My dear Miss Moore:

Last night I dined with Malvina Hoffman
and she told me that you had been having a
miserable time. I was distressed to hear this,
for, though we meet seldom, you have the gift of
creating friendship and affection. I hope that
you may soon be on your feet again. I have had
enough illnesses in my days on earth to know how
depressing they are and to sympathize with you
in the full meaning of that word.

My best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Your sincere friend,

January 19th, 1951.

December 26, 1966

Christmas Day (2nd)

Dear Marianne:

Your and Frances Steloff's gift of
<u>Tell Me, Tell Me</u> (with the lovely Arthur
Mitchell poem in it) brought a Christmas
glow well before Christmas, and decorated
my mantle piece beautifully before any
other gifts or cards came. It's such a
handsome looking book—and on good paper,
too, which is unusual for these rather
shoddy days and times when most pages be-
gin to turn sere in no time at all. I
love the book and thank you very much for
it. (As I've written Miss Steloff, too).

Advance copies of my new anthology of
Short Stories just came so I'm sending you
one because I think you might like the last
story in the book by the youngest good writer
I know, Alice Walker, just past 21, a poet to
(And a Southern sharecropper's child!)

A wonderful Happy New Year to you!

MARIANNE CRAIG MOORE

December 30, 1966

Marianne C. Moore, 7B
35 West 9th Street
New York City, N. Y. 10011

280 COMBINED STORIES

Inimitable, irresistible Langston. The Christmas book tied with
tied with silk red ribbon and poem just for me and what a dear
one: Lady Santa Ana? Why does the child cry?

About an orange he's lost, and cannot spy.

Tell him not to cry
For I have two ---
One for the child,
and one for you.
Langston, 1966

I don't know why you were not spoiled with love and care,
from the cradle, on, and were not a proud boy!

and all the holy blessings of Christmas - all those!

Beautiful, starry card of greeting - babies with goose and he-
red and green hoods,

I haven't read a word yet Edited, modest Lanston, but you
are here too.

1

You make me thankful for this Christmas. (V ery ill but delivered.) It"ts going away.

Everything of your's is blessed.

Now I read!

With love, M

I wo'nt cry; but I could, to spoil my letter

West
35 West Ninth Street 7 B

260 West 9th Street

Dear Langston,

Two

Two telegrams! and they've raised the price on us!
did

Nothing happened in 1966 that gave-me more good than that
Guggenheim Museum program, or gave me more joy than your
showing unfairness than its shabbiness, ugliness and self-
destructiveness.

another BIG SEA

I am getting myself another (THE BIG SEA) to lend.
I don't give parties . but when you are near 35 West 9th ,
come in. Telephone 4753201 .

4753201

Louise Crane told me to see BLACK NATIVITY.
I walked all the way to the River; saw a policeman on a horse
and had to walk all the way back; was in time and it was
worth it, meant to mention it at the Museum.

Grateful to you.

Marianne