找到的传家宝

几周前, 我正在寻找一份 伊万豪 我祖父旧图书馆的沃尔特·斯科特爵士（Sir Walter Scott）. 吉尔伯特·P 爷爷. 埃利斯在 20 世纪 90 年代初送给我一个图书馆. 这些书和他的桌子都是宝藏，将陪伴我直到我死去的那一天.

小时候, 我曾经坐在他的办公室里，而埃利斯爷爷在他的旧手册打字机上写信给他的朋友. 即使电动打字机变得流行, 爷爷总是在他的旧手册打字机上打字.

我发现之后 伊万豪, 当我发现一个新宝藏时，我正在翻阅页面. 爷爷在夏天给他的朋友吉姆写了一封信 1932 但从未邮寄过. 82 年后, 我在一本书中发现了这本书，但我曾经曾经曾经经过拇指，但还没有开始阅读. 为了我的家人的利益, I am going to record it here. 爷爷在星期一中午写了这封信.

Dear Jim,

Received your letter and was glad to hear from you. Would have written sooner but met a couple of girls. Swell looking and being my room mate you know how I am where girls are concerned.

Went over to my aunt’s house and her daughter was there (没有关系). It took me three mornings to cut the lawn. I came home at twelve o’clock. Elevate your mind brother.

Are you going back to school? Don’t think I shall as the damn depression has hit us rather hard. Cramalia, I won’t be able to report you next year. Sorry, I won’t be able to come up this summer but may have a chance after the depression. If ever. Franklin was down in Santa Luis staying at Major Brown’s house. He wanted to see me but was unable to so because some foolish romance. How is your little sister?

The people with whom I live at the present time have a daughter who is a trifle smaller than your sister. You have my heartfelt sympathy.

Whereas in the past I have held your mentality in the lowest degree, I find you are a bit brighter than I. You did not mention a girl in your letter. I imagine you are not in love. But I being a damn fool, I’m in love with three girls. But of course, I like the little blonde I had up at school the best. (有时) Yo say muy loco par lum tunda tres querides, uno as malo a uno temprano en eso diaz. Adios amigo, Bert.

这封信是宝藏，原因有两个. 第一, it gives us a glimpse of my grandfather at 17 岁. While he grew out of his girl crazy phase and married my grandmother six years later, his ability to turn a phrase and his sense of humor are clearly visible in this letter.

I remember sitting in his office while he composed letters to his friends. He was always trying out his phrases on Grandma and me. “Lake, as I doubt that your shooting has improved much, your ability to lie convincingly about your prowess is greatly improved.” He wrote to President Ronald Reagan one time, “Most of the time, I walk into the polling booth, hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils but I actually thought you had something on the ball and chose you.” President Reagan answered the letter.

第二, I never knew that Grandpa ever went by Bert. 他一定在高中时使用了它，因为奶奶和他的朋友给他打电话 “Gil”, while his family called him “Gibbs” growing up. I have never seen him or anyone else refer to him as “Bert” before this letter.

历史和家谱的挑战是，如果某人不记录信息, it is soon lost. Finding this letter was like discovering gold. I hope you enjoy it.

别起来