Aunt Nell, who might be thought too frail to bear such a blow, has responded splendidly. She has left his bedside since the tragedy only to take an hour’s rest or a little nourishment. She is sensible and not at all hysterical, in a way I confess I envy as well as admire at this juncture, for they, Uncle Felix and Aunt Nell, share our great loss and face possible ruin as we do.

There is insurance on the building but not its contents, and of course the building was worth comparatively little, and the contents considerable. Because of the poor prices this year we have taken cotton to hold for others until prices improve, standing good for supplies the owners need to see them through the winter, acting as their agents.

As I write to you, we are trying to find our way out of this chaos. Leon has rightly committed us to stand good for all that has been lost. In time we may possibly dig our way out, but it will be hard and take long, and the future is a riddle. The immediate problem is ready cash. The very presence of money is a promise, I have learned, as its absence is a threat.

We have committed everything and try now to be calm, but in the prevailing hysteria we are required to show gold. Our mere promise to pay is no longer good.

Edna and Bruce are wonderful. They have gone around pledging themselves as far as they dared to back our promises. Because Uncle Felix has been unable even to write his name, Aunt Nell has signed papers that may take the very clothes off their backs if all is indeed lost.

Christmas Day, I will not speak of, other than to say I am glad, dear Aunt, you were spared it. I hope never to see another such. All sat about, either speaking not at all, or all at once. Rachel, who cannot of course understand, would not, still will not play with her new toys. In time she is sure to love the doll you left for her—so prettily dressed, and I showed her how each garment comes off and goes back on—but now she will not look at anything. Dear Roman is the most successful in distracting her. She will walk out with him into the grounds. He tells her stories, and she adds little things to them as he tells them, so it is like a game, you see.

May God bless you and look upon us all with kinder favor in the New Year. Sarah.