Grandma and the Twins

“Grandma White” doted a bit over the twins. “They both know me,” she wrote to their father in mid-January, “and laugh and crow as soon as I come in sight. I take one, and the other will work his arms and make every maneuver to have me take him, too. But one, you know, is an armful. It is a treat to me to see and tend the little ones whenever I can.”—Letter 169, 1897.4BIO 323.3

In mid-March she wrote to Willie, “Both are very spry at creeping, something you, their father, never did do.”—Letter 189, 1897. And three months later she reported that they were “trotting around now” (Letter 138, 1897). They were delighted when grandmother would take them for a ride in her carriage. She wrote of this to Edson on July 4—midwinter for Australia:4BIO 324.1

Willie's family are all well. The boys are healthy, rosy-cheeked, rollicking little fellows. When Sara and I go to Morisset, four miles and a half, or to Cooranbong, one mile and a half, or to Dora Creek, three miles, we manage to tuck in the children and give May a little resting spell.... Having to manage the two, she cannot do much else.4BIO 324.2

The lads have learned when the horse comes to the piazza, they will both run to grandma, their two pairs of little arms stretched out, saying, “Gegee, Gegee.” This is about all the words they speak. They are in such ecstasies over getting a chance to ride that I have not the heart to say, No. So they bundle in with their little red coats and white plush caps. We are all caught in the mistake of not distinguishing them one from the other....4BIO 324.3

They have been good-natured and not troublesome, but now they are so lively we will have to watch them. They have lived very much in the open air, and can scarcely be content indoors. Their great delight is in being on the ground....4BIO 324.4

Willie has been having a one-story cottage built. We have arranged that the piazzas shall be eight feet wide and on two sides of the house. The railing is made so that there is not a possibility of their getting out or falling over, and there is a gate that will have a spring catch which will keep them corralled, so the young White colts will not be straying out in the woods like lost sheep.—Letter 164, 1897.4BIO 324.5