Darling old Nancy Rosebud:
 
      I loved Johnny Marshall's (orf'ly [sic] partial) present¹ to you. Very naughty but rather nice. I love that sort of chair--but think there is something very sweet in nature when unadorned--as per illustration.
      Naturally, I assume you'ld [sic] hardly remember the famous first time when I forgot to put in the little sorter [sic] stake in front--so that you being very top-heavy fell on your sweet lil rarrystocratic [sic] nose. I felt so 'shamed.
      All this makes me remember so many things about you. When I used to "warm" your milk at 5 am. And when it was ready sing "Then here we are Then here we are" and you would jounce up and down, arching your little belly in a most wonderful way. I don't see how you missed busting a gut.
      I always meant to paint you sitting at a table with breakfast things in front and a rubber cow. You were to be holding a toy balloon--with a light figured wall paper behind. Alas, it didn't get done, like so many things but it would have been nice to remember you by.
      I have just been reading Vanity Fair. Rather amusing article by Aldous Huxley about Vamps. He distinguishes between fleshly Vamps and Spiritual Vamps--and hates the latter and I imagine he's right in that. Its [sic] probably all right for a woman to try to attract a man physically, but silly for her to attempt to dominate his mind. Are you a Vamp sweet daughter of mine? Do you try to raise Hell with men, and make them be on their backs and put their paws in the air. How glad I am that I love you like Hell-boys as a Papa--but am not in love like a lover.
 

                                Your most loveracious old
                                         Papa
 
                                 Each drawing represents a kiss.

General note:   For the most part, transcripts retain the author's original spelling, abbreviations, underlining, capitalization, and punctuation (or lack thereof).   Transcriber's comments, changes or additions are in brackets.
 
1. Nancy's friend Johnny Marshall had sent her a potty trainer for the baby she was expecting.