US Naval Training Station, Sampson, NY 1943

The following is a letter to Ned (highlighted in the back row, far left) while he was at the US Naval Training Station from his father.  Ned would have been 18 years old at the time.


The Murray
Sixty-six Park Avenue
New York

December 26, 1943

Dear Ned,

This is written for both Mother and me, because Mother is slightly indisposed.  Her good luck ran out last night, and she had a cough followed by a fever.  Not bad, but enough to make her feel rotten and today she is in bed, snoozing.

Yesterday was Christmas by the calendar, and in your beautiful gifts to Mother and me, but not in any other. way.  When Mother and Paul and I sat down to our little meal at about six o'clock in the flat, it looked pretty sad.  I thought of the long line of wonderful Christmas dinners that this family has sat down to, and I felt pretty low.

But that corking calabash pipe gave me a big kick.  I smoked it all day, and it is almost broken in.  It surely makes one feel that he is at home and in for the night when you get behind that stove and fire up.  Thanks a million for it.  I'll think of you when I smoke it.

Mother says to say thanks to you for the beautiful mirror and the stockings.  She will write to you as soon as her eyes feel better.  You know how the eyes burn when you have the grippe.

I gave Paul a set of poker dice and a dice cup and we have been playing a game called "Yote" ever since.  It is a corking dice game.  I learned it from Jack three years ago at his farm.  You'll have to take a whirl at it when you get here on the weekend.  Happy New Year!

We are all delighted at the splendid showing you are making in the course.  You have nothing to worry about as long as you are on the ball that way.  As you say, your grades are your own.  You never have to fear that someone may throw something at you without warning.  You will be qualified, and the others may not be.

It was swell of you to call us on Christmas Eve.  It made the evening much brighter for us.  You may wonder why we did not go to Jack's or to Pelham, or to Garden City.  It was because Jack was having all Pelham, and all Amy's people.  His flat is so small that he could not accommodate any more.  Mother Brown was booked with Jim for Paul's place, so there you are.  There was no place to go.  And it was just as well, as things have turned out, because Mother was feeling peepsy, and it was best for her to stay at home.  But the day, for a holiday, was pretty sick.  Oh well, it is in the past now, and we don't have to worry about that.

I do hope that you are keeping warm these days. There is so much flu around.  Take care of yourself.  Wear the old long drawers.  They will do a lot for you.  Keep the legs warm.

We got a nice little package of herbs and trick vinegars from the Hoopers.  They wrote that they are going to Albany for Christmas, with that Mrs. Von Salis.

Mother really ought to be around tomorrow.  At least well enough to write a letter to you. Do not worry about her.  It really looks like a good old case of what we used to call "la grippe".

Yesterday noon, Paul and I stopped into the bowling alleys at 46th and Lex.  We rolled four games not very well, but it was fun.  Now Paul is sort of suggesting that it might be a good way to put in a little time this afternoon.  Maybe so.  I'll take him up there, and let him work off a little steam.

So here's looking forward to your coming next Friday.  Get here as soon as you can.  We'll be waiting for you.  Keep in good health, and whistle for a wind.

Love,
Dad

Mother sends lots of love too.