Category Archives: World War II Letters

V-mail Number One (Roscoe)

February 25, 1944 V-mail

Letter transcription:

LT R.S. YEGERLEHNER (MC) USNR
NAVY 133 BASE HOSP #4
F.P.O. SAN FRANCISCO CALIF
2-25-44

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA USA

Dear Mother,

This is V-mail number one conforming with the wishes of the postal department. It seems to be a good idea if everyone will oblige. I’m just as anxious to receive your v-mail or air mail but I do hate writing them. Possibly after I’ve written a few it won’t be so bad. Your v-mail dated 2-11 came today and it really was a treat to be informed of snow and snow drifts, but I do hope it won’t keep up too long.

I’m looking forward to the picture Bart put in the paper for it must be a wow. I’ve seen the pictures he has printed of the Beagley boys and the Rowe boy and I can’t say so much for the artistic work of the Newton Co. E.

Maybe tomorrow I can write another air mail so solong
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/28/v-mail-number-one-roscoe/

Write More V-Mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 24, 1944 envelope

February 24, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 24, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m writing a little early today and hoping that mail will arrive later, and writing of mail there is a notice out that we may be restricted to two letters per week. That is air mail letters and we are also encour informed to tell people at home to write more v-mail. So if you begin to get v-mail from me you will know the reason and possibly it would be a good idea if you used a few more. My excuse for not writing v-mail is very good. I don’t have any forms and cannot remember to get any when I’m around where they have them but if I

February 24, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] have to I guess I can make an extra trip.

One of the fellows today was chewing the fat and went into great detail in telling me how lucky I was to be here where it is nice and warm rather than back in Ind. where the winds are cold, probably slush on the ground and flu all around. My only reaction to that was Bull Dickey and I still think I’m right. Of course I’ll have to admit that a few of his points were well taken in so far as the weather is concerned but further than that I can’t agree. In fact I think he didn’t even agree with himself but was just idle conversation.

Just stopped long enough to open a coke, only my second so far today

February 24, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] but probably not be the last as I generally have one somewhere near bedtime and they don’t keep me awake. Probably would if I went to bed early but as a rule it’s near 1200. A habit gotten into at home – partially broken on the islands but restored when reading was again possible.

You probably have read about the Bush fires in Australia – well they have them here also but they are not so destructive as in Australia but bad enough for pasture land is often destroyed. They are sure a weird sight at night, almost beautiful. Maybe those two words don’t fit in any description but that is about the best way I can describe a mountain side burning.

February 24, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I have to watch a group of corpsmen for an hour this P.M. while they take their exams for higher rating. It really isn’t my regular job but one of the fellows wanted to be off so I told him I’d take over for a time. It means just being there so the boys won’t cheat much. I gave enough of those exams before so I’m glad that that is not one of my duties here – too much like teaching school and if I’d wanted to stay with that I wouldn’t e here, but I’m here so why teach. That may be mixed a little but you probably get what I mean.

I’ll add a P.S. if mail –
Love Daddy

P.S. a Nov. Reader’s Digest came

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/27/write-more-v-mail-roscoe/

Chicken-Pox (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 24 & 25, 1944 (envelope front)

: February 24 & 25, 1944 (envelope back)

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-24-44

Dear Daddy –

Another beautiful sunny day makes me think spring is just around the corner but I know we have March yet and any kind of weather may come then. This kind of weather makes me want to get out & dig.

I started out with David yesterday and stopped at Funks. Arlene said Joy had chicken-pox. I went in and looked at her and could only see a slight rash – I asked Arlene is she knew what chicken-pox looked like – she said “no.” Well, if Joy has chicken-pox I don’t know what they look like. I asked her if she had had temp. or felt cross the past few day and evidently Joy has been perfectly normal. I think she has a rash. Arlene was puzzled how Joy could get anything, since she hasn’t had her out of the house recently.

Jack Byrnes (Art’s druggist) has two youngsters and last winter they had measles and scarlet fever and now have chicken pox. The little boy is just a little older than David. So far David hasn’t had anything except colds. He seemed to hold on to a cold most of the winter. It seems to come and go. I wonder sometimes if it isn’t an allergy. He has been coughing a little more than usual the past few days, but it doesn’t bother

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] his appetite in the least. I have been taking him out every day. It is too nice to stay in.

Sat. is Mark’s birthday and I want to have a party for him. I think I’ll have the neighbor children in for cake and ice cream. I don’t want to have too many because of David. The children around here are all in good health now, so don’t think there will be any danger of them carrying any contagious diseases.

A window light in the basement was blown out the other day when we had a high wind. I got another one yesterday, but haven’t tried to put it in yet. I must get it in, so if we have a cold spell, it will be in. If I could find someone to do the work I would have the partition around the furnace finished to keep the dirt in one place. This untreated coal is so dirty, our basement can’t be kept clean now.

I rather expect Lucile to come out with Jimmy this afternoon. Jimmy and David make a good team. They are almost the same size – – After David woke from his nap I put his sweater & cap on and took him out in the sunshine. I went over to Statons to tell Irene about Mark’s party Sat. When I started out again I saw Lucile coming. She wanted to stop and see Joy Funk so I kept our boys out in the sunshine while she visited with Arlene then I walked to the corner with her when

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] she started home. Come back and Arlene had Joy & Donnie out in the yard. She had Joy in her basket. She was sleeping soundly and absorbing sunshine. Donnie was running all around the yard. I was so warm it made us think it was spring. I didn’t finish this letter yesterday and now this is the 25^th. I am not making a habit of this so don’t get alarmed. I am out of V-mail at present or would have written v-mail yesterday. The boys got out of school at 11 a.m. today. It has rained all day and David didn’t get to go out any. The speed burner on the stove was out of order so the serviceman came out to fix it – Ed has ordered a new switch but Michaels said the new switch wouldn’t work, so Ed came out with him. They both worked on it a while and said it was ready for use. I tried it when getting supper and couldn’t get it to turn off, so Ed came out and put a new button on. If that doesn’t work he will put in the new switch.

Cosmopolitan was at Cost’s this afternoon, and being vice-president I went, because the Pres. Called and asked me to, she was going to be out of town.

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Coke, Cecil D. & I called on the Wilsons when we left Casts. Their new baby arrived the 23^rd without the services of a Dr. Ellsworth officiated. He said he was going to run an ad in the paper for his services – However he will probably soon be in the Army, his notice came today along with 49 others. Among those I understand Bill Nugent got his call. When asked what the new baby’s name is, he said he hadn’t decided yet. Doris said if he didn’t choose a name by tomorrow she was going to. Coke said, “do you name all the children?” He said since he couldn’t have them the least he could do was name them. Doris said she would gladly change jobs with him.

The Zells took Mark with them to the show tonight – John is practicing and David is tucked in, or I should say he is in bed because he is probably on top of the covers. He sleeps on them, rather than under unless I get up and cover him several times during the night.

John is going to take this up to the hotel to mail for me.

No mail from you today, but had a letter from your mother –
“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/26/chicken-pox-gladys/ ‎

O’Shaunnessy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 23, 1944 envelope

February 23, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 23, 1944

Dear Mother,

After having a battle lasting a good five minutes with some huge flies maybe I can write. These flies are the super bomber type, very much like the ones we see around home in the early spring and since screens are unheard of in New Zealand we just have to swat them with newspapers, etc. One can’t rest unless they are downed because they buzz peck on the window, ceiling or bulkhead – well you know how it is.

I didn’t say anything about the pictures by way of explanation but I guess there wasn’t much to say. The overseas cap I had one was borrowed and

February 23, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] my blue suit looked as if I had slept in it but I hadn’t. It really hadn’t been pressed in a long while. The one picture of myself I thought best was the one when I was sitting in the doorway. Really I think that one flatters me and it doesn’t look too good at that.

I’ve forgotten the name of our show tonite but someone told me it was a story with a setting in a South Sea Isle. That should really be good. I believe it was Rosie. Said he had seen it before he left the states. Possibly I should have explained or maybe I did – Rosie is short for Rosenberg and the latter name speaks for itself but we get along OK, strange as it seems. There are so many Irish people around here that instead of calling me by my real name I have been dubbed O’Shaunnessy and when someone calls out that name I know who they mean,

February 23, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] some fun wouldn’t you say? I think Bob’s wife started that in the first place with a name like McReynold and O’Donnell she thought that would be more proper. She comes out rather frequently for evening chow but he goes to town of course more frequently.

Later after the show – It was a leak out. Had its beginning in England, its middle in a South Sea Isle. A very beautiful girl on the South Sea Island and that is a downright falsehood. Maybe for those who don’t know it makes good entertainment but I’ve been around some and I know where of I speak, and I might add New Zealand with the Isles. However, I haven’t probed into the inner sanctum sanctorum for beauties but seeing the rank and file of the streets I have seen no prize winners. In fact not none that would even equal you. Is that flattery or what?

February 23, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Anyone here over I’d say 25-30 has false choppers. These people are very notorious for their poor teeth and of course they all say it’s due to a lack of minerals but I think it’s the age old custom of tea 4-5 times each day. Always, along with the tea, they have cakes, so you see sweets play a very prominent part and I have a feeling that that starts at a very early age. And of course it is a prenatal habit which must have some bearing on the child.

Just think only 6 more days in Feb. Surely something will come thru before long but several of us have been thinking that for so long now that it has become almost an obsession with us.

Well Dear we will just keep the chin up and know that love will find the way.
Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. There was no mail today.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/25/oshaunnessy-roscoe/

Growing Boys (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 23, 1944 envelope front

: February 23, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-23-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 10 & 11 came today. It is a nice sunny day since the fog has cleared. I want to take David out if he will go to sleep and get a nap first. For some reason he didn’t go right to sleep when I put him down after lunch. He is learning more about climbing every day. This morning he climbed up on a kitchen chair and played with the radio on the kitchen table. He climbs up on the couch when he takes a notion and sometimes tumbles off, but that doesn’t discourage him – he goes right back. Dot Salter Hoffman sent me two rolls of film today so will get a picture of David – today being his 17^th month. It seems to me the time flies by faster than ever. When I think of David begin 17 months old it somehow doesn’t seem possible yet he has made good use of all these months the way he develops. Of course we think he is advanced and “super” but we would be that way with him. I think he knows how he rates – Just looked in to see if he was covered – he finally went to sleep.

Not having been around where news floats around I don’t know much about current events of Kentland. This being Wed., no weekly newspaper to gather items from.

February 23, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] You may wonder about Dot sending me film, but she works for Easley and when film comes in she is supposed to send me a roll or two. This is the second time she has sent. I was out and couldn’t get any here so her package was more than welcome. – – I stopped and took a little nap too. Now we are both up and I have a film in the camera and am going to take David out in a few minutes for a snap. He has been a little touchy since he woke up. Maybe he slept too long. I am not going to use the whole roll today – since Sat. is Mark’s birthday will want to take pictures then.

John went to town yesterday and got a new suit. He is growing so fast has just about grown out of the one he has now. His arms are so long and hip legs too. I let the cuffs out on the pants as much as I could and they are still short. He is almost my height (5-2 ½ ) lacking about an inch. If he keeps growing like this at only 13 ½ he will be tall – up in the 6 ft. class. Of course he may quit after this “growing spell” is over but he has a good start. I always thought Mark would be tall but not John. He is developing too – takes a 13 ½ shirt. Not far from his Dad’s size.

I have put David out in the buggy so must go see about him.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/24/growing-boys-gladys/ ‎

Photographs (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 22, 1944 envelope

February 22, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 22, 1944

Dear Mother,

This being the 22^nd we did have the turkey as I said yesterday. It was roasted – cranberry sauce also but you know – That didn’t appeal so much as one might imagine I mean to me. Anyway I had plenty to eat without that sauce. Cherry pie also but I also passed that up. In fact all I ate was some mashed potatoes and turkey. Not much variety but plenty of it.

Our continued warm weather still holds on and it has been trying to rain most of the day but so far a little sprinkle is all that has been forthcoming.

February 22, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] A few hours later – Had to go up on the compound and I wasn’t in any particular hurry with this letter hoping that some mail might arrive but no such luck so far. It’s about 4:00 PM and about that time. I believe we are more anxious for mail now then we were a year or a year and a half ago. I guess we didn’t know what to expect then but after mail comes regular it’s a little hard to understand why it doesn’t keep coming. Well it’s not hard to know why but it is hard not to get it. The mail topic really come in for its share of the letter today – almost ½ page. Something has to be used to fill up the space and really I can think of no better subject.

I’m going to try to get the pictures today that Rosie and I had taken last week,

February 22, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] provided I can get into town. That after all is a real problem with us. I can’t explain just why but the trams, buses, etc., don’t exactly do like they do in the States and we are a little distance away. I’ll try to write the rest after I see if we get the pictures.

Later – I got the pictures OK but due to a misunderstanding there was only one print made of each so Rosie and I will have to toss to see who will get to send which. I’ll try to send those of me by myself and later send the remainder when we have other prints made. I think one or two of them are fair of me and also of him but you won’t be able to tell of course whether his are good or not.

To have a roll of films developed and one print made of each cost 2/11 which

February 22, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] adds up roughly to 42 to 45 cents. That as I remember is about the same as back there unless they were sent to some of those quarter joints we used to send them to.

While in town I went to the show “Above Suspicion.” I’d say it was only a fair show but I hadn’t seen it before and it was a little different getting away from the compound for a while.

Well it’s getting well onto bed time so after I show Rosie the pictures in the A.M. I’ll insert one or two for your approval –

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/23/photographs-roscoe/

Tulips Peeping Thru (Gladys)

1 Reply

February 22, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-22-44

Dear Daddy –

No mail delivery today so we didn’t score anything. It is very warm and the snow is melting – There is some left where it had drifted but it will soon be gone. The tulips are all peeping thru and some are an inch or more above the ground. I suppose it won’t hurt now. They came up some time ago during a warm spell and we covered them with leaves but the leaves were blown off. Mrs. Zell fertilized all our shrubbery in the back. Now with the snow melting and all the moisture around them they should get off to a good start this spring. I will be glad to get out in the yard again and turn the earth up and get flowers started. The house should be painted this spring – I noticed several places peeling – and it looks as dirty as several years accumulation instead of just two.

There is no school this afternoon due to Rev. McCloud’s funeral and no school Fri. P.M. due to some kind of teachers’ meeting. Mark is out in the yard “tending” David. Two of his classmates are out with him. How they can find anything amusing to do I don’t know, because I told them to keep off the grass.

February 22, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] It is so wet that if they run and play on it now they make holes, etc., and it needs care instead of destruction. I want to get some grass seed before long and sow again. I sowed a little last spring. I believe it helped some.

David loves to sit in his buggy and watch children play. By spring he will have to be put down on the ground so he can do things too. He certainly kept busy this morning doing some things I didn’t want him to do. I was ironing and he would get into things then just stand and look at me when I would tell him to get out. I could persuade him sometimes to get out, then again I would have to get up and use more personal methods. He is a tease, and I wasn’t wanting to be teased with all the ironing I had to do. He will be 17 months old tomorrow – is 32 ½” high and weighs 25 lbs.

When I started writing it was very clear and sunny and now it is getting dark and looks black in the north. I wonder if we will get a rain, snow or what. Looks like something is brewing.

Sat. is Mark’s birthday. I think I will have a surprise party for him. He is talking quite a lot about his birthday. Said he wanted another watch but I told him no because he didn’t take care of the one he had. I got him two new shirts and gave them to him and told him they were for his birthday but I really intend to get him something else.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/22/tulips-peeping-thru-gladys/

Wish I Had Some News (Roscoe)

1 Reply

February 21, 1944 envelope

February 21, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 21, 1944

Dear Mother,

There was a little mail today but none for me. It was dated the same as mine was last week so really I’m ahead because mine was about 3-4 days earlier than theirs. So much for mail – we’ll hit one of these days again.

Tomorrow being Geo. Wash. birthday we are supposed to have turkey in some form. I noticed on the menu it was turkey, candy, cigarettes, etc. Of course the natives aren’t well acquainted with our holidays nor are we with theirs. As I understand their holidays come mostly on Sat. or Mon. so they can make a weekend of the whole thing. I’ve never been in on any of those affairs so I don’t know

February 21, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] how long they last. I have been to their horse races as I probably told you. It reminded me of a big over grown county fair with betting of course legalized. Yes I bet and dropped a few shillings but that helps pay the tax so I just contributed about $2.00 in round numbers. Service men get special passes to the races – all free so it was work $2.00 just to get into the place. Of course everybody takes tea along and here and there among the cars one can see many picnic lunches spread and someone getting a bucket of hot water from someplace to make tea.

The races have been cut down much since the war – now they are generally held on two successive Saturdays but before the war a full week of racing – each day.

February 21, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] You just knew it was coming someplace in the letter – you guessed it. There is nothing more to offer on the 18 mo. business. We still do a good job of talking and wondering but nothing happens.

Rosie my Jewish friend told me today it was 18 months ago today that he last saw his wife so evidently she didn’t go to the port of embarkation with him either. This is also an anniversary for me it being one year ago today that we landed in our new home. The situation sure has changed both for me and the war in general. This eve we had good fried lamb chops and last year I don’t remember but it was something prepared with a can opener or probably just a plain hunting knife because I don’t remember having a huntin can opener.

February 21, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] The radio is just now blasting out with “My Old Ky Home.” Last night we were able to get Jack Benny – That was the first time I’d heard him in a long time. Possibly you have heard the program. Jack it seemed had purchased a swimming pool and the whole episode was about that.

Yesterday and today have been two of the hottest days we have had. I think I mentioned in yesterday’s note about the heat. Maybe I’m just used to being out of the tropics and am a little used to cooler weather – anyway it’s been warm.

Well Dear I sure wish I had some news for you about the 18 mo. I’m really getting the urge to get out of this place and of course the urge is in the direction of Indiana –

Love Daddy

Slip of a Letter (Roscoe)

2 Replies

February 20, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sunday

Dear Mother,

This being Sunday I’ll just slip this in with Sat. letter. The two heavy sheets of paper of yesterday’s letter make almost enough for on letter’s worth but this small bit shouldn’t make any difference.

Since there isn’t anything to write about but the weather will start out by saying it was a little cloudy todo this A.M. and cleared later in the day and was I believe one of the warmest days I’ve seen. Really it was warm enough to go to the seashore but it’s too far to walk hence I didn’t go. We do have a river fairly near but it’s too cold most of the time and there are too many big rocks which makes it too hard on the feet.

Well, my space is short and subject matter is shorter – so solong.
Love Daddy

February 20, 1944 envelope

Meanwhile, likely unbeknownst to Roscoe, new orders were being written…..

Death of Rev. McCloud (Gladys)

1 Reply

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-20-44

Dear Daddy –

Another wintry Sunday P.M. I was going to take David out for a walk but a fine snow is coming down – so fine it is almost a rain, so unless it lets up we will stay in or go in the car. I thought we might go out to the greenhouse. Rev. McCloud died yesterday and I would like to send flowers. Rev. McCloud suffered a heart attack last week and I understood he would have to be in bed for sometime but he was up getting his breakfast yesterday morning when he died. As active as he had always been I never thought about him having heart trouble. He used to play tennis every summer –

The snowing stopped so I walked for a while with David & Mark then we came back and went out to the green house and ordered flowers to send to McClouds. Then we stopped at Plummers. Mr. P. was in bed – had been sick with near pneumonia. They won’t get to go to Fla., because they were to go about the time he got sick a week ago, and he isn’t able to be up yet. I think Mrs. P. is rather disappointed because they can’t go. She has been working pretty hard since he has been down, taking care of the chickens, furnace, etc. Then they got a quarter of beef and she canned it. I hadn’t seen her since Christmas eve and didn’t know about Mr. P. being ill. I thought

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] they would be in Fla., but saw the flowers in the window so knew they were home.

We came back home and listened to the radio all evening. David Diedam came about 7 P.M. and played with Mark a while. Mrs. Z. came over and invited us to eat fried chicken with them tomorrow evening. They have kept chicken in their refrigerator since the middle of Jan. We had baked chicken today that we put in the locker almost a year ago.

Mon. A.M. Yours of Feb. 8 & 9 came today. Had a leak in the upstairs bathroom. Had to call Mr. Monroe – The leak was from the flush box. It had run out on the floor and soaked down on the ceiling in the dining room before I discovered it but it is fixed now and not much damage done. The other side of the dining room ceiling has water marks from the bath tub. I hope to get some painting done this spring & cover the water marks.

It is nice out today. Sun shining and snow melting. I want to take David out after he wakes from his nap. He was a little busy body this morning. Wouldn’t stay put anyplace – just kept going from one thing to another, getting into things he knows he should stay out of. He is beginning to talk more. When he wants to do something to get attention, he gets your picture and says “Da.” He knows he won’t get scolded

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] for that. He has been saying Ma-Ma the last two days. We are trying to get him to say mother. He can say John & Mark, not quite plain, but we know what he is saying. I have to keep the bathroom door closed (downstairs) to keep him from playing at the lavatory. He climbs up on the clothes hamper and does things.

Irene borrowed some coffee this morning – Said her mother is away but I didn’t ask any questions. I suppose she has gone to Ft. Wayne to stay with Margaret. Irene isn’t working now – Dorothy said Irene was to rest a month before she goes back to work. I can’t imagine Irene staying home and doing hum drum house work. Not that it is that to me – but I am geared differently from Irene. I imagine she will return to the factory.

I have been wondering what the men getting married in foreign lands will do about their wives when they are ordered back to the States. Will Bob be able to bring his bride back with him if he is sent back here before the war is over? He won’t mind staying down there now but what a situation to be ordered back here soon and have to leave his wife. Of course it isn’t any worse than your situation but it would seem a little ironical if he got traveling orders now when that is what you want. I think I hear little David getting awake.

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I knitted a suit for James L. – I want to get it mailed today. I wanted to send it for his birthday which was in Jan., but I didn’t get it started in time. I made this suit in dark blue. I want to make one for David in red. He still has dark brown hair and his eyes are so dark they almost look black, so he should wear red. D. & Jimmy make a good contrast. Jimmy is so fair and his hair is so blond it is almost white.

–Pause to take D. up and set him on the toidey – it worked – saved a diaper. He is busy now playing with a box – much more interesting than a toy – Toys are something to throw down and leave on the floor while a good box is playing with.

I am afraid this letter has been rather jumbled, but I started on it so many times & I didn’t have a very good train of thoughts any time I started.

I want to start planning flower gardens for spring. I haven’t thought much yet about a vegetable garden. It is nice to have vegetables all summer but almost more work than I care about. If the boys could carry on without my supervision, but they couldn’t last year. John doesn’t like gardening and Mark won’t work consistently unless he has someone with him all the time – It is almost compared to getting blood out of a turnip – except that he can work but doesn’t care to.

Love – Mother