August 1919 Letters Found

When I was trying to figure out where I left off so that I could recreate the broken links I found letters that I had previously transcribed. I have decided that I will transcribe letters even if I scan them and post the images so that if the link breaks it will be easier to recreate the link, I find this letter interesting because it shows my grandparents beginning to hope again even though Tad was still so weak he hardly could stand on his own. - Jane

August 13^th 1919

Dear Mother,

Speaking about how slow a process it will be to teach Tad just listen to this and then think how fast a process it will be.  When he got home [from the hospital?] Jess had two things taught to him, one was by placing his hand on her face and then smiling he got it and would smile back.  And when he had his cracker or bread all eaten up and wished to signify that it was all gone he would show his hands empty palms out, so Jess to show him that there was no more to give him would hold his hands up then place hers against his palm to palm.  He got it, and would then quit asking.  Since he got home we have gotten him to imitate us in several ways.  In feeding himself he would take his own spoon and fill it and then I would get it shipshape and to indicate to him that it was ready I would tap twice on his spoon.  He would wait until I tapped twice after he got the idea.  The other day he was playing with his pennies and started to count 1,2,3,4,8,16,18, etc.  I got him to count them into my hand then I counted them back into his hand placing our cheeks close together.  I would count then he would count.  He knew what I was saying and thot [sic] it great sport. 

Yesterday he was singing at the top of his voice and all of a sudden told his mother “You say ‘Don’t make so much noise”  Jess placed his hand to her cheek and said it but that was not satisfactory so he pulled her face down next to his, and she said it,  he said “All right” and laughed and thot that a good one.  They did that back and forth a good half dozen times until he was tired.  He fully understood what she said.

Today while he was siting on my lap all of a sudden he placed his hand on his throat and started to say “You-  then repeated “You” over a couple times then of his own accord he placed his hand on my throat and I said “you” and he would place his hand from his throat while he said it to my throat while I said it.  He understood that we were both saying the same word and that it was “You”.  By the time he is able to walk he will not only be ready for teaching but will have a good start. He is a happy little boy and just as patient and good as can be.  Only once in a while he gets night and day mixed and then we have our troubles.  I tell you what our policy of always being on the job and giving him what he asked for and or  [illegible].  He has got the idea and is ready to be given various articles and taught their name.  He is still to weak to want to bother much or long at a time. 

What we need now is to know the proper way to hold our hands or his hands to our throat(s).  Also our own speak [sic] must be developed so that the lip, nasal, and throat sounds are accentuated. 

And darned if Tad is not all ready for it.

He sits up in the chair and holds his head better, and yesterday he turned over on the bed and tried to get up on his hands and knees but could hardly make it.  And now when I lift him he tries to put a little push into his legs.

Yesterday I gave him a toy areoplane [sic] a tin one about 5 inches across.  Now he has never seen such a toy and the only Arieoplanes [sic] he has ever seen have been those of the Flying circus, but after he had felt that one over he asked “How do Areoplane [sic] go?”  I never had the least idea that he would know what it was. 

His brains are working.

He knows that he is home.  Knows his toys and is thoroughly enjoying himself.  Tho some days wants a good deal of attention, otherwise he seems contented and happy.

This morning he told me “I cant see”

 [Dr. Winthrop S Chapman]