The Tar Baby and the Tomahawk: Race and Ethnic Images in American Children's Literature, 1880-1939

Instead of answering your letters as I ought to have done I have been hurrying up with the Remus stuff, and I will send it to you as soon as I can have a copy made. You are placing me under great obligations, [?]my Dear Mr. Man, [?]and I thoroughly appreciate it. I enjoy your work whether it is humorous or serious, and the Cow and the Painter in Scribners came near putting me to bed. I laughed till I was as sore as an amateur baseball club in the suburbs. I want you to illustrate the matter in your own way, which is preeminently the American Way. We shall then have real American stuff illustrated in real American style. Be
cots.har.IMG.0145.jpgas comic as you choose, or as commonplace as you choose—you can't possibly fail to please me. There's this consolation: If you can't find fun in my stuff, you've got it in your bones, and fun is what we're after. Thank heaven! We're both red-headed.

I've been trying to find out whether I can accept your kind invitation but I can't tell yet. Some of our people will have to go to the big conventions After that hullabulloo settles down I'll let you know. I'd like to see those boys! Of course they take after their mother; and equally of course [?]she says they take after their pa; but they don't, do they? Think of having Jack Frost all summer, and only two pairs of slippers in the house to
cots.har.IMG.0146.jpgwarm things up! My oldest will be 18 in June, consequently I'm beginning to feel gray in the mind. He's reporting on an afternoon paper, falling into the business in spite of all I could say.

My regards to Mrs. F. I know she must be happy with those boys—not counting her old man. (Which is Georgia for husband.)

Joel Chandler Harris