That was a precious letter — bless your warm heart!
It is good to hear about your children — all of them fine young people, and going places, "high-hearted with a hunger for the new". I feel deeply all you say of them, and what can not be said even more. How very worthwhile it all is!
Things go well here, as usual. Nice, spangly Xmas with five (5) grandchildren to furnish the enthusiasm and sense of wonder. We do not think of
Alice's horse business is growing rapidly. She has a riding school, as you may know. It is well patronized, but the horse raising and training is more important in the long run. She has 12 horses of her own and is boarding and training several others — with the help of Mr. "Dick" Cook of Stephens College. He is a master and an excellent influence for Alice. She is all fire and plunging — like the high-bred horses she handles. He is quiet, slow-moving, wise. (He is nearly 60 years old & all his life has been spent with saddle horses). Alice has several really fine horses, and Mona & I have one. Really top horses, some of them, with the very best bloodlines. Also, Mona & I have four ponies — two of them mares with foal. We expect some beautiful colts in the spring.
University classes are doing finely.
This carries love to you. You are good and dear.
John Neihardt
We have remodelled the barn with 14 box stalls. Also, we have a good riding ring.
Your brother and I have many a good talk out in front of Jesse Hall during the noon hour.
