Dear Nelda,
You asked how I happened to get into that chain. It’s really very simple. You see; I, too, live in York three months of the year. The rest of the time I’m here in Cleveland staying with my Uncle and attending art school. I will have completed my first year at school in June.
A girl friend of mine received one of those letters and sent it on to me. I don’t know whether or not you know her. Her name is Betty Jane Griffith. If I have figured correctly – the girl who sent Betty’s letter was one of the five to whom you sent letters. Her name is Arlene Reimold. You can ask her about Betty, if you do not know her.
I hope I have made it clear now.
About myself – I am about your size, being five feet tall, and weight 102 pounds. I am eighteen years old and graduated from “Bill Penn” last June. I came to Cleveland in September to enter the Cleveland School of Art and am staying with my Uncle and cousin, as I said before.
School will be over in June and I’ll be coming back to York. Perhaps we’ll meet.
I think I know the Thelma Berra you mentioned – also her sister June. But she doesn’t know me. Perhaps she know’d my name. I just know her through going to high school while she was there.
I do hope that telling you that I’m from York isn’t a disillusionment. I’d like to have this letter be as much of a surprise and a thrill to you as the first.
I can’t tell you how much of a thrill it was to receive your letter. Truthfully I only entered the “chain” half-heartedly and never expected to hear much of it after that. As yet I haven’t received any hankies; but, even if I never get any, I’m glad I entered because of this interesting experience and new acquaintance!
Before I go I want to apologize for addressing your letter to Miss Roth. You see, I just addressed it the logical way since there was Mrs. before your name.
I share one of your characteristics. I don’t talk on and on in an easy way like some people. I wish I could – it makes one more at ease and better able to make friends. I never talk a lot around friends and in the presence of strangers it is an even harder task. So this letter is quite an accomplishment for me. I hope you can forgive me the brevity of it and that you can understand the thoughts I’ve tried to express.
I should be glad to hear from you any time you have an afternoon with nothing to do.
Thanks so much for writing.
Sincerely, Virginia Horn
(But I’d much rather be “Ginger”)