ALS, two pages, 5 x 8, November 12, 1942. Letter to Mary A. Phraner, in part: "I am glad that you and your sisters like my books. I have written the 'one more book' you want to finish the story. It will be published this month and its title is 'These Happy Golden Years.' I hope you get a copy for Christmas and that you like it as well as the others. Sour dough was really a substitute for sour milk and was used in cooking just as sour milk was. We had no baking powder in those days and used soda with sour milk or sour dough. To start it, mother mixed warm water and flour a pinch of salt and a little sugar making it about as thick as gravey. This was kept in a warm place until it soured. It was then used as sour milk to make the biscuit but a little of it was left to help start the next batch souring…We used it only when we had no milk, which of course is better." Includes the original mailing envelope addressed in Wilder's hand, incorporating her name, "Mrs. A. J. Wilder," into the return address; the envelope is affixed inside a sought-after first edition of These Happy Golden Years, the book she references in the letter. The letter is in fine condition; the book is VG-/None, with heavy wear to the spine and splits to spine cloth. These Happy Golden Years is based on Wilder's adolescence near De Smet, South Dakota, and was the final 'Little House' book published in Wilder's lifetime.
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