Dear Daddy,
thank you for the stockings and candy you sent. the kittens have got their eyes open. we got some corn out of our garden. Mother made a cake today and out of the frosting she made some candy. well goodby
love from John
Category: Chapter 8
Sep 20, 1932-from Martha to James
Dear James,
We are all glad that you are coming up soon. The children have colds but both have kept on at school. This is the last letter I’ll write before you leave there so I’ll try to include everything in it. It stays cool and I need a fire all of the time I am in the house.
Have you any extra spoons? I’d like my winter coat. If you don’t want the radio, find out what needs to be done and maybe we can use it here. Bring the table you can carry best, also several big tablets and envelopes. I would like a pretty blue scarf and gloves. Look thru the button box in the trunk and bring the small shoe buckles you find there. Both of Ruth’s shoe buckles broke.
There will be a 6 weeks vacation in winter and if you move you’d better find a place so that we can come and visit you then. I’m sorry the work is falling off so. We must pay our taxes. I wouldn’t give up this place for a good deal. I am glad you are going to leave the car with us.
We had a nice rain last night. These last minute duties will make the time go faster. “We’ll be seein’ you”.
Love from us all,
Martha
Sep 18, 1932-from James to Ruth
My dear little Ruth,
Well Ruth I hope next Sunday is a nice day and all of us, will be together but today is not so nice here. It rained this morning and it is still cloudy and dark and it is almost noon. The sun came out and shone a few minutes but has hid behind the clouds again.
Oh Ruth I found you a dandy dinner pail that matches your new coat and it has a nice little tray in the top where you can carry pie, cake or cookies and have the sandwiches in the lower part. It cost $3.50 and is well made. Daddy made himself a rice pudding yesterday. Wish you could have been here to help me eat it, as the rice swelled so much that I had to have two dishes to bake it in. I am having baked potato, biscuits and honey, and bacon for dinner. I have the potatoes in the oven now and will stop and make the biscuits, they will all be done at the same time. I changed the sheets and pillow case on my bed and got out my clean towel, dish towel and dish cloth so everything is spick and span around here. Well Ruth I can not think of any more news so by by with lots of love.
Daddy
Sep 18, 1932-from James to John
My Dear Johnny boy,
Daddy is planning for next Sunday and I hope the old Ford makes the trip fast as I can hardly wait until it is time to start. I expect to get home late Saturday afternoon as I have to get my check before I come so it will be 9:30 A.M. when I leave here and 9 hours on the road will make it 6:30 P.M. if I have good luck. I bought you a dinner pail and it is like Ruth’s only a different color. Yours is blue. I think you will like it fine. I filed both of my saws yesterday so they are nice and sharp and will try and fix yours when I am up. I am going to gather up the tools I need and have them packed in the car ready to go. How many boys are there in school? Have you taken your football to school yet? I am going to school with you some day while I am visiting you.
Well John, I will close for now and hope to see you Sat. night.
With lots of love from Daddy
Sep 18, 1932-from Ruth to James
Dear Daddy,
Thanks a lot for the stockings and the shirts. they all fit fine. the little kittens look so funny! we’ve got names for them all. one is chief long claws, and another is heap big sqwack, the reason we named him that is because one night he fell out of bed and sqwacked as loud as Tomas himself. Another is heap big gent and the last one is chief eyes open because he was the one who had his eyes open first.
This is what we’ve done so far today. In the morning mother set the table and got breakfast. For breakfast we had pancakes and serup then we washed the dishes and Mother read while some frosting was kooking for the cake when the frosting was done there was enuf for some candy. then we got dinner and while it was kooking John read and I played with my paper dolls For dinner we had potatoes, ham, bread and butter, custard sauce ,cake and water after dinner. John dried the dishes while Mother washed and now I am writing to you. Yesterday John and me played store in the old house and had lots of fun. well this is all so, love from Ruth
P.S. here are some kisses for you XXXXX
P.S. are you coming on Sat. or Mon. please let me know
Sep 16, 1932-from Martha to James
Dear James
We were surprised to get another package today. Everything was fine. We weren’t expecting anything more until you come up and we are waiting for that day! So I won’t forget it, my hand is all right. By the way I didn’t find the thermometer. We read the first chapter of “Smoky” after we were in bed last night. It starts out good. The children brought in some colored leaves yesterday. If you bring some gold and aluminum powders and some oil for mixing, we’ll paint some milkweed pods. The nights are cool but the days are wonderful. I wish we were both working here and could get a real start at farming.
We are out of envelopes. The children were pleased with their things. We have a surprise for you when you come.
We all send love and kisses,
Martha
Sep 15, 1932-from Martha to James
Dear James,
Your package came yesterday and believe me we were glad to get it. We put the cooler in the old house and as far as we are concerned the other is forgotten. Come when you think best. I knew you would pass the test all right and driving will be easier after you have been at it a while. Just keep cool. I believe we had better stay here this winter but we’ll talk that over later. The children are feeling fine and I would too if I could get away once in a while. Take good care of yourself and I’m sure everything will be O.K. With love,
Martha
Sep 14, 1932-from Martha to James
Dear Jim,
We got your letter and the Sunday paper. Am glad you are getting work right along. The children like their school very much. Ruth is in a grade by herself in most studies but there is a little girl in John’s grade. I should like to make them each a schoolbag that swings from the shoulder. They had an accident with the thermos. I’d like something for sandwiches besides jam. The weather was snappy this morning but it warms up during the day. Ruth’s dress is almost done. It takes longer to sew by hand. When you come bring some bedding. We still have the 4 kittens. I tried to dispose of one of them but the experience wasn’t very pleasant nor successful. I’ll send “The Lone Cowboy” with your laundry. The children bring home books from the school library. I think we had a little frost last night.
Love from us all,
Martha
Sep 13, 1932-from James to Ruth
Dear Ruth,
I received your nice letter this morning when I got home from work and I got Mamma’s letter that she wrote Friday night, last night. I left the room yesterday morning and never got home till 8 o’clock last night. We got our final O.K. on driving, listened to a long talk in the forenoon and in the afternoon they took six of us out to the Fair grounds and we each had to stop the car 3 times, once with the reverse and power, once with just the reverse and once with the air brakes. The first time I went 141 feet trying to stop, the next time 129 feet and the last time I got stopped in 91 feet. Two went over that and one went under. And this morning I started in alone. I worked from 5:48 to 7:57 on Emerson. I got along pretty good but it is no fun. This afternoon I work a one man car from 3:05 till 3:35 and then a two man car till 7:09.
Say Ruth I am awful sorry that the dogs ran away with the things in the cooler but I am sending you some more today and I think you had better move the cooler in the old house and keep the door locked from now on.
I’m glad you like the raincoat. I see quite a few coats that color, so you are right in style.
I liked the map you sent and hope you have lots of fun in the sand box.
Where did you haul the sand from? Well Ruth I don’t think of any more news so
by by with lots of love,
Daddy
P.S. Daddy is getting mighty lonesome without you.
Sep 12, 1932-from John to James
Dear Daddy,
how are you I sure like that swell Jack knife you sent me. now I’ve got a quarter and twelve cents to put in my pocket book not counting my new quarter.
gee but I like the raincoat well goodby, John