My dear Mrs. McQuesten,

Your letter of the 11^th and Hilda's were both received and much appreciated. On account of an attack of Grippe I have been kept in the house, so have only seen my grand daughter 3 consecutive days after her arrival & of course just a few minutes each time tho' I hear she is progressing, as also is her mother. It was indeed a relief to have the great occasion over, & everything in the best of conditions, the sunshine of their home is very bright just now, clouds will come however, and it is well, without them there could be no growth. I cannot say who the wee thing is going to resemble tho' I thought there was more Lazier than Mullin about her looks. Nellie who arrived yesterday went in with Mrs. Lazier, on their way back from church, actually had her in her arms, carried her from the nurse to her ma, quite a privilege as she is to spend her infant days in a basket "a la Moses" & no baby talk allowed for fear of injury to the brain. I simply told them I would talk baby talk & if not allowed to say hootsy, tootsy, pootsy, I would say toodely, hoodely, poodely,-- I wonder when she has a big tummy ache, if they will tell her, "Alice Elizabeth must not cry when she has a pain, she must bear it bravely & not injure her brain." What a genius she will become with such wonderful treatments? If she is ever left alone with her Grandma Mullin I am quite sure she will hear a good many things to put her wee brain in a whirl and dipples[sic] in her face, the little darling, I can do all my caressing in French & then they won't know what I am saying.

Thomas was here for dinner, he and Nellie have gone to hear the Bishop of London at the Savoy. It was quite a help to have him carve the joint for my big family, we still take our meals on the veranda & find our table small with the stout personages around it, Mrs. Lazier is the only one of small dimensions. I wish you could have been beside Nellie & heard the peals of laughter caused by Willie's wonderful speeches, he certainly is very funny. One day we were talking rather solemnly of different deaths which had occurred in the family when he remarked that when his time came he thought it would be the liver, I just burst out laughing, he then said it was no matter to laugh at, he is always making most unexpected remarks. I defy anybody to keep a straight face when he begins. I am so glad of these beautiful days for all of you & especially for Ruby, the cool nights & warm days must be beneficial to her. Tom said you were all looking well.

Miss Mullin is doing very well at the hospital but will have to remain there for some time yet, on account of the grafting to be done. Mrs Lazier will remain till she is ready to go home. I have not seen her since I was obliged to take to my bed, it would be quite impossible for me to go to the hospital every day, that tramp uses me up, it is worse since they have the open cars on Barton street. Last night was my first outing, I went to dine at the Malloch's with Nellie to meet Dr. Osler who was passing through on his way to Baltimore, he is looking wonderfully well.¹

My neighbours have returned & with them the noise of the children whose brains keep pace with their legs & lungs, if the theory is correct that all motion originated in the brain, they are certainly very active all around.

I was very glad Laura went with the party, she will be such a comfort to Mrs. Thomson when the married couple are off on jaunts, surely they will not remain in Scotland all winter, I have always heard the Scotch winters were very trying. I am writing quite an epistle full of nonsense and this is Sunday--forgive me dear Mrs. McQuesten, you know I do not profess to be very good and conversing with you even on paper cannot be a big sin. What think you?--Well I will stop--Give my love to the girls, tell Hilda, her letter was like getting a glimpse of her dear face--I will write to her sometime--in the future. With much love to your own dear self-

Ever your friend

Sarah Mullin

¹ For large foonote on Dr. Malloch, see W4582