My dear Martha and children,
I just got your nice letter and was mighty glad to get it. I had just got back to the house from taking my suit to the cleaners. He said I could have it by tomorrow noon. I’ll get some new shirts the first time I am down town like you say.
I got in a good day yesterday. I was marked up for bonus and as I was nearly thru in the evening something went wrong with the power. It was off in both cities for about 15 minutes. That tied up the lines till I got in about 2 hours extry so I made $4.40 instead of $3.50,and today I am conning [being a conductor] a nice one piece night run on Minnehaha from 2:54 PM to 11:34 PM so I make $4.75 today.
I sent you a box of groceries yesterday and wrapped $5 in a wash cloth and sent it along. Say don’t be afraid to order things for I will gladly send them to you and try and keep a good supply on hand. Tell Ruth that I bought 2 more packages of wheaties and have a nice orange colored Skippy bowl for her. It was real cold here last night but the sun is shining nice today but still it doesn’t seem to warm up.
I am going to work on the car today but I won’t be able to paint here for the kids play in the garage and it’s too dusty anyway. I will get it ready and see if I can’t find a vacant garage that is tight so I can do a good job.
I was over to Reo’s [his sister] and saw Ma Sunday night. She sure looks old and is not a bit well. She had to write back home and get a letter from her own doctor before they would do anything for her at the University Hospital so she is waiting for that now. She says Dad is well and is seeding for Rob Abel.
(Later)
Well I have worked cleaning the wheels and fenders on the car. I sure got myself dirty. I think I will make a good job of painting while I am at it and paint the whole thing. What do you think?
I stopped work on the car just in time to clean up, shave and make dinner. I had biscuits, potatoes, a little piece of steak left over from yesterday, and coffee for dinner and jam on the biscuits. Its lonesome here without you folks and I do hope we can get ahead so we can live like decent folks again. Tell the kiddies I miss them a lot and have them both write. I’ll write each of them a letter soon.
Well I have to go to work so by by to all with lots of love from Daddy.
| Gross Pay | $37.50 | |||||
| Savings Deduction | 4.00 | |||||
| Rent Bank loan Haircut Candy Groceries Tablet Lead Envelopes Stamps |
$6.00 8.50 .25 .15 2.90 .10 .10 .05 .37 |
Stamped envelopes Martha Postage [parcels] Eggs Wheaties Banana Milk Make-up Change |
.50 5.00 .40 .16 23 .02 .04 2.50 |
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| Total Expenses | 24.77 | |||||
| Cash on Hand | 6.23 | |||||