I had two big, tremendous new babies. Their names were Baby Snooks and Robespierre. They were put in the big carriage, and that was their own bed too. I took the best care of them. They were my little brother and little sister, and I loved them with all my heart, like real live babies.

They came to me on December 20, 1949, the same day Granddaddy was born in 1887, some sixty years ago, and the same day exactly that Aunt Dorothy moved into her new home in the city that she made all the plans for.

I felt better after a while, and I ate a lot again and liked to be outdoors. I had a new picture to put in my room where I stayed when I had to be indoors so much.

Mrs. Bernbaum, whom we visited, came to see us in November, on the 15^th. In December, she sent me a beautiful picture of yesteryear, one hundred and twenty years old. It was made in 1829. It was blue and had ladies in blue gowns. It's called "Chapeau de velours. Robe de satin garnie de tulle," and "Le Conseiller Des Graces."

I was in the hospital when it came, and Mommy and I opened the package. Mrs. Bernbaum knew what would look pretty in my room which was French style.

At Christmastime, Miss Barkalow, who lived next door in a white house, brought me a gingerbread man. The Dollenbergs, who have Ann and Dougie, gave me presents, and they all came to see me while I lived there. They were the neighbors who lived on the other side. Next door to Ann, Lynne Swann lived. Next door to Miss Barkalow were the Gakenheimers and their three boys.

We took lots of drives out Harford Road. We drove to places near us to look at the scenery and get the fresh air, so I would be strong again after the operation.

The water supply of Baltimore comes from Loch Raven. It's a reservoir. The water is gallons and gallons from Gunpowder Falls. There are 23 billion gallons. The lake winds in and out for miles and miles all around and near us.

The Valley of Jehosophat is the other valley. We were between two valleys. In colonial times, the land was sold to Daniel Dulaney in November 1724. That's why it's called Dulaney's Valley. The word Jehosophat is from Jehosophat in the Bible.

There were bible names all around there. There's Joppa and Providence and Jehosophat. We were near East Joppa Road. A sign there reads, "The Joppa Road was originally an Indian trail used in 1695 by a troop of rangers from the garrison fort to keep back the Indians. Later the Highway to Joppa Town, the county seat of Baltimore County from 1712 to 1768 and the rival of Baltimore."

From where we were, you could see far, far away. The valleys were sometimes in a mist, and then the hills and dales look very dim.

But when the sun was rising or when it was setting or when the moon was brightly shining, the colors of rose and blue and purple and pale orange and yellow all floated into each other and the hills turned different beautiful colors.

It was very, very beautiful to look at the quiet lake of Loch Raven Valley. It's very peaceful, and sometimes when the sun is shining in midday, the waters sparkle like diamonds, millions of diamonds, and the sunbeams float down to the water and up again to the sunshiny sky.

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