip in the trailer - Chicago, camping on Lake Michigan, Cleveland Air races, and every thing between. It keeps me jumping to keep track. As soon as Ruth gets home Dot will be starting to summer school as she plans to go for nine weeks this year. I don't like her to be in Wash. So long in the heat, but it is nice for her to be with Frances and my sister.

I was certainly sorry to hear of Dr. Thomas' death - there are so few of our instructors left and they were such a fine outstanding group of men and women. Where is Dr. Bacon now? I enjoyed her travels.

I fear my patients should be fixed for the night and I do need a little sleep myself. I hope it won't be so long till this new R.R. will find me again with letters in it from every one. I think Alice has made a splendid plan for it.

Best wishes to all,
Edith Powell Pringle

Aren't the fasteners typical for a woman's letters - Who was so ingenious!