Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 10 – 1942

Dear Daddy-

I received my “birthday” letter this morning. I always look at the postmark date when your letters come and this one was two ahead so probably tomorrow or later will get the two intervening ones. Seems you are getting mine in somewhat same order. Just so we get them is the main thing. It is windy, cold & cloudy today. Just a regular fall day. The wind is so strong I can feel it while sitting by the west window in the den. You know even with storm windows we could get ventilation here. I turned the thermostat up two notches. Chet VanScoyek [Chester Vanscoyk] said we could get more coal anytime but to wait until a car load comes in and get it directly from the car. I have them paid so won’t hesitate to order more. I talked to Agnes M. yesterday and she said we wouldn’t have to pay Federal while you are on foreign duty and it wouldn’t have to be paid until 6 mos. after the war is over and no interest has to be paid. Also she says that I don’t have to pay gross on my allotment but she is going to look it up to be sure before next is due. As you notice – I don’t make paragraphs to save space. Frank Cunningham died last Fri. I still owed him $8.20 but was going to have him do some painting around the window sills then pay for the whole thing. I’ll see Mrs. C. and pay her. He forgot to include the work he did at the office when we settled after he finished the house. You mentioned paper. I sent you some in both Christmas & birthday boxes. I didn’t have the addition to put on those two boxes I mean (White Poppy) but had it when I sent your laundry. I am anxious for you to get it – and know if you receive all I sent besides your clothes. I am being very mysterious about what I put in but you will let me know I am sure if it gets to you. This morning when I weighed David he was 8-8 – he is making a faster gain this week than the past two – however he averages about 8 oz a week. He is taking more milk now than he did. I have a system for warming the 2 & 6 a.m. feeings. I heat the milk and put it in a thermos when I get ready to go to bed and have two clean bottles ready so when he wakes up at 2 & 6 I don’t have to get out of bed to fix the bottle – just turn on the light – reach for the thermos & bottle and presto! – in a flash the milk is ready. I have a bottle warmer but it is slow – takes 5 to 8 minutes for it to heat the milk then too when I use it have to set the milk between the window and storm window until he is ready for it. A time or two he slept thru but he must be getting hungrier because the past week he has been waking at 2 or 3 a.m.

Mother is getting ready to go back to T.H. [Terre Haute]. I am feeling OK now and just about finished cleaning house so we will be able to get along. Mother would like to have us take her home but I am not sure whether I will try the trip with David so small. We have a basket we could take along for him but it would be quite an ordeal I am afraid. Now don’t worry about it because by the time you get this we will have gone & come back home (if we go). The only reason I thought about going was to visit your folks – since gas rationing will go into effect Nov. 22 and at 4 gal a week we don’t be able to get very far from home. Your Mother would like to come up for a week I know but so far hasn’t been able to get anyone to bring her. Ruth & Floyd may be here sometime this week since they have to go to Chicago this week. I just cleaned a bedspread and hung it out to blow. The wind is so strong & cold today it should air it good. The wind we have had lately has just about taken all the leaves off. I think we will rake leaves this fall and have a big fire out by the street.

[page 2] There is a radio program going now talking about V-mail. I heard about it on the radio. I think sometime in August – as you said there must have been a campaign because there was a lot said about it when I first heard about it – however it is still talked about lots. I use it about half the time and this kind of letter the rest of the time. I would rather just write regular because I can cram as much in. Arlene & Bill sent you a box for Christmas. They had a pen & pencil set. I told them you had one but Arlene said they would send it and you could trade for something else if you wanted too. They took some pictures of their family & John happened to be there so Arlene took one of him & said she sent it to you. I have a roll of film being developed now and of course if there are good pictures will sent them to you. David is kicking and yawning and trying to go to sleep. He has pretty definite times to be good and vice versa – he sleeps most of the day but is awake a while after the 2 P.M. bottle and good – but after the 6 P.M. bottle he usually makes a noise more or less all evening until the 10 P.M. bottle then he turns in for the night. I think he will gradually do like John & Mark – sleep from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. Ellsworth is taking care of a policy for D. Did I mention before that they have a boy? He was born a few weeks after David was named Michael Ellsworth. He is a large baby. I think he was larger when born than David is now. Doris got a perm the same afternoon I did and Mildred was talking to her about bridge club. Seems Doris can’t find anyone to work for her and was talking about dropping out of the Club. I am glad the bridge clubs don’t bother me – because I don’t know what I would do if they did. Doris is in the same “boat” as everyone else – you have women working in the seed corn house. Alma Walker drives a truck for Funks. She said she felt better than when she stayed home – however she said last week she had two attacks. She brought the baby a gift – a bath robe. Mrs. Zell said they had a baby buggy I could use – so I am going to get it and see if I can fix it up. That is an item that is hard to get now. Lucile Johnson said she has a new one but that she looked around several stores in Laf. [Lafayette] before she found a good one. I think her baby is due in Jan. She was out one day last week and is getting rather large. She is going to Dr. M. and plans to go to Watseka to the hospital. She says she thinks if she can remain in the hospital two weeks that she & Ed can manage when she gets home.

We went to Sheldon yesterday & got some meat. I was able to get more beef. I don’t know what they will do about these lockers when meat rationing is put into effect. While in Brandts I heard a man talking to Mrs. B. about coffee rationing – for one week before rationing no one will be allowed to sell any coffee. However Mrs. B. said they didn’t have any to sell anyway. The stores just haven’t any on hand. I understand cocoa & tea will be rationed too. We can’t buy milk for 40¢ gal now. There is a new law or “something” in effect that milk can be sold only at retail prices and no Sunday delivery. Creamery butter is 50¢ a lb. – but as you know that doesn’t bother us – as you know – you mentioned chicken – I intended to put some fry’s in the locket but got sick & couldn’t.  Maybe I can yet. John wrote to you about their stunt – this Thurs. nite. He had me go over the “script.” Mark is still working on the cornet. I think if he will practice enough he can learn to play it. This letter is quite a hodge podge but maybe it will amuse you a few minutes.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

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