Rev. Dr. William M. Nesbit
230 Portsea Street
New Haven, Conn.Sept. 21 - 1938.
Dear little girl:-
The Hurricane has come and gone - I thought of your poem many times - especially this morning - when the sun rose - and everything was placid and absolutely calm. I was only frightened once. Papa went down to buy candles at 5 P.M. - and I was alone. All at once - in the midst of the storm - a large patch of blue sky - and sunshine - appeared over Mr. Penrose's Garage - and next to the blue sky it was inky black - I knew something was very wrong - it was as if the hurricane wind had sucked in by vacuum force - some of the clouds. Then after a few minutes the wind struck - (having covered the blue sky) We had had it all day - but this was terrible - I was truly frightened. It took a large branch about 10 ft. long - off of the tree opposite - and great big twigs from our trees in the back. - Then the lights went out - and we had our supper - cooked and eaten by candle light. The lights went on about 12 midnight. but in Waterbury, in some districts - they are still off. The Naugatuck River - was almost touching the arch of the bridge - and the back wall of the little Budget Fruit shop where you bought the figs and plums was swept into the river. New Haven was hit worse. In some places the water was seven feet deep in the streets. I am so glad you have seen a hurricane - West hampton, Long Island was entirely wiped out. We are sending you some papers - You could not walk against the wind - it was 100 miles an hour. We were glad we had your flashlight. We used the two but we are sending it to you to-day. The worst storm that was ever known in the history of Long Island and New Jersey - that is going some -
Mrs. Calico - has had a lovely kitten - just like her - and where do you think she had it? In our garage Papa and I are delighted. She has it in the back - under the wooden planks - I have just been down with Papa. She is very timid - and stayed right outside the Garage when I went in and patted it. Papa got her a big bowl of evaporated milk and she drank it all, so her fear - is not nearly so great as it was. - Stomachs are wonderful things. There was eight inches of water in the Church cellar - but they use an electric pump. Did not dare go to Waterbury to-day. Too many trees and wires across the road. Dr. Wentworth just phoned. No supper at Mrs. Greaves to-night - as they have no electric light in that part of the city. Mr. Taylor the organist's husband just phoned - He said his two big trees were taken up by the roots and Plymouth has no lights or phones. I don't know where he went to phone. I told him Mrs. Taylor would have to use her own judgment - so I don't know whether there will be a rehearsal or not. I am tired to-day - so much confusion - and right after that blue-sky storm - the fire horn blew - wires had blown down on a roof and set it on fire - and a man had tried to fix them and was electrocuted on the lawn - and when the fire man got there - they found his body on the lawn. Do you wonder we were glad to see Mr. Sun - this morning? It was certainly like your poem. Andrew has been looking for you - up in the attic - she went up in the attic and cried and cried - and went all around - she had looked every where else - and reasoned it out that you must be in the attic. Brownie is asleep on the desk.
He is retrieving beautifully. The city had the water turned off and on - all day to-day - cleaning the hydrants - so I will do your dresses - to-morrow if we have any water - don't think we will.
Will close now - with "lotions of love"
Mummie.P.S. They are hissing Norma Shearer's picture in the theatres. Wonder why - Papa is enclosing the stamps for your letters. [No longer with the letter.] Please use them frequently. if only a few lines.
M.