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September 16, 1943

Mrs. Henry Beston Chimney Farm Nobleboro, Maine

Dear Elizabeth Coatsworth:

How can you possibly be so self-effacing about your enchanting books, new or oldl

Yes, indeed, children loved HOUSEBOAT SUMMER and FORGOTTEN ISLAND, and they loved ALICE-ALL-BY-HERSELF and AWAY GOES SALLY and TWELVE MONTHS MAKE A YEAR, and all the others -- so did their parents, too.

Each of your books brings not only story interest and fine writing, but also a bit of your own kind and gay personality, and although THIEF ISLAND may seem old to you, we are still anticipating it. We don't feel that we have the right to ask you to inscribe every book that you write for the Maine Author Collection, but we do like to have those with the Maine backgrounds represented here. In the traveling libraries, however, we have some that are not in the collection; and they all seem to bear signs of much use.

Good luck to the book now in progress; it sounds great!

Sincerely yours

hmj Secretary Encls--label and postage for THIEF ISLAND