Letters from the Trunk

It's kind of a lazy Saturday afternoon, and rather than go someplace where

I would spend $$$, I decided to stay home.   Here is the trunk I 

have upstairs, full of albums & scrapbooks that were my Mom's.

[Oh, I have some stuff in there, too - it's not just Mom's!]

I think letter writing has become almost a lost art.

These days, we communicate by e-mail, Facebook

and telephone.  My mom kept a few special letters and I will share 2 of them here.

The first one is from my Dad to her (before they were married) - 

Nothing terribly romantic about it - I think Mom kept it since it

was probably the only letter Dad wrote to her.  We kids used

to laugh when we read the letter, owing to its lack of romance, I guess...

September 15, 1929...

Dear Friend, I received your letter this morning, so I better write you now when I have time.  It has been cold all week, but fine weather and that suits me, you know.   I hope you are enjoying yourself out there, even if it is quiet.  I should have seen you that night that I went out to Carl's place but I had to hurry back, as Joe was going to Kvam for choir practice.  I am going to Young People's meeting in town tonight.  I guess it is the only place to go.   If the weather is nice next Sunday I will drive out after you, but that is the only day that I will get time you know.  If you write let me know how far it is from Sisseton and the direction.  Please write at once as the mail is so terrible slow.

Your friend, Ralph.

The second one is from her sister, Selma - also known as "Sammie" {You can read a bit about Sammie on my March 4, 2011 post}  This letter was written in August 1934; she was very sick with cancer, and in October of that year, she died, leaving her husband and  2 little girls. My notes in italic (it's fairly long - be warned)

Dear Mabel, Have you froze up yet?  Wonder if you have it so cold today.  We have windows & doors shut and a fire in the range, but cold!  I have an extra quilt and a water bottle, too.  It is so tough to write in bed lately.  I've had all sorts of pain so have almost given up writing,  I like letters so well I have to try answering.   

I've been thinking about you and the new girl so much.  It's hard for us to realize you have your Kathleen.  Tell us what she's gotten.  Esther (her sister) and I have talked about getting her something but we never decide what.  Would you like a comb & brush set or a hot water bottle (special small & light color for baby).  Say "no!" if you don't.  Are you "pinking" or "bluing (?)" her? 

Lois is getting so tall now, they'll soon look like twins.  She walks so good along furniture but hasn't yet the nerve to let go all together.  Grace talks more all the time.  A couple days ago she pulled up her dress and said, "I want to see my heart in my tummy, mother."  She had just taken a tumble and her heart was beating so fast.   Clarence (her husband) is threshing.  They have one job left after where he is now.  They'll finish the one today--maybe.  It sure doesn't take that long.  

Alice Berg was here Tuesday & washed blankets in our Maytag.  Amy Hagen  & Alice were both here Monday.  Wednesday p.m. Inez & her five girls were here in the afternoon.  I've felt so punk this week I haven't enjoyed it. I get so tired talking.  I got a nice bouquet of mixed garden flowers from the Civic League in Edinburg (North Dakota) Wednesday.  (Amy Ulberg brought them.)

Well, I've used a bunch of your transfer patterns as we stamped the blocks last Saturday.  I have sewed two and started the third.  It's fun but I haven't felt much like sewing lately.   Hope you excuse I'm writing in a note book.   The paper doesn't get such a chance to jiggle then.

Last Saturday an Edinburg man age 49 was killed in an auto accident.  He was rushing to Park (Park River, ND) for repairs, was on wrong side of the road, met the bread truck, go excited, lost control of car and went off.  The car rolled over 3 times & he was thrown several feet.  He leaves a wife but no children.  Surely isn't long between happenings like that here at Edinburg.  They (or I should have said "we") are certainly getting warnings.

You surely have enough to do without sewing a quilt for Lois, haven't you?  I saw by the Dalton news you had Mrs. Thompson awhile.  Do you still have the Tripp girl?  Seems you'd need one steady now awhile anyways.   We haven't gotten anymore canning done.  Would like to get some chokecherry.  Amy said she'd come and take Esther to pick some one day & Inez could stay with me.

We've gotten 3 new catalogs, dresses all look so nice this year I think.  But what I look at is nighties, slippers etc.   Was trying this morning to pick out some everyday sweaters for the girls, but they're so expensive!  Lois needs shirts & what not.  I think I'll send for everything though.  I won't be able to go any place.   I haven't as much as had my feet out of bed for three weeks now.

Hope you are getting strong again.  Are you strong enough to nurse Kathleen?

I'm losing my hair so fast it's just awfully hard to keep my bed decent.  Just when I lie on the pillow the hair falls off & just covers it.  Esther washed quilts and blankets a day last week but they all went to the cookcar to keep the coldblooded cooks warm. {her high temperatures caused her to lose hair}

Wish some of you cold come up again.  It surely looks impossible for us.  Just the other night my temperature was 100 and the pulse so high Cal (her husband, Clarence) didn't tell me.  Poor Cal had a tooth pulled a week ago & has had such a sore mouth since.  It's hard to eat.  Esther makes him some chocolate malted milk every night.  Sometimes they get ice cream with  it.  Wish I could like it like they do.  I just had forenoon lunch of polse & crackers!  That's my type!!

Well, I could keep on indefinitely of course but have really nothing to say.     Love, Sammie

PS - You should be gaining like Esther is!  So should I!  

(Her sister Esther completes the letter for her, asking how Evelyn & Ernest like their little baby sister, etc....)