Dear Daddy – The Farm Letters

Dear James,

We are disappointed in not getting a letter today. Ruth is well again. John has a little cold but not enough to keep him from school. I made another trip to Nevis yesterday. You do as you think best about sending money, only I don’t like folks to know I have money. I got myself a pair of nice warm gloves for 98 cents, soft leather like Ruth’s, and wool lined and fur-trimmed. I hadn’t a thing to wear on my hands except those white kid gloves. Mrs. Jenson and the children went to Nevis with me. We got along alright. I always drain the car radiator when we get home and it runs good. I only wish you were here to run it tho’. It surely gets lonesome and the children miss you too. It is much more comfortable with this extra room and the heater.

We went to a baby shower this afternoon on Mrs. John Potter, and I met a lot of the women and had a real nice time. Mrs. Jenson and Mrs. Loughlin, the bee man’s wife, went with me and the children walked over from school. I met the last lady to live in our house, a Mrs. Wynn from Hubbard. She is John Potter’s sister and her family lived here a year. She planted the flower garden and liked the grounds just as much as I do.

The children were so tired tonight that they didn’t get their letters written. I bought another chunk of beef, 8 lbs for 56 cents. We still have most of the pork left so we are well supplied with meat, everything but eggs, no one seems to have any.

(Wednesday morning)

The ground is white, we are having the first snow of the season. The children were tickled when they saw the first flakes come floating down. The thermometer read 26 when I got up this morning and is now 34. I walked around the woods yesterday, you can see the timber better now since the leaves have fallen. There are a lot of dead trees standing that should be taken out, and at least 3 big trees that are blown down. Near the West line there are a number of nice Northern Pines. I’ll be so glad when you can be up here and we can go to farming. I believe we can do well if we go at it right.

The children are learning poems for a Halloween program. I saw a big flock of sheep across the road on the south yesterday. I looked over the apples and made apple butter out of the spotted ones. I have $3.00 left now, maybe 2 more would do until Nov.10th unless I need to get some clothes. I’ll send my accounts next time. I’ll be needing my coat soon but if you come up you can bring it. Well, I’d better get this letter mailed and hope we hear from you today. The children send lots of love. They liked the book, and the chocolate was a treat. Goodbye, and come up soon.

Love, Martha

Dear Jim,

John says thanks for the letter and the saw and the shoe polish, and thanks for the magazines and papers. Ruth came home sick on Thurs. afternoon and was in bed all day yesterday, but got up and dressed this morning. It was her ears, but we put on cold applications and have it checked. The teacher let the fire go out in school and Ruth got chilled clear thru. She couldn’t eat anything either but I got a chicken from Jensons yesterday and she ate some cold broth, and this morning she ate a biscuit and drank a glass of milk. Send us a few oranges in the box with your clothes.

The thermometer read 38 degrees at 7:30 A.M. and the ground and car were covered with frost. But the days are lovely. There’s a lot of shooting going on around, since the 16th of Oct. We’re going to put the paper on as soon as Ruth can be out to help us. I’m glad you went to church. I wish you could get a raincoat. The samples of material were nice. The black leatherette is good but I like the blue gabardine and oxford gray better. We’ll write again on Sunday.

Love, Martha

Dear James,

We are seated around the table writing letters. Am glad to hear that Grandma is better. Wish we could have had some of your pie. You bake the pie for 3/4 to one hour in a medium oven. Put plenty of flour on the board and rolling pin and the crust won’t stick. The package came and everything was good. Mr. Vokes, one of the neighbors, butchered a beef and peddled it around. I bought enough for soup, barbequed beef and a roast. It was 8 cents a lb. and what I bought cost 68 cents.

I took down the door to the bedroom and it makes that part much lighter. Ruth is well again, she missed a day and a half of school. Mr. Bliss made a fuss about Bryce bothering the children’s lunches and that has been stopped.

(Tuesday)

I didn’t get the letter mailed yesterday. It was a nice day so I went to Nevis after taking the children as far as the corner. I got along fine, parked by the curb, got gas and had the tires pumped up. The road is pretty sandy in places but I took it easy and had no trouble and feel much more confidence in handling the car. I got home at Il o’clock. After lunch at home I split a lot of wood, filled both wood boxes, got kindling, raked the yard a little and then walked to Jensons to use her sewing machine. I am making Ruth some pajamas.

Well, about 5 o’clock the children came along in the direction from home. The teacher had been sick and let them out at 10A.M. and not knowing whether I was home they had gone home with Blisses. They live on the left side of the road just before you turn at the “half mile corner” as the children call it, 1½ miles from school. They watched Mr. Bliss butcher a pig, and stayed for dinner. Just before dark Mr. Bliss drove over with half a fresh ham that I bought for 50 cents.

Now for requests: 1) ell shaped screws for putting up curtains; 2) drapes or curtains of some kind for the windows, shades preferred, 3 of them; 3) mouse traps; 4) the saw.

Thanks for everything you sent. Jensons are pulling their beans.

Lots of love,

Martha