November 25 Friday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Lee, Mass.

No, dear, they won’t let you see Clara; I wish they would but they won’t. We can go & see Bambino [Clara’s cat], but not the rest of Clara’s family. It is too bad, but it can’t be helped. However, Miss Gordon reports by telephone this morning, that Clara’s appetite improves, & that she is perceptibly making progress. That is pretty good news, I think. Mrs. Rogers, by my request, has postponed my birthday a couple of days—to Friday, Dec. 2. For several reasons: Wednesday Nov. 30 would be too soon for you, after your packing labors, your journey-fatigues, & you would need time in which to rest up & get a little wonted to your new & but half-settled nest, & begin to feel a little at home and reconciled. And goodness knows I don’t want my real birthday noticed—Dec. 2d is better.

I’ve got to get up, now, & receive Elsie Leslie Winter. I wonder what her errand is? I’ve no place to go; I wish I could stay in bed. “Dam!” as Mr. Rogers says when his cards don’t suit him.

Have the addresses of the periodicals been changed to New York? But, never mind answering that; you’ve a plenty to do for the present. / With heaps of love / Father [MTP]. Note: at this point the plan was for Jean to arrive on Nov. 29, judging from Sam’s Nov. 23 to Sue Crane and his estimation that Nov. 30 would be “too soon” for Jean to attend his birthday celebration.