Twenty-Three to Twenty-one by Michael Ceraolo

 #23

                        "[1883  Sep 15]

My very bad friend,

(Who does not deserve

that I should care where he goes, or what becomes of him!)

Are you coming to Newport?

One day I hear that you are, the next that you are not"

"Sometimes . . . when I feel exceedingly gloomy,

I have an idea I would like you to come & talk to me"

"I like the sound of your voice"

"Will you come?

Of course, if you are an old bundle of worldliness

& have no heart, you needn't"

But "If you can remember a time when you were very unhappy

& I tried to say things to comfort you" then

"Do come if you can

22 Brimley st.           Yours Sincerely

Newport R.I.    (Julia I. Sand)     J.I.S.

Sept 15th, 1883.

Arthur:

I noticed that you did not say anything

about my signing the Civil Service Act,

which, though limited in scope,

will be a good beginning

and I think the signature achievement of my administration

I remember coming to see you,

and that in person you were the opposite

of the way you are in your letters,

so I don't think I'll be coming to see you

in Newport, New York, or anyplace else