Letter transcription:
Kentland, Ind.
4-26-44
Dear Daddy,
In a manner of speaking you had better get us a place to live – I have taken the first step in renting our home – Now this is the situation – I saw Ira Dixon, was looking for Al but thought Ira would know whether Smiths have a house – and according to Ira the “powers” were very much worried about the housing situation for the new Supt. And said if we would rent ours it would help them out a lot. He also said there was only Mr. & Mrs. Since the daughter teaches school and isn’t home. I told Ira we didn’t know how long you would be on the present duty but thought it would be for a few months at least. He said there was to be a school board meeting tonight and he knew they would welcome this news. Financially speaking
[page 2] it would help us out about $45 or $50 a month. How much should we ask if we do rent?
Both J. & M. are doing home work and both jiggling the table. Mark explodes once in a while and makes the table move. He has so much trouble with the arithmetic. He thinks the book is off – not him. He mowed most of the lawn this evening. Link was out mowing and hired Mark to do his the next time. Said he would give him a dollar. It finally cleared off and I washed white clothes. I put your Christmas presents in and except for a few spots are in pretty good shape. I didn’t soak them in bleach but put the stained pieces on the grass and the sun did a good job bleaching them. I got the pictures back we took Sun. I am enclosing one of David and two other pictures of the rest of the family.
[page 3] I am still going without glasses, but hope to get to Laf. some time this week. Dorothy is going Fri. – I presume, to see Dr. Cole. Said she had to be there by 1:45. I would like to go sooner but if I can go with her think I should save the car, tires, gas, etc., for possible driving this summer.
Lucile called me today. Jimmy is all over his measles and they have put him down again. Said if it is warm tomorrow will take him out of doors. She didn’t want to take him to Laf. tomorrow – thought it too soon to take him with other people. Dr. said he might expose someone. David hasn’t shown the slightest sign of measles yet but he could start any time now. I took him out for a long time today just in case he starts
[page 4] anything he will have had today out. Mrs. Zell offered to keep him so I could attend club but I told her to go and I would keep Martha, so she did. I took David & Martha out and Bobby joined us for a while, then he turned “nasty” and I told him to go home. He seems to get along nicely for a while then as Beulah says he goes “bosoik.” I think a little or a lot of applied psychology at the right times would help the little man a lot. I know that old touch system still works here with David. I ask him if he wants me to spank and he says “no.” I put training panties on him today and he got along pretty good. He was wet both times when I brought him in from playing but that wasn’t his fault.
I didn’t get much done today so am going to try and work some this evening –
Love Mother
Wed. a.m. It is cloudy and forecast is rain. Mark is out now mowing – he didn’t finish last night.
©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/31/renting-the-house-gladys/
“I told Ira we didn’t know how long you would be on the present duty but thought it would be for a few months at least.” I eagerly await news on that front. 🙂
“Both J. & M. are doing home work and both jiggling the table. Mark explodes once in a while and makes the table move. He has so much trouble with the arithmetic. He thinks the book is off – not him.” LOL
“I didn’t soak them in bleach but put the stained pieces on the grass and the sun did a good job bleaching them.” I remember her doing this. No harsh chemicals needed!
“Bobby joined us for a while, then he turned “nasty” and I told him to go home. He seems to get along nicely for a while then as Beulah says he goes “bosoik.”” 🙂