R. D. 1 Box 3,
Pleasantville, N. J.,
June 16, 1925.

My dear Harold,

I am sorry to have missed seeing you yesterday, but I had no idea that we were to leave as soon as we did. However, I appreciate your coming around (that is if you did come around).

You can't expect much of a letter just now, but I thought I would drop you a line to keep you from walking on your lip. I have lolled around all day doing nothing, and I think that is all I shall do for many days to come. I am really quite exhausted by the two strenuous weeks I spent in New York. I am convinced that I was not intended for high life, as much as I love it.

There are two things which I want you to do for me in your spare time. I am enclosing a change of address card. Please take it to the 125th street post office and leave it there for me.

I also enclose a picture of Witter Bynner. Please have it framed conservatively for me; I think it had better be mounted on a white background, leaving an inch margin in order that the inscription and signature may be seen. When you go to retrieve it, my father will give you the money.

Have you received any word about your passport. Be sure you have every thing all right before you leave. I don't propose to be running to the President this fall to get you back into the country.

Let me hear from you when you get time, and be sure to tell me all the dirt. Remember me to all.

Your friend,

dresser.

Countee

(over)

30 Bastings Hall,
Cambridge, Mass.

Sept. 28, 1925.

Dear Harold,

This letter is for your private consumption, inasmuch as it may contain confessions and descriptions of things that might not be approved by more orthodox minds. In the first place, I slept in silk pajamas last night. Talk of the thrill that comes only once in a life time, that was one; taffy-colored silk pajamas. You see, one of our brothers gave a small party to celebrate my coming to Cambridge, and the celebration was so strenuous and so lasting that it was out of the question for me to think of going back to my rooms. Hence, the silk pajamas. And a splitting headache all this blessed day. Now, don't you get the idea that I am up here running wild; fact is, classes don't begin for me until Friday.

Harvard is a wonderful place, and I am all keyed up for a wonderful time. The one regretful thing about the situation is that a person really ought to have his very pal up here with him. Then everything would be fine. I certainly do miss you a terrible lot, and it didn't take me a long time to find out. But it won't be long before I'll see you again, although it may not be until Christmas, as some one was telling me that they only allow one day up here for Thanksgiving. But maybe some concessions are made to Graduate Students.

We waited for you last Thursday afternoon until three thirty, and I was sorry not to see you again. But wasn't I right in telling you so long the night before? I told you you wouldn't come back. Why didn't you? Here you angry with me for what transpired Wednesday night? I'm sorry, but I just couldn't help it.

Will you send me by return mail that snap of you and myself which you say you have? I want to send it to a chap out in Kansas. I have been promising him a snap for two months. In case you don't care to write immediately, just put the photo in the enclosed envelope, and write later. I am also enclosing an endorsed check for ten dollars. This brings my Christmas fund up to twenty-five dollars.

If I don't get to New York for Thanksgiving, won't you try to come up here?

I can promise you a fine time. I had a letter from Carl saying he intends coming to Boston this winter. That will be too bad!

I'll write you about my classes after I attend them. Meanwhile, don't forget my folks entirely. How did you like the talking pictures? Let me know.

Write soon, and tell me all the dirt.

Comité Cullen
30 Hastings Hall
Cambridge, Mass.

<table><tr><td>REGISTER<br>OR<br>INSURE<br>VALUABLE MAIL</td></tr></table>

Harold D. Jackman &reg.
7 West 134 Street,
New York,
New York.

(10

Mr. Harold D. Jackman
7 West 134 Street,
New York,
New York.

12

Allie Bullen
30 Haslingsore Stole
Cambridge, Mass.

Mr. Harold D. Jackman
7 West 134 St.
New York, New York

13

Countée Cullen
413 Broadway
Cambridge, Mass.

CAMBRIDGE A.MASS
APR 7
6:30PM
1920

WAVES

Mr. Harold D. Tackman
7 West 134 Street
New York,
New York.

Countess Celene
413 Broadway
Cambridge, Mass.

18

Pleasantville, N. J.

August 24, 1942

Dear Harold,

Ida and I were holding our hugs, expressive of our great joy in your birth, until your arrival here in Pleasantville. We thought you and Harry were coming down together and could therefore be hugged together. Naturally our arrangements for Buster could not be similar, so we sent him a telegram. Now, you see what you missed by not coming to Pleasantville. Your reason for not coming, however, is valid enough. I hope the letters you were expecting came and that you will be able to get some berth in the armed forces which will be to your liking. I promise to keep you supplied with cigarettes.

I received my certificate of competency; so I may now teach English, after having taught it seven years, on probation I suppose. The certificate, moreover, is good for the extensive term of one year. I think the Bd. of Ed. is getting battier every year.

It is always a pleasure for me to write something of which you approve, for I know how sincere your criticisms, even when the most adverse, are. Consequently, I am highly delighted that you found so little to disagree with in the prose version of THE LOST ZOO. I shall keep the letter until I see you. You hold on to the ms., for, as I told you I do not have another copy. Will you also be casting about in your mind for what you think would be a suitable title? I had thought of calling it THE little LOST ZOO, typed in just that manner; or perhaps it should be this way: The LITTLE Lost Zoo. Or perhaps it should be another title altogether, although the public might feel that that was cheating. You be thinking!

If you have a copy of THE TURN OF THE SCREW, put it aside, so I may read it. It may be that I have read it already, but I have forgotten it, if I did.

I am ashamed to confess that I have been reading Jane Austen for the first time. What magnificent and effortless writing! Will you ask Carl V. V. to give you whatever pictures of the Blessed Brother Martin he may be holding for me, and will you keep them for me until I see you. He will understand. You probably understand also.

How I wish I might have seen OTHELIO. TIME gave Paul a very fine appraisal although it seemed to hurt them to do so. Didn't Desdemona rate any comment from either you or TIME?

Pleasantville keeps me jittery with its constant thunderstorms, and I shall be happy to return to New York on the first of September. That is so near that I don't expect to hear from you any more until I hear your response when I phone you on my arrival next Tuesday. I can't begin to express all the love that is being sent you from the various members of this household.

June 4, 1945

Dear Harold,

See what extremities I am reduced to having to write on this
quasi-mourning paper! Don't forget to get me that package of unruled
white paper that I asked you for. Then I can cast this type of paper
aside. I am coming in to see you on Friday, so be home and have all the
latest news ready for me.

I had to stay away from work this morning because I was sick.
She is better now, but she will have to have an operation perhaps next
month.

Arne sent me a letter today saying that the musical setting was
coming along very satisfactorily, that Arlen already had some very
charming tunes, and that he would be getting back to Fisk the end of
this week. Also that there was every probability that Lena Horne will
play the lady.

Mr. St. Louis Blues Handy favored me with another letter this
morning.

All the best.