From 8-year old Hilda’s diary:
Early this morning Uncle Harold came up to see me, and tell me goodbye. He said that he was going to take a vacation to New York and there, he would see my father and he would tell him to come to see me. He said that when he came back, he would bring me a beautiful present. I would much rather not have the present and have him stay there or anywhere and never come back. While I was eating breakfast, I heard Alma and Gladys talking in the pantry. Alma said, “That poor man, a respected citizen, sitting in the box and seeing his own son brought in with a bunch of hoodlums.” I wanted to ask what man and how can he sit in a box? I think she meant Grandfather, and that must have something to do with Uncle Harold, so I was afraid to ask. Besides, Alma scolds and always tells me how impolite it is to ask questions about things you are not supposed to know, and if you do hear them, you are supposed to pretend that you didn’t hear them at all. I know I feel very sorry about this and I know everyone feels so embarrassed but whatever happened it caused Uncle Harold to leave so I think it was a good thing.
A good thing indeed.