Letter to 'My dearest Ellen,' 12 October 1940 — describing her own 'funeral' (page 3)
Book 1, Page 539 ·1940
Transcription
[Page 3. Continued from page 538.]
who seemed to be in charge whispend [sic] to the undertaker, “Spare no expense!” Later to the monument man: “Make it handsom [sic] — she was wealthy. Wealthy,” said I. “What do you mean?!” “Well, she had Texas oil lands and stocks and bonds in excess of a hundred thousand dollars. I am her executor.” “And pray who are you?” said I with some feeling. “I am Graham from Black Mountain.” This did not count with me, but I said nothing, for the situation was growing a
AI Notes
Third sheet of the six-page Judge Hammond letter (pages 537–542), numbered ‘3’ in pencil. The writer claims to the undertaker and monument man that the deceased was wealthy (‘Texas oil lands and stocks and bonds in excess of a hundred thousand dollars’) and identifies himself, when challenged, as ‘Graham from Black Mountain’ — the self-styled executor of the dead Ellen. Hammond writes ‘Whispend’ (for ‘whispered’) and ‘handsom’ (for ‘handsome’) — preserved sic in body.