Letters to America

Saturday, October 5th, 1940

Dear Joan,

I have just been reading your letter written in grown-up’s writing and I think that the writing is quite good, seeing that you are only just starting to write like that. I shall watch each letter to see how you improve. It is very kind of Aunt Mary to practise with you after school and I am sure that you will soon be as good as the other children of your age.

We shall keep your letter to the babies to read to them on their birthday, and I thank you for your wishes for me for my birthday. We are so glad to hear that you like your school and your teacher; if you do like them you are bound to do well in your lessons.

How wonderful for you to be keeping up your music and also to be learning dancing. It is very kind of the lady to give you the lessons. Do you meet any of the other Kodak(1) children there? Also, do you see anything of Janet and John Kemp?

Now I wonder what news I have for you this week? First of all I must tell you that we have lost our rabbit. We found the little children to whom it belonged and of course they were delighted to have it back. I thought that the babies would cry when it went, but they don’t seem to mind at all.

Dear Joan, it is very miserable over here now, you would not like it at all. There is hardly any time to get over to the swings and round-abouts, because we get so many air-raid warnings. The babies don’t mind because they are so little, but you would miss your outings with your friends. Please write a little letter to Dora Gleadhall, she often asks after you. In case you have forgotten, she lives at No. 42. I know she would love to hear from her old playmate, you two had so many happy hours together.

Now fancy, you are learning to manicure your nails. How hard your Mummy tried to teach you to do that. I do hope Aunt Mary has better luck with you, because you so easily forget when you are excited about your games.

Aunt Mary tells me how you go marketing together and make dollies clothes. I know that Baby Olive(2) will not be jealous of your new dolly. How are they both?

Well, good bye for the present, Joan. I will be writing to you again next Friday, with another copy of your “Sunny Stories”(3). Do you still enjoy reading it?

Lots and lots of love from your

Daddy
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  1. Kodak is an American company that produces various products related to its film photography. The company has its headquarters in Rochester, New York. Joan's father was an assistant superintendant at Kodak's factory in Harrow and she was evacuated to Rochester in 1940 as part of a scheme organised by the company.
  2. Baby Olive was Joan's doll.
  3. Sunny Stories was a children's magazine published in the United Kingdom in the first half of the 20th century.