December 29, 1931--Ann Arbor, Michigan

I have been reading Emerson with much comfort and again bolstered up my theories.

"A man is relieved and gay only when he has put his heart into his work and done his best."

"Watch the spontaneous outflowings of your genius. They may be as good as the best."

"True happiness can come only from and through yourself."

"Be yourself, there is no other quite like you. Only through the development of your own genius will you acquire self reliance."

Thoreau -- "Write simply and forcibly. Manual labor clarifies and eliminates froth in a man's writing."

Emerson - "We only half express ourselves. Only by the expression of the best and highest in a man can he acquire lasting satisfaction and contentment."

To me to interpret nature as I see it, to describe my experiences, my philosophy will always be my goal. My greatest satisfaction has always come from work of the creative type. I believe my searching is over and that from now on, my soul will be at peace. It is not scientific research but the other. I believe sincerely that now it is settled and that from now on I shall have the equanimity of mind that only comes through the elimination of all other possibilities, the narrowing down of my life's purpose to one all absorbing task, and that the expression of my genius through the medium of the written word. May I never deviate from this. I feel that I can now bear the next five months with fortitude and a smile and be happy in the thought of the future.

Words are glorious things. It thrills me far more to use them and to read over an old story of mine as I did this evening and to see that my judgement has been vindicated. For fifteen years I have searched myself and now at last I know and that brings me happiness. Searching searching, how indefatigable I have been and how relentless but at last I have found the grail, contentment in the only work which gives me satisfaction. Ten years ago when the vision first came to me on the Keewatin trail, how vague it was compared with what I have now.

"A man is relieved and gay only when he has put his heart into his work and done his best." And only then. All other exertions are simply a means to an end. May I conserve my energy so that I may always paint truthfully my picture of life.