took him to St.
Vincent's hospital and they fixed him up, but said he didn't look well
and I orter leave him there awhile. They put him in a ward with a lot of
other babies, and I go every day to see him. He can set up now and play.
I take him up something every time I go, and some things for the other
kiddies too. There are twelve little tads in the room, and they are
awful good when you think that they are sick. One little kid had both
his hips broke, and he lies on his back with his feet in a sling that
holds his legs straight up and he plays with his toys and talks to
himself and never whimpers except when he sees the doctor come in the
ward. Then his face gets awful scared, and his eyes get big and black
with a helpless look of fear in them, cause he knows the doctor means
changing his bandages and that hurts. The doctors and the nurses talk
and handle the children just as if they loved them. There is a little
boy in the bed next to Billy who is only six months older than Billy,
and he looks something like him. He has got Billy's blond curls, and
great big eyes, only he is much stronger. I suppose it is because he
lives in the country. His mother is an English woman with an awful funny
accent, but I like her real well. She lives out in New Jersey, somewhere
on a little farm. Her kid is going to leave next week, and she asked me
to bring Billy and come and see her. I told her I would, but Lord, I
don't believe I know where New Jersey is. When I come to think of it, I
ain't never been even to Hoboken. All the United States of America I
know is bounded on the north by 59th Street, and on the south by 14th
Street, on the east by Third Avenue, and the sun sets on Seventh Avenue
for me. I never stopped to think that people lived anywhere else, but I
suppose all these folks that we see chasing up and down with packages in
their hands must be going somewhere. You know, Kate, we ain't never been
in the country in our lives. Honest, I don't believe we have ever seen
real grass and I never wanted to before, but when I saw the look in that
little woman's face, and how different her baby was than Billy, I kinda
thought I would like to see how she lived. I wonder if country kids do
have a better time than city kids? We had an awful good time, if doing
just as you please is having a good time. Do you remember how you used
to shake my teeth out for following the hand organ men around town? It
is funny we young ones didn't get run ov