138.
1930:
Ottawa, Ont. April 15,
1930 [2]
My dear A.L.P.,
We have just rented a partly furnished cottage 4 ½ miles
from the city limits and want to retire there by May 1 st
. I am wondering whether you have uncrated what furniture
we sent to your address; also whether you were figuring on
keeping some of it for good. If the answer to both questions
is "no", would you ship it on, addressed to me at Ottawa
? If the answer to question 1 is "yes", but to question 2 "no",
could you let somebody recreate it and forward, letting me
know what the expense is so I can send you cheque? If the
answer to question 1 is "yes" and to question 2 a qualified "yes" - would
you let me know at once what you wish to keep? I shall, then,
replace it by a purchase here. We are shipping all our stuff
out from Rapid City ; for we are settled here for a year
or two anyway. I should like to sit down once more in a chair
of my own.
If you come east, we have, besides our cottage, a screened-in
sleeping house which will await your people for occupancy
for any length of time you care - five months if possible,
as our guests. Will you honor us?
I hear that the gnats are buzzing. "F.P.G. eats his words",
they say: "he is after money."
I thought I'd explain to you; so, if the rumour reaches
you, you can set them right.
I am not eating my words: I refuse to write for money. But
money I must have to live.
So what do I do? I prove that I can make money when I want
to.
But on April 1 st I resigned - for June 1 st . They wouldn't
let me go. And at last they offered me a salary (for combined
Ariston, Graphic, Mail-Service, & Canadian Biographies,
all of which I now manage) such that we are now comfortably
living on 20% of my income: and the savings of the next 2
yrs. will make in independent for life; even though no further
raise in salary comes; but I feel sure that by December 1
st they will again offer $2400 more. All which goes to show
I'll do anything but sell my [?], in order to make myself
independent. And when I set out to make money, I can make
it . Every second month I buy $1000 bonds. And there you
are.
Well, bye-bye, old man. I have scarcely time to breathe.
All 3 well? Best regards to you 3 from us 2 (!??!).
F.P.G.
