Fourway Farm,
September 6, 1934.

Dear Ab.,

Ever since you went down to that job in town, I have been wishful to be able to write to you a letter what did not sound like the chatter of a peevish ring-tail possum upbraiding its young. As I have told you before, I dont injoy writing snarky letters any more than you like reading them.

I have always had hopes that the fambly gumption of the old James clan would break out in you sooner or later even in the mist of a modrun and misgided world.

Well, Ab., though I cant say as I have caught any faint glimmers yet of the old James spirit gleaming through the fog I will say I am terrible pleased to see you have the good sense to take good advise even when it comes from most unlikely quarters.

When you tell us in your last letter that the plucked and painted young filly what you refer to as your girl friend has laughed you out of your suddin wish to become a great artist, and talked you out of your recent leanings toward the Communistic docktrin, me and your ma is both repentant and pleased.

We are repentant because of certain pretty raw things we thought and partly said about the photo you sent us of the young woman. And we are pleased she can inflooence you in a common sense way your aged parents cant.

Be that as it may. Fixed like we are in simple rustic sceens, me and your ma is a bit old-fashioned I suppose, and this here new stile in plucked and painted diles sort of set us again the photo at the beginning.

If any appolagies is needful for what we said and thought we are offering them herewith in such quantities as may seem fitting.

In the meantime, Ab. me and you ma is so intrested in a young person what is able to inflooence our youngest son where his parents cant that we would like to make her acquaintance. So if you can manidge it without giving her the idear we want to look her over with view to above, we would be glad to have her as a gest at Fourway Farm any time she has a few days holiday and can put up with country life and ticker without nervis strain.

Try and be a bit diplomatic in this, Ab, and drop a hint that it aint our usual habit to serve cocktails or dress for dinner, though I did hear your brother Joe wording the hawker about a pink striped shirt after he had heard us discussing this here invite.

Well, son, I must say I feel a good bit flattered to think that you should ask your old man's advise about voting at the coming elections. And I am wondering did the girl friend have a hand in this likewise.

Well, Ab, dooring the last twenty year I have made it a strick rule never to give anny man advise about politics, eether fedril state local or domestic. I find life comes easier that way.

May be I am getting a bit kinikle - I know that is spelt wrong - but may be I am getting that way in my old age, but I always gives my own vote to the party what is likely to do the leats harm

As regards money shortage. Ab, I don't want you to get thinking your youth is spent in days of uncommon distress. It aint. Depression in this life is more of a rule than a ixception. When I was round about your age frinstance, if a likely single man was seen flashing a fiver in a rash and ungarded moment, all the girls used to rush in and try to marry him for his money. Them was hard days.

Love from all at home,

Your aff. father,
JAS. JAMES

"Den"
Herald, 8 September 1934, p6