Category: Chapter 4

Jul 7, 1932-from Martha to James

Jul 7, 1932-from Martha to James

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Dear James,

We received your letters yesterday telling about the picnic. Mrs. Shaw called on us in the afternoon and said there had been a big picnic at Stony Lake. She didn’t go because her husband was working. We heard the fireworks in the evening but couldn’t see anything.

It is a hot day and I am baking bread. I bake every Friday. I used the last of my flour but I can buy it cheaper here than you can send it by mail. There are a dozen Northern and White Pine trees in the pasture near the house and we found a nice blueberry patch but no berries. I think a fire spoiled them tho they will bear again in time.

The children will write a long letter over Sunday. They have trouble thinking what to write about but I will help them. I must close now,

Love from Martha and the Kiddies.

Jul 6, 1932-from Martha to James

Jul 6, 1932-from Martha to James

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Dear James,

I will have to make this letter short as the wash water is almost ready and it is after 10 o’clock. Believe me this is no bed of roses. I’ve spent most of the morning sawing and splitting wood and trying to stopper the leak in the old tub so as not to lose any of our precious soft water. It rained again yesterday. We’ve had pans sitting around on the floor every day for almost a week but today promises to be fair.

I’m glad you had a good time on the Fourth. We waited for you all day Sunday and the morning of the Fourth and the children were very disappointed. The Shaw boy came over with his cap gun and fire crackers.

As for farming up here it can never be done unless you make every cent you can. There is the interest on the mortgage the 1st. of August and all of the taxes should be paid up this fall. We’ll never make a go of it if we start out loaded with such debts. You had better not take any more time off until fall and then come prepared to build us a suitable house for the winter. I hope you can get rid of the house in Minneapolis and find a suitable room somewhere. You might get our stuff hauled up here quite cheaply by getting in touch with a trucker coming here empty. We want some chairs badly.

And now about the car, will you let us have it? We can’t even get to town for a haircut. I’d rather have the money and do our own buying. As things are now we get stocked up on some things and have to do without other things just as necessary. Also I would rather get Ruth’s shoes here, then we know they will fit. My slippers are O.K. and the boxes have come thru all right.

The children send their love. Be sure to let me know about the car. I think you can run down to see your folks some day when you are marked off instead of taking time off. With love,

Martha

Jul 5, 1932-from James to John

Jul 5, 1932-from James to John

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By dear Johnny boy,

I wish I could give you a big bear hug and lots of kisses, but will have to wait awhile. Grandpa and Grandma asked me how big you are and were sorry they could not see you. Grandpa gave us his tire pump and chains. The pump has two cylinders and works real fast and we can use the tire chains when we have to run the car in the mud. Oh say John I saw old Tim and he is fat and nice but they don’t keep his foretop trimmed so he looks as if he needed a hair cut.

Well John I cannot think of any more news so goodby,

With love from Daddy

Write soon.

Jul 2, 1932-from James to Martha

Jul 2, 1932-from James to Martha

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Dear Martha,

I am glad you are feeling better and hope you like it up there for I think it will not be long till we will all be farmers. I am glad the crops are growing good — that will help. The Street Car business is getting worse rite along. I can only hold a run till July 16th, then I’m on the extra board again.

(Continued on Thursday)

I was in court and made 4 1/2 hours overtime and I thought that would partly make up for the Fourth so I am going to see Pa and Ma for a couple of days. I think it will be my last chance for some time. Today is the first time the car has been out since I got home. I am coming up soon but don’t know just when it will be. Guess it will be when I get on the extra list. Did the slippers fit? Gee, it’s hard to pick out things for some one else. Oh say, I forgot to tell the children what I got with my birthday money. I got me a nice leather belt –it is wider than my old ones and has a nice buckle –it cost me .69 cents but it was marked $1.00.

Lots of love to all,

Jim

Jul 2, 1932-from James to Ruth

Jul 2, 1932-from James to Ruth

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Dear Ruth

I got your nice letter asking about the fire works. I cannot send them thru the mail but will get your things and we will all have our Fourth later. I have been in to see about shoes about 6 times and I want you to have Mother help you to mark around your foot while standing on a piece of paper. Have the pencil close to your foot so I can get your size and I will see that you have a pair of shoes right away and I will send the anklets so you will have them too. I will get the books you asked for the first time I get down town.

My but it is lonesome here without you children and Mother, but I sure like to get the nice letters from all of you. Ruth, have Mother take your and John’s picture and have the kitten dressed up in the doll clothes. I will get the Sunday paper and send to you.

Well lots of love from your Daddy

Jul 2, 1932-from James to John

Jul 2, 1932-from James to John

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Dear John,

I am sorry I cannot send you the Fourth of July things but I cannot send them by mail, but I will get them and bring them up with me. I saw a dandy gun with a nice heavy leather holster and a belt that I will get and a bunch of caps for it.

I am glad to get the nice letters from you and the hugs and kisses. I am going down to West Concord to see Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow and I am coming up to see all of you soon. How do you get along sawing wood? I bet you can saw real good by now.

Say, John, you had better pick out a name for the old tom cat and tell him he can make that his home. Did the overalls I sent fit you? Have you seen any more deer tracks? Well John I will close, hoping to hear from you soon.

Love from Daddy

Jul 1, 1932-from Martha to James

Jul 1, 1932-from Martha to James

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Dear Jim

I’m here alone this morning so maybe I can write a connected letter. It is 8:30 a.m. Friday. The children have gone for the milk. We all had one grand sleep last night. I washed yesterday and believe me I missed the Maytag. Early in the afternoon a terrible wind and dirt storm began. We were sheltered from the worst of it, but on the prairie it must have been terrible. Mr. Jenson was cultivating corn and stopped to get a drink. He said he couldn’t see ahead of him when he was plowing the corn. I noticed he went home early. I am sending the children’s money and they want you to send them some things for the Fourth they can make a noise with.

We didn’t hear from you yesterday. I haven’t put our name on the mail box yet. I would rather have it painted in black. How about you?

It must have rained off and on during the night but not enough to leak in. We had all the windows in last night and the children put their sweaters on this morning. It is quite chilly.

The sweet corn is 8 inches high. I put some of the chicken manure between the rows in the other garden and worked it into the ground with the shovel. Everything is up now. I wish you could come up for the 4th but I suppose it is impossible. Will you get Ruth a pair of white or pink anklets, size 9? I’ll have to stop to get this out to the box in time.

Lots of love and wish you were here,

Martha

Jul 1, 1932-from Ruth to James

Jul 1, 1932-from Ruth to James

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Dear Daddy,

We got the mail box put up yesterday. John and I had a tea party. I put Betty June at one end of the table and Mother at the other end. John and I sat on the bench. We had cake and fried eggs and Mother made some biscuits and we read stories the rest of the evening. Im sending my money to you to buy things for the 4th of July. I will write a list of things for you to get for me. I would like you to get the book called “Robbenson Cruso”. Here are a few things you can get. 1 box sparklers, 1 gun.2 caps, 10 paper sacks for noise. Well this is all so goodby. here are some kisses.

From Ruth Linsley