Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
May 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but two yesterday of Apr 9 & 10 and I hardly expected any today. We are having a high wind today – not cold but sounds like it. John Barce & a Walkup boy are to take storm windows down today but if this wind continues they won’t be able to. – I went to club yesterday afternoon with Arlene – Louise kept the baby – I took him there as I went to club and when I came back to get him he was just waking up. Louise said he & Donnie had slept all afternoon. I got home just a little while after school was out and John was having a chill and running a temp, so I put him right to bed. I called Dr. M. and he said to give him a cathartic and let him know this morning – well I didn’t give him anything but orange juice because I didn’t think it was necessary. His temp. got up to 102 ½ last night but was normal this morning. I don’t know what was the matter.

[page 2] He says he feels pretty good but he may be having measles – one of those delayed cases. He is in bed with the blinds drawn in case it is the measles, listening to the radio. He said after he attended the band contest he didn’t care if he did get measles. I went to town to get some oranges and took the baby with me. Saw Massengill salesman, Berry – He was always showing his twins pictures so I got to show him our baby. He told me they had another baby boy but it died – it was a 7 ½ mo. – lived a day. – While I was talking to him Dorothy came along and took D. She told me Betty Lou was sick so maybe she and John are just having a touch of flue. At any rate John isn’t sick today but has to stay in bed just in case of measles. There were both kinds going around so he may be having the 3 day king. I heard more yesterday about Eddie Ray. He was injured rather severely. Doctors told Wilson’s he had a 50-50 chance. Ellsworth said he thought he would make it now – He was injured last Sat. and this is Wed. I think that may stop some of the children around town from climbing trees for a while. Mark says he isn’t going to climb up on anything.

[page 3] I wanted to work out in the yard but this wind is so strong I am afraid it would be difficult to do much. I worked after supper last night till it got too dark to see. It is time for the lawn to be mowed again but John can’t do it today and the mowing is his job this summer. Our garden needs hoeing and that is Mark’s job so he will have to do that after school today. I wish I could get a Technicolor picture of the shrubbery & tulips – The tulips are in bloom – all colors – and the evergreens are looking good. We are to get a replacement for the west tree – I don’t know when but soon. – – Had callers, Lucile & Jimmy Ed. She had taken him to Dr. M. His skin is in a terrible shape. She has to keep long stockings on him to keep him from scratching his legs and mitts on his hands. His skin peels off in large white flakes. Dr. M. put him on lactic acid a long time ago but it hasn’t helped so now they are to give him S.M.A and start him on vegetables. He is such a nice big boy and has gotten along so well but for this skin condition. It has Lucile so worried Dr. gave her a nerve tonic to quiet her down some. I do hope they get him straightened out. They have tried to take such good care of him. She thinks it

[page 4] strange that D. has such a nice soft skin and me with my allergies. I do hope he doesn’t develop any such trouble but that is hardly to be expected as old as he is. Lucile had talked to Ellsworth today and he said six Drs. had seen Eddie Ray & said he would get along. However they haven’t been able yet to do anything about his left arm – The Drs. say it will be a slow process – his recovery – and they can’t move him yet for x-ray etc.

I went up a little while ago to take John temp and it was just 2/5 of a degree. He feel pretty good so maybe he will be up tomorrow, or broken out if he has measles.

Mark is home from school and is watching D. – He is in his buggy taking a nap. – Mark is pushing him on the walk in front of the house. Mark heard him say “Da-da” – He can hear more works that David says. So far it has just been so much jabber but both J. & M. hear words – if you get what I mean. – Mark just reported in that he got D. to go to sleep. – I must go out and see if he has him in the right position so the wind won’t blow directly on him.

Love – Mother

In case you missed my previous letters about Eddy R. – he fell out of a tree & fractured his skull & broke his arm.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/23/high-winds-gladys/