My very dear sir,

Your kindness in remembering my solitude, by such a long and extremely interesting letter is quite in keeping with the loveliness of your disposition. I am amazed, but not surprised, delighted, but not so far in any ecstatic state about your wondrous honesty. Of course you promised to write to me, but why should you blight a white record of blackness by keeping your promise. I would not have you ignorant of how often I have thought about you, and those poor folk who have to gather together, to endure like good soldiers, the shingle nails of your eloquence. It seems too bad that some people were not born in Egypt, where they could kill their preacher without much ado. It do "bate the divil."

Now I feel better. Give us your hand old man. How is it with you and those summer girls. Did that fortunate numerical arrangement of "one fellow and twenty summer girls" prove anything of a handicap in the cupidical race. Remember Paul's advice "No soldier entangleth himself" so keep your weather eye open.

I am enclosing a sample of what I am thinking would be a good card for to Key in the indices of the Y.M.C.A. Bible Study department.¹ Put your brains circulating for once and give me your valuable opinion on it. Is there anything that you would add or subtract.

My work is very heavy this summer. I hope you are well old man, and that our master's sheep are being fed by you. It's a hard, good labor of love.

Good bye. Let me know your opinions by return mail.

Your sincere friend

J. W. Gordon

P.S. Be sure and let me know as I want to get them printed right away.

¹ The "Card" is not listed in the Calendar or on the microfiche.