Twin Mountain, N.H.
Dear Bessie,
I'm so happy that we are going to be - all of us - in Safford. And to think that you have a room right next door is just wonderful. It ought to make our Junior year even better than it's cracked up to be, n'est-ce pas? You don't know how excited I was to get your letter telling of the good news.
I came here from the Shoals on August 29th and after a respite of one day started in again working for three days at the same tea room as I worked in last year - The Elmwood. But now I have really started my vacation. Mother, Dad, and I will remain at Twin Mountain for two or three days. The boys have already gone to Florence with friends and will start High School on Wednesday.
During the day that elapsed between my periods of work we went over to Sugar Hill, a summer resort near here, to an auction for the Red Cross. The main attraction, however, was Bette Davis.
Florence, Mass.
September 8, 1940
It seems that Bette Davis comes all the way from Hollywood in the summer back to her native New England - she was born near Boston - and summers at Sugar Hill. At the auction she modeled some dresses which were auctioned off. It must have been rather hard for her to stand there and hear them bidding for her dress or hat or whatever she was wearing. Of course the clothes went sky-high - $25.00 was the lowest, and my size being considerably more than twelve I didn't bother to buy any. She modeled a red velvet skirt and striped jersey blouse that was really very stunning and I would love to have bought it. Afterwards [sic] I went up and got her autograph on the ticket - 10¢, but my brother Ed was more original and had her autograph his cuff. He had requested mother not to wash this cuff when she washes the shirt, so mother carefully cut off the autographed piece and intended to turn the cuff - it being one of Ed's best shirts. The latest news is that we have lost the autographed cloth - despite all precaution.
Speaking of clothes, I have bought a new coat - light brown or tan box coat with two big pockets and one small pocket:
a fly opening, and a zipper lining. In short, it is a four season coat and just fitted me, even to length. Also I bought a new dress - a plum-colored, shirt waist style. Shoes and hat complete the ensemble, and I feel quite prepared for fall.
Another incident of the summer was when I lost a small wire off my brace. The main brace is still intact, but the small wire which has been gradually pushing my front tooth toward the center came off at a steak party at the Shoals. The steak was almost raw and I was biting vigorously into my piece of meat when I felt something go, and after investigating I discovered the mishap. Tomorrow I shall go to Springfield and see what the dentist thinks of my spreading teeth after all his hard work to close up the spaces. The 16th of September just can't come too quickly for me.
Lotions of love,
Stelle