Letters to His Children | Page 8

and affectionate nature, who also crawls all over everybody;

and the flying squirrel, and two kangaroo rats; not to speak of Archie's
pony, Algonquin, who is the most absolute pet of them all.
Mrs. Roosevelt and I have, I think, read all your stories to the children,
and some of them over and over again.

THE DOG "GEM"
White House, Oct. 13, 1902.
BLESSED KERMIT:
I am delighted at all the accounts I receive of how you are doing at
Groton. You seem to be enjoying yourself and are getting on well. I
need not tell you to do your best to cultivate ability for concentrating
your thought on whatever work you are given to do--you will need it in
Latin especially. Who plays opposite you at end? Do you find you can
get down well under the ball to tackle the full-back? How are you
tackling?
Mother is going to present Gem to Uncle Will. She told him she did not
think he was a good dog for the city; and therefore she gives him to
Uncle Will to keep in the city. Uncle Will's emotion at such self-
denying generosity almost overcame him. Gem is really a very nice
small bow-wow, but Mother found that in this case possession was less
attractive than pursuit. When she takes him out walking he carries her
along as if she was a Roman chariot. She thinks that Uncle Will or Eda
can anchor him. Yesterday she and Ethel held him and got burrs out of
his hair. It was a lively time for all three.

PRESIDENTIAL NURSE FOR GUINEA PIGS
(To Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward)
White House, Oct. 20, 1902.

At this moment, my small daughter being out, I am acting as nurse to
two wee guinea pigs, which she feels would not be safe save in the
room with me--and if I can prevent it I do not intend to have wanton
suffering inflicted on any creature.

THANKSGIVING IN THE WHITE HOUSE
White House, Nov. 28, 1902.
DARLING KERMIT:
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and we all went out riding, looking as we
started a good deal like the Cumberbach family. Archie on his beloved
pony, and Ethel on Yagenka went off with Mr. Proctor to the hunt.
Mother rode Jocko Root, Ted a first-class cavalry horse, I rode Renown,
and with us went Senator Lodge, Uncle Douglas, Cousin John Elliott,
Mr. Bob Fergie, and General Wood. We had a three hours' scamper
which was really great fun.
Yesterday I met Bozie for the first time since he came to Washington,
and he almost wiggled himself into a fit, he was so overjoyed at
renewing acquaintance. To see Jack and Tom Quartz play together is as
amusing as it can be. We have never had a more cunning kitten than
Tom Quartz. I have just had to descend with severity upon Quentin
because he put the unfortunate Tom into the bathtub and then turned on
the water. He didn't really mean harm.
Last evening, besides our own entire family party, all the Lodges, and
their connections, came to dinner. We dined in the new State Dining-
room and we drank the health of you and all the rest of both families
that were absent. After dinner we cleared away the table and danced.
Mother looked just as pretty as a picture and I had a lovely waltz with
her. Mrs. Lodge and I danced the Virginia Reel.

A WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS

(To Master James A. Garfield, Washington)
White House, Dec. 26, 1902.
JIMMIKINS:
Among all the presents I got I don't think there was one I appreciated
more than yours; for I was brought up to admire and respect your
grandfather, and I have a very great fondness and esteem for your
father. It always seems to me as if you children were being brought up
the way that mine are. Yesterday Archie got among his presents a small
rifle from me and a pair of riding-boots from his mother. He won't be
able to use the rifle until next summer, but he has gone off very happy
in the riding boots for a ride on the calico pony Algonquin, the one you
rode the other day. Yesterday morning at a quarter of seven all the
children were up and dressed and began to hammer at the door of their
mother's and my room, in which their six stockings, all bulging out
with queer angles and rotundities, were hanging from the fireplace. So
their mother and I got up, shut the window, lit the fire, taking down the
stockings, of course, put on our wrappers and prepared to admit the
children. But first there was a surprise for me, also for their good
mother, for Archie had a little Christmas