ALS signed “Father,” three pages on two sheets, 7.75 x 13, no date. Letter to his son Thom, in part: "I will not go into the difficulty of writing this letter because you must know that is so. I am tired of your double talk. I have never let you down, and you take this as weakness. It is the usual thing when caught in a wrong to blame other people and finally to retire into anger, the usual baby thing. You are too old for this. You got caught in a fraud—and a fraud is theft. If you were a little older you would get up to two years in prison for it. It was stupid of you to think the telephone company would not catch up with you. It is the oldest trick in the world and they wouldn't be in business long if they couldn't handle it.The same is true of all other stealing…Get out of this dream world. You aren't getting away with anything. I told you long ago that your reputation is all you have and you make it yourself. Instead, when caught, you blame other people and finally hide yourself in anger with the silly thought that the world is against you…I asked to be allowed to do my work—work you live on and then this and many more things…I repeat—you are not getting away with anything. If you continue, you will increasingly be known as a fraud and no one will trust you anywhere with anything. Now have your emotional outburst if your want. I have protected you many times but there are areas in which I can't protect you. You are too old for this childish nonsense. It's stupid baby stuff…If you were genuinely sorry, which you say you are not, it is not enough. Even the church does not accept repentance without reform. You say you don't know why you did it, but everyone else does. It was a lazy cheating attempt to get away with something at the expense of someone else. It was also an attempt to prove yourself a big shot which you are not—or rich which you are not and I am not. I am struggling to support you and your mother and everyone else around me…I suggest that you get a job this summer, if you can, and pay back the people whose money you have taken. The world does not owe you a thing…I am thoroughly angry with you and I shall expect a letter from you by return mail."The unsigned postscript, written on a second, slightly smaller page, reads, in part: "Now the oldest and simplest thing for you to do it not to read this letter. That's not good enough. The second is to fall into despair which is a kind of self pity. The only brave thing would be to admit your fault and for the right reasons—to buckle down and make a change. If you don't—you will find yourself sinking deeper and deeper into a sadder mess, not an object of pity but one of contempt…Now you had damned well better get off your dime. I respond very well to honesty but you will find that your child-like hustling is now over. I want an answer, and if you 'forget' I will see that you are made to remember." In very good condition, with heavy overall creasing and wrinkling, and a few edge tears.Format: ALS