Dear John:
If I had any paper still gayer – striped, perhaps, or checked – I’d use it for joy! I just got home and found the lot 18 letter. I’d like to do much more than throw up my hat – which I did do without beginning find it enough [?] It is glorious news! If there were any use I’d telegraph you this minute but I’m glad you are not within reach of telegrams but up on Lake George to celebrate. What fun to rip off those signs! I hope you’ll stay up a few days extra to celebrate at the camp and at the temple and in your water limousine. I wish I could be there to “rooky” for you! – Indeed, I know that no one of us can realize how much work this achievement has cost – because we’ve seen you in the doing of only such a small fraction of it and haven’t seen and can’t measure the hard hammering brainwork that was the foundation of it and pushed it across! But I do know what a marvelous thing you’ve done for all the rest of us, and for posterity. I’m thrilled by the thought of it just as I am by the look of Tongue Mountain. Every time I approach it from the south. It is so glorious as it juts out over the water! All the family are asleep and the house is silent – but I’m so excited about this I could – well, I’d like to be up there giving a good rip at some of the yellow signs!
I started a letter to you last night but it’s an anti-climax tonight. However, I’m enclosing it [?] but you need not read it. I’m afraid I’m awfully long-winded about my letters anyway and the only thing I can say for myself is that I talk less than I write.
We had a lovely walk this afternoon and the woods were very gay and smelled good as they looked – and sounded good, too. You know that gentle sound of falling leaves and the crackle of leaves under foot.
Mother and Father and [Erica] to whom I told the news of lot 18 all send their congratulations. Fritz just said “hot dog!”
And I just don’t know what to say! Saying isn’t enough!
Bertha