Sep 24 2:00PM 1912

Chicago , Ill. Sept 23, 1912

423 W 60^th St.

Dear Mother:

I got your letter this morning. It surely looked good to get one from you and Cora the same time, and these were the first two.

I am better acquainted with the school work now and like it better. It takes about two weeks to get settled in a new school. I have three laboratories to work in. There are lots of small instruments etc. to keep track of and use. Yesterday I went with Forrest the boy that whose home I stay at // to his Church. He is quite interested in Church and Sunday School. His Church is the Baptist. My room mate is a Presbyterian and goes every Sunday. I have found out where the Mormons live or go to Church and may go out there next Sundat. Both boys have asked me about what Church I belong to. They surely opened their eyes and didn’t have much to say when I told them “Mormon.” Forrest says he wants to go out to our Church sometime.//

We have had two games of Tennis. Say I went to Spalding+Bros. here and bought some goods as follows:

Indian Clubs retail: 1.00

Tennis shoes 2.25

Tennis Balls 1.00

Guide .10

Of course they will be billed home to the store at wholesale. Ask pa to watch invoice and see if they give correct prices. I may want to buy something from M__Clury and the Farwell’s.

Let me know if you pa wants something from Farwells that I can get.// Ask pa if he remembers about pennant canes that Wilford Hamblin wanted. If he wants maybe I can buy some here.

The people treat us fine and we have a good, clean living.

I took another cello lesson today and it is going to be hard to get positions for a while.

The Sunday School here seemed so bland and the minsters sermon so dry although they said he is exceptionally good.

I’m glad I know about something better. Maybe sister F_____wont need to worry much about me. //

For exercise I will work Indian Clubs and play Tennis. Tennis wont last long though. I am getting used to the city road (?) and will soon be able to go around every place.

I sleep about 9 or 10 hours every night.

I wish that I could have helped with the cleaning of the door yards before I left. The place must look much better now.

I always think of you so much when I am practicing. It seems that you have always //encouraged me in practicing so much that I never get at it without thinking of you and worrying about you at home working too hard and then having to do the same things so much without a change. I think you and Pa ought to have a rest next summer some way. The day time is beginning to go very fast. That’s a good sign to me that I am beginning to get interested.

Tell Alfie that I am going to subscribe $1.00 only and I can get from 12 to 24 of the latest music for dance orchestra.// He won’t need to get any and I’ll bering a nice collection home in the spring. I have practiced lots today. There is lots of work here for students.

The papers say that business promised to be good this fall. You can’t tell much about what they say though.

You must let Anna read this letter, as it seems that I can only write one letter home as I tell everything in one letter. I will write to Kippy soon.

Your son,

Albert.

Provo May 28 3:30 PM 1912

Provo, Utah May 27, 1912
Dear Cora:
Your two pictures came and I think they are fine and so does everyone else. I had some taken and I have hunted the house over for what were left and can’t find them. I’ll have to get some more taken I’ll have to get some more. Say Updike takes better pictures than any photographer in Provo.
Earl, Lars and Lyn left last night for home and Laurence the night before. Ma sent a telegram that said she would be here about June 3rd. I think that she will want me to go to Grantsville and maybe stay until she goes home. I would only want to stay on account of helping ma home. I don’t want to visit here any longer and it is hard to stay with work. I think that pa will sent for me right away. I think that Gerald will leave// in a few days about four more. He may not wait until Emma comes. I will get to see her. Uncle Tom’s Cabin will be played here tonight. Gerald and I went to Spanish Fork Saturday night with the opera company. No sleep that night. Taylors may buy a home here and stay two winters. He can take his A.B. out in that time. There are only two and a half more school days and that many of Commencement exercises.
I just got a letter from home. Ma says for me to stay. She will make a short visit from what she says. Maybe all of these troubles don’t interest you much, but this is about all I think about now, going home.//
I will finish my books here in a few days.
Don’t remember whether or not I told you about spraining my th----b [??]. You may laugh and think I am a booby for taking about it. I have lost one month of practice and one week on the books on account of it.
The class year books are out today. I’m not at all pleased with them.
The president of the class leaves for a mission to Hawaii on June 6th. He will marry a college girl who he has converted this year from the Catholic Con--- and take her with. Many of the normal graduates from last year are here now for commencement.
I’m glad people ask you when I will be home instead of Janet and Thenza [?]. You //ought to let me in on that mountain trip that you and Janet are planning.
“I will try my best to make you contented.”
Well just remember that as I will.
Some of us went down to Provo lake the other day. There was something lacking though to make it complete. Maybe it was the fire-crackers.
It seems that you always have to give up your trips that you plan. Well when you do get out you’ll have a time that’ll pay up for all of the disappointment in one.
Of course you enjoy being in your old home again. I think it is so much better. If you and I go to the Drug Store then Dora and Grover may not hear the Yale lock click as they used to. I never hear a thing of Dora anymore.
June sent us fine invitations// for the graduations exercises.
I’ll send you a program of the weeks doings.
Everything is pretty here now. I’m crazy to see the "Big Knole," "Salads," "Clemente," "The Cedars," and everybody.
Tell Kippy to get my old book out and polish them up and get everything ready.
What do you do now that school is out?
I heard that Emma and Jode go out together again.
Paulson and Johnson speak a good word for everyone there except Brown and the Whitings.
Have you started to farm your land on the bench yet.
Albert