My dear Martha and children,
Well I should be scolded for not writing sooner but I will write a long letter now, and try and make up for it. I am well but disgusted with the work. I was marked off Thur, Fri, and Sat. all in a row but Thurs. I chiseled 9 hr. 14 min. I was 2nd.up that day on the official list. I went to the barn 3 times yesterday but did not get a thing and the regular 4 AM man did not get a thing till noon and then only the last half of a run. Thursday night Fred, Jack and I saw that we were all marked off Friday so Fred took us all out to his brother’s place and we helped them thresh. The grain was pretty poor. I think they had 1400 bushels. But their corn is extra good if the frost doesn’t get it. I drove team and hauled bundles and Jack picked in the field and Fred tended to stacking the straw. It seemed like old times. I wish you folks were here to eat dinner with me for I am alone. Jack has gone down to chisel. I have a night run on Bloomington. The dinner is roast beef, boiled potatoes Biscuits and honey and coffee. They fed us good out at Sewell’s and gave us a bunch of corn and milk to take home.
I sent you a package yesterday with my clothes and the things you ordered and I also had your glasses fixed and sent them back. I Put 5 $1.00 bills in with the glasses.
The check was $38.02 after EMBA [Employee Member Benefits Association] was taken out. I paid New England [furniture] $3.00, rent $6.00,Ted $7.35, insurance $5.00 and your $5.00 and have $10.00 left. I will send you the note book again and some more of the money in the next package.
Gee folks, I wish we could all be together – this being here alone is the bunk especially when there is no work. There are so many things up there to be done. Have they cut the hay yet and about the stack in the yard what is it? Where abouts in the yard is it? and what size is it? There are lots of wild grapes out at Sewell’s so we are going out and gather a bunch of them to make jam out of.
Have you heard any more about school, when it starts etc? and what are the youngsters going to need in the line of clothes. I have both Sunday papers ready for you. Well folks I don’t know of any more news except that I would like to give each of you a big hug and kisses.
We have not heard anything for sure about the New Deal only that they are supposed to start something by Sept.1st. Your slip off the geranium did not make it alive so after a little I will go up to the cemetery and take up the big plant so you can keep it. We have not had but the one little shower for ages so it’s dry here but not very warm just right for comfort. I will need my dish towels next time as we are using Jack’s and I have a clean sheet left. I just figured up Jack’s and my eats bill and Jack came May 5th and his side adds up to $16.27 and mine is $16.16 so they stay pretty close together.
I am glad you take the setting up exercises. I think they are helpful and I want you to keep looking young. I bought a shave yesterday so as to get my neck and mustache trimmed so I would look good and I have a nice tan on my arms now.
Have you been down in the big woods lately? I’m awfully sorry I did not get around to write sooner and I hope you get the packages O.K. By-by with lots of love and kisses from Daddy Jim
I am mailing this at the main P.O. at 5:15 PM and I hope you get it tomorrow morning.