Hurlock. Md.
Dec. 8th 1935.Dear Bessie,
I was very glad indeed to hear from you. I had enjoyed the talks we used to have and missed your coming in to see me. It is very nice of you to be so complementary [sic] about the Latin, but I imagine most of the credit is due to Bessie's industry and her father's knowledge of Latin. I am glad that you are having a chance to study the Aeneid. If you had stayed here you would have missed that. In every way, the change has been very much to the advantage of all of you. I am sincerely glad of it because all of you deserve it. I think your marks were splendid. I know that there are not many in your school who can do any better than that. Your schedule doesn't sound very easy, so I know you must have to work hard to get marks like that. I am glad you sent me that article "The Tree-Like Christian", for I enjoyed reading it. It was very good.
Of course you know Miss Covey is no longer with us. We all miss her very much. I hear from her occasionally, but I know she doesn't have time to write very often. She seems to think that she will like that kind of work better than teaching. She was a first-class teacher, though. I wish we could have kept her.
We have been having almost an epidemic of typhoid fever here, and have had one death from it. I don't know whether you remember little Frances Jaynes or not, but I am sure you remember the other Jaynes girls. Vera and Alice both have typhoid and Frances died with it about two weeks ago. Almost every body in town has been taking the serum. I think all of the teachers except Mr. Sowers took it, but he decided that he would take chances.
Come in to see us sometime if you ever get the chance. All of us will be very glad to see you. The turkeys at the top of your letter were very realistic. I could almost see their heads being chopped off. Drawing was left out of my composition. I don't believe I could draw a turkey that you could possibly recognize.
It was very sweet of you to write the Latin for me. That is a splendid wish. Tibi gratias ago. I feel sure that you will make an excellent Latin scholar some day.
Wish love,
Ruth B. Mills.