22 days until christmas

Dear Anna,

 

Today Mama said that I should learn how to spin. She said that when she was my age Granny had taught her how to spin the wool into yarn. She said it would be good for me in times like these to learn a new skill.

 

I said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." That was, apparently, not the answer she was looking for. Her face got all red and her lips puckered up like she had just got hold of a sour lemon. Granny covered her mouth with her handkerchief but I think maybe her eyes were smiling a little.

 

So I sat most of the day with a wooden drop spindle and a basket of roving. I almost appreciate hemming handkerchiefs now. I have an idea how not to hem handkerchiefs tomorrow.

I am very glad to write these letters. I hope that one day they will amuse me to remember these times.

 

Anna