on the jump all the time. I like it
though, Mable. Thats me all over. Isnt it?

Dont send me nothin for Christmas, Mable. I bought somethin for you but
Im not going to tell you cause its a surprize. All that I can say is
that it cost me four eighty seven ($4.87) which is more than I could
afford. An its worth a lot more. But you know how I am with money. A
spend drift. So dont send me anything please although I need an electric
flash light, some cigarets, candy an one of them sox that you wear on
your head. Ill spend my last sent on anyone I like but I dont want to
be under no obligations. Independent. Thats me all over.

[Illustration: "YOU PAINT A HORSE BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES"]

You might read this part to your mother. I dont want nothin from her
ether.

Rite soon an plain Mable, cause I dont get much chance to study.

yours till the south is warm,
_Bill._

Your mothers present cost me three seventy seven ($3.77).

_Joli Dame:_

Dont get that confused with Tinkers Dam, Mable. Tinkers Dam is
tecknickle an aint even French. I wish you knew more about these forin
languiges. I always herd a fello could express himself better in French
than anything else. Thats because nobody can understand him an he can
say anything he wants.

The Christmas holidays is over. I spent mine doin Kitchen police. The
only thing what pealed for me Christmas morning was potatoes an the only
thing what rung out was dish cloths. But I guess you aint familiar
enough with the poets to get that, Mable. It shows that I can be funny
an bright though even under adversary conditions. Kitchen police dont
explain what I do very well. I dont walk a beet or carry a club or
arrest nobody or nothin. I just--well I wish that hired girl of yours
could come down an do Kitchen police for a couple of days. She wouldnt
be quitten as regular as she does.

[Illustration: "I SPENT MINE DOIN KITCHEN POLICE"]

[Illustration: "I WISH THAT HIRED GIRL COULD COME DOWN"]

We celebrated Christmas by sleepin till a quarter to seven instead of
hap past six. Only they forgot to tell the fello what blows the horn an
he blew it at hap past six anyway. Imagine if anybody home had told me I
could sleep till a quarter of seven Christmas morning. I guess you
know what Id a told him, eh, Mable?

Theres a fello in town what says he'll send flowers anywhere you want by
telegraph. I was goin to send you some for Christmas morning. Then I
figgered it wa