Tag Archives: Dr. Ira Cole

Hard Beds (Gladys)

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: August 6, 1943 envelope

: August 6, 1943, p. 1

: August 6, 1943, p. 2

: August 6, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 26 came today. Had the 27 & 28 yesterday – so that brings my mail up pretty good. It is cooler but the sun is warming things up today. It was cool enough to have the windows & doors closed yesterday – Mark has been sleeping with me since John has been gone and last night he helped keep me warm – but you know me – covers for the first cool breeze. John got to go to the picnic – I had a letter from him yesterday and he said he would try not to get sick – you remember what happened to Mark one year. I don’t know whether Mark knows John got in on the picnic or not – but I don’t believe he will care because he is so built up on the 4-H outing the 16^th to 19^th. He runs errands for Arlene and I am trying to get him to save his money as he earns it so he will have some spending money when he goes to camp but money in his pocket seems to bother him. He always fins something he thinks he has to spend it for.

[page 2] Mother had a restless night. I wanted her to take a sleeping tablet but she didn’t want to. I gave her some potatoe soup yesterday noon and she threw it right up. She has been taking strained foods like I give David and keeps them down. Dr. Cole said she has a colitis condition and her recovery would be slow. She isn’t making any progress. If it weren’t for the hard beds in the hospital I would take her back down but she says she doesn’t feel she could stand the beds there. I am going to talk to Dr. Cole about her when I take David down Monday. He wants to see his cast again Mon. He sure gives that cast a beating – the way he rolls around out on it. Mark has him out in the buggy now. He is so “wiggly” it’s hard to keep him satisfied. Dr. Cole said the cast being on 4 weeks would retard his walking but I doubt it. He pulls up and gets around his pen & bed pretty good. He certainly has been good about it. He doesn’t fuss – just seems to take it for granted –

Ellsworth brought the policy out this morning. He said to tell you the baby was in for a – of a disappointment when he sees you. He said “you write & tell him I said that.” He said something about you being toothless & bald to David – E. is all hot & bothered about having to go. He said

[page 3] how’s my wife going to live on $50 – a month. I think a little military discipline might do him some good. I imagine the Army has tamed wilder ones – don’t you?

I paid my Ins. policy loan yesterday and groc. bill. We have a bal. of $233.55 – and a few other small bills to pay yet – water 4.80 – Geo. Monroe 4.75. Geo. has come every 60 days & oiled the furnace and looked things over. I will pay Ruth & Earl 100⁰⁰ if you think I should – we have a bond a month now for this year. I have 185⁰⁰ yet to pay on the piano (as previously stated). The car Ins. is due after the 11^th and your Laf. life in Sept. I haven’t been paying any Gross this year – Agnes Molter said I shouldn’t and as I once before told you the 1942 Gross paid on Service salary is to be refunded – or so the Indpls Star stated. I am enclosing a funny I clipped out of Colliers. I you have seen it I am sorry, but I thought it might amuse you. Since you folks get a kick out of reading about local black-outs I thought this might amuse.

David is now raising a fuss to go out – I have fed him since starting this letter. He sure has a good appetite and likes potaoe. Ate a whole one today – That is I mashed one whole potatoe for him.

I must get this finished so Mark can take it to town. –
Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/22/hard-beds-gladys/

A Bitter Pill (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 6, 1943 envelope

: August 6, 1943, p. 1

: August 6, 1943, p. 2

: August 6, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 6, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of July 20 and July 22 came yesterday. I don’t think you are doing wrong when you ask the Red Cross to ask for Jim to come home. Of course by the time this gets to you, you will have made the decision one way or the other but maybe this will help. Anyway I hope so. Requests for me thru the Red Cross I’m afraid would do no good even if they were gotten thru in time. I remember about one month ago when one of our officers go[t] word that his wife and baby died and he is still around with no though[t] of getting relieved. That is just the way with war and of course is a

[page 2] bitter pill to swallow. I suppose I shouldn’t have told you that but maybe it won’t make you feel too badly. However, we all felt terrible around here for a few days.

I’m sorry I can’t offer any suggestions about your mother – Has there ever been a definite diagnosis made? Is it just plain colitis, ulcerative colitis and one other possibility I hate to think of and that is carcinoma? Have you ever been informed? Or are they holding the information from you? Those are questions which you may have answered but the letters just haven’t arrived as yet from you with that information.

The treatment with this bacterial fortified medicine is new to me maybe it was developed after I left home. However, I do remember a treatment similar to that which was obsolete many

[page 3] years ago. I can’t believe that Dr. Cole would be that far behind however.

I hope you enjoyed the Rotary program but from the way you wrote it seems it must have been more of a brawl than a Rotary meeting, but I guess it isn’t out of the way to let your hair down now and then.

I wonder if Gladys K. really feels that way about John or whether it’s an outward show. Fran In knowing something of their past it’s a little hard to believe too much in that type of feeling.

I’m going to write John later today and send him his usual 1.00 for the his birthday present. I suppose it will get there in time.

Well, mother I’m hoping your mother is better and that you won’t have to worry too much about her.

Lots of love
Daddy

Emma Foster with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

Emma Foster (Gladys’ mother) with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/21/a-bitter-pill-roscoe/

August Finances (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 3, 1943 envelope

: August 3, 1943, p. 1

: August 3, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had July 21 & 23 yesterday – Some more unusual weather we are having. It started to rain last night and it’s still raining today and much cooler – Before the rain it was hot. We have the doors & windows closed today so you know it’s cooler. I am glad for Mother it is cooler – She suffers so when it’s hot. Dr. Cole said yesterday to continue with the same medicine. She doesn’t seem to do anything much either way. Only on hot days she feels worse. With John gone this week it’s rather quiet around here and with the rain today the neighborhood all around is quiet. Mrs. James & Jimmy are back & so are Arlene & Bobby but so far Bobby hasn’t been around this week. He had a start of hay fever but as soon as Arlene got him to Green Bay it stopped. While Arlene was gone the Lubberty girls took care of Donnie – Sunday Theresa had him out and stopped here. He is the picture of Bill – He is still larger than David but D. has more hair. When they get together they take each others’ toys – not exactly exchange – if one takes a notion for the toy the other has he just reaches, grabs & pulls – the one that can pull the hardest wins. Of course since D. is in his cast he isn’t a match for Donnie. I believe Donnie will like to fight when he gets old enough. I think Bobby has taught him a few tricks.

[page 2] Sister J. said it wouldn’t hurt David’s leg for him to stand so I allowed him to pull up today and enjoy standing and did he love it. He sat some but that breaks the cast across his bottom so I try to keep him from doing that. I was surprised to see how well he handles himself with that cast on but it doesn’t bother him any. Margaret Kruman brought him a soldier doll from Culver – she said she didn’t know whether he could have a soldier’s doll or not. It’s about half as big as he is but he like to pound it.

I checked on our finances this a.m. Our present bal. is $455 – but I haven’t had a reply yet from the Ins. Co. so I am sure about 180⁰⁰ will come out of that bal. I went ahead & got the piano & hade a bal. of 188⁰⁰ to pay on it by Dec 1 but think I’ll clear it off before then – I pd. 100⁰⁰ on it and got 15⁰⁰ for the old piano but had to pay 6⁰⁰ on the hauling. I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds last month and will try now to keep buying one one a month. That makes a total of 21 – 18⁷⁵ bonds & 6 – 37⁵⁰ we have – and John has 2 – 18⁷⁵ – David 2 – 18⁷⁵ & Mark one 18⁷⁵ – The difference there is that Mark didn’t save his money & John did. I have car Ins. to pay this month and your Laf. Life pol. Comes due in Sept. and as soon as the Lbr. Co. gets coal in we should get a supply – I am no on the waiting list. Of course I won’t pay for coal until we get it – I haven’t been to town yet and our monthly groc. Bills will have to come out of the bal. above. If I see there will be a surplus I’ll buy bonds. I ate some sliced tomatoe at noon and feel a little itchy so I won’t eat any more if I can help it – and I think I can.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/16/august-finances-gladys/

X-Rays (Gladys)

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: August 2, 1943 envelope

: August 2, 1943, p. 1

: August 2, 1943, p. 2

: August 2, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 2 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 21 & 23 came today – I went to Laf. today to take David to Dr. Cole – He reinforced the cast around the top – He rolls around on it so much and has managed to sit and breaks the cast above the leg. He wanted an X-Ray – said he wanted to see how it looked after “mauling” around a week, so we went out to St. E. and Sister J. took and X-Ray and showed it to me – everything fine – There wasn’t anything really to get out of place, and there is a metal piece in the cast to hold it firm. I asked if it would be alright for

[page 2] him to stand and Sister said it would be. When Dr. Cole puts the cast on, she was helping and said to tell you “Quack” helped. I think I forgot to tell you that when I wrote from the hospital. Dr. Cole said he couldn’t stand or sit and he has done both. I am to take him down again next week. Mary Parttens went with me today. She is more or less worried about Ruth – In case you didn’t get the letter telling you about her – She was kicked by a colt on the hip, breaking her pelvic bone on both sides. She has been in bed six weeks and has two more to stay. She hasn’t been in any kind of a cast – while in the hospital 3 wks she was in a swing. Matthews & Ross have been taking care of her. Mary is wondering if she will be able to walk. I had to get Mother’s prescriptions refilled today – Bacillus acidophilus broth and another medicine to take after meals. She doesn’t seem to change much either way.

[page 3] Sister J. asked me if I had written you about David & I said yes – she thought I shouldn’t worry you with it – I said when you knew the extent of the break (a crack not half way across, at the angle of the femur) I didn’t think you would be so upset – Also he may be out of the cast by the time you get this – at any rate I am doing all I can for him. He really doesn’t mind the cast as much as an older person. He is just as active as ever – the only thing he can’t get around quite as well – and this is going on the second week – times passes quickly and it won’t take long until it’s time to take the cast off. Sister J. X-Ray’d him several times to be sure there were no other breaks.

Mark stayed home with Mother today so I brought him a new belt & 4 pencils. He tried to bake a cake while I was gone and it was a flop.

Lucile was out with Jimmy Ed yesterday – His exczema is about all gone. She suns him every day for about an hour but he isn’t nearly as tan as David. He is fair skinned. I’ll give you a financial report in next letter –
Love, Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/14/x-rays-gladys/

Smelled Rags Burning (Gladys)

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: July 31, 1943 envelope

: July 31, 1943, p. 1

: July 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The last day of July – The folks went home this morning and John went with them to stay a week. Mark and I have to take care of things. After lunch I was all set to take a nap but David insisted on staying awake and is still singing to himself, so thought I might as well write. Dad said he never had seen a better baby than D. He has been very good to have a cast on one leg. I am to take him to see Dr. Cole Mon. I put some fresh tape around on the cast this morning.

Had a letter from Ruthie. Floyd had a nail accident and had to have a tetnus shot and got a reaction from it. It got red and itched terribly. Ruth had a letter from Herschel Steiner.

No letters today but the 28^th got your of the 20^th Also have the big. ck deposited and bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds to make one a month for this year.

[page 2] It is cloudy today and not so hot. It got so hot yesterday, Mother felt it so much. It is quiet around here today so I think she will rest better. There was a lot of confusion yesterday with everyone around & the piano coming. Ruth & Romaine left in the afternoon and Dad, Wilma, John & Mark went along so it was quiet all afternoon yesterday. This morning when Wilma got ready to leave she couldn’t find her coin purse – we haven’t found it yet. Thurs. after the folks arrived they put some things in the garage – among them a package of sheets Mom brought along so I wouldn’t have so many extra sheets with all the company – I told Mark to take a sack of garbage to the furnace I had put in the box by the door – well we couldn’t find the sheets at bed time – you guessed it Mark took the package of sheets and put them in the furnace. We all laughed about it – the best thing to do – besides buying new sheets which I will try to do as soon as possible. Dad was sitting in the yard and said he smelled rags burning.
D. has gone to sleep so think I’ll go try and get some shut eye.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/11/smelled-rags-burning-gladys/

Check Received (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 28, 1943 envelope

: July 28, 1943, p. 1

: July 28, 1943, p. 2

: July 28, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 28 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 17-18 & 20 (Thanks for all the compliments I need a few) so you can relax now about the ck. I’ll deposit it this a.m. and figure how to spend it to our best advantage. I think I’ll buy an $18.75 bond for each month so far and pay off the loan on my ins., then put keep enough on dep. to keep our bal. up to 100⁰⁰ and may yet try to buy the piano – I mentioned several times before. However I would like to start paying Ruth & Earl off it I can manage it. Rest assured I’ll try to be sensible about it and not spend any foolishly – I have thought about this piano business for a month and can’t decide what to do – if I could only get a word one way or the other from you. I wrote you about it some time ago so maybe an ans. will be coming thru one of these days.

[page 2] I got your first reply on Mother’s condition. She has decided she will go back to the hospital if it’s necessary – however I am hoping it won’t be necessary. She had a good night last night and it’s cooler today. We had a hard rain and hail that cooled things off yesterday. We were needing rain. The sun was so hot yesterday before the rain the flowers in the yard wilted. I hung sheets out to dry & they were ready to bring in in a short time – It was like an oven out in the yard.

I called your folks last nite & they are coming up Thurs & bring Ruth & Romaine this far. I also called Mrs. R. She doesn’t know yet where Joe is. I shudder to think what my telephone bill will be next time. I must have 8 or 10 calls on it and you know what they mean.

I have hit the jack-pot in letters from you this week – what makes me feel good is to hear you have our letters. I am anxious for you to get the last pictures I sent. Glad you finally got the box I sent in Jan. or Feb.

I must study-up something Mother can eat for lunch – that’s a problem now. Also it’s about time to take care of David

[page 3] Just in case my letters haven’t reached you I’ll repeat again about David’s leg. The femur at the angle was broken – not all the way across and he is in a cast up to his hips. Dr. Cole said he wouldn’t be able to sit but we found him sitting once yesterday. We were eating supper & he was in his bed – we kept running in to look at him and once John went in and he was sitting up in a corner. I don’t think it will hurt the bone but I imagine it wasn’t too comfortable. Hope you have my letters explaining all the details about the fall. David is doing fine and doesn’t mind the cast – he crawls around his bed or pen and plays as before.

John wants to go home with the folks for a week – Mark is booked to go to 4-H in Aug. & John thinks he should have another week too – He said Mark could do a little work around here if he went – I think I’ll get a lot more out of Mark if John is gone – Mark is a lot to “let John do it.” John’s voice is changing – Jim & Thelma noticed it while they were here. There has been so much going on around here I haven’t had time to keep up on outside news.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/05/check-received-gladys/

Third Day in Cast (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 27, 1943 envelope

: July 27, 1943, p. 1

: July 27, 1943, p. 2

: July 27, 1943, p. 3

: July 27, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of July 7-13-14-15-16 and 19 came today. I suppose the 17^th & 18^th will come along in a day or so. Of course the 17^th would be delayed. Jim & Thelma left this morning about 10:30. They are going to T.H. and leave their car & go back by train from there. I think it helped Mother for Jim to be here. I do hope she gets better. When she came up here she notified the Dept. so her pension could be transferred. They came out and wanted a budget so they could make a smaller amt. so I just told them to drop it. I talked it over with Jim & he agreed with me. He & Thelma both said they would help out any time we needed any money. I told them at present it isn’t necessary but should there be future hospital bills I would call on them if necessary. Jim is getting more now that he is a C.P.O. and should I need help from them I won’t hesitate to ask for it.

[page 2] This is David’s third day in his cast. He is doing fine. I took the top off his buggy so he can be taken out in the sunshine for his daily sunning. He is unusually good about it and so far eats as much as ever. I heard the 6 a.m. church bell & he heard it but I dozed off again & he played until almost seven – then I got up & gave him his bottle – glad now I didn’t have him entirely off the bottle – it’s much easier to feed him liquids from his bottle. I think he has gone to sleep now. I thought he would go to sleep much soon but he kept playing in his pen. In spite of the cast he can get around his pen when he wants to. He acted like he was going to pull up on his feet but Dr. Cole said not to let him do that. I had started to break him of sucking his thumb but I won’t try to do it for a while. He has a new tooth – not one of the upper front but the upper left next to the front – The front one next to it is about through – In fact both upper front ones are. I sent a bunch of pictures in yesterday’s letter and hope you get them because I think they are good – however as usual John jarred the camera when he took mine and it’s not so good. Dorothy has a bunch she took with her Kodak and I

[page 3] can’t get the pictures or the negatives so can’t send them. Maybe some day she will get around to getting them for me, but I am not going to ask her any more because I asked her for the negatives and she said she would have Jack Byrnes (the druggist) take them and that’s the last I have heard of them. Dorothy probably is a little peeved at me but I don’t need to do any explaining about her to you. I feel like I have done all I can to keep things straight but I don’t feel I should be reprimanded by her. I told you all about it is yesterday’s letter & hope you have it or get it. I stay home and try to be a good mother to our children (sometimes I wonder how good I do) and I don’t leave them to run around & play cards or do anything else and because of an accident that happens while I am right here, I hardly feel she has any right to tell me I am careless with David. I guess that’s enough of that – I am going to forget it – I have decided as Arlene said the other day you can pay any attention to what people say.

Had a letter from Ruth M. She is in C.C. and Mom suggested she & Dad bring Ruth

[page 4] and Romaine this far and they could go on the bus to Chi – then down to Wilmington. She wanted to know if it would be alright, or if I though company would be too much on Mother – I am going to tell them to come on. When she wrote she hadn’t had time to receive the news about D. I wrote to your mother, Ruth & Ruthie Sunday when I wrote you.

I told you in yesterday’s letter the boys had letters from you but it was from Comdr. Fredericks – two 4^th menu’s and a note written on each noet menu – one for J & one for M. Do you know what he wrote to them? He certainly thinks you are “O.K.” Now beat your chest some more – If you pound it every time I tell you to you may have some knots raise up –

It is hot & humid today. We washed all the white things – Have to keep sheets washed. Tried to buy sheeting in Laf. last Wed. and Loebs didn’t have anything but unbleached. I did buy two ready made ones. Don’t have much washing for D. now but diapers. With the cast on one leg and around his hips I don’t put clothes on him – It seems a shame to have all that cast one for such a tiny break. Jim took some pictures and if he ever sends them I’ll send them on to you.

Love,
Mother

©2014 copyrighted owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/03/third-day-in-cast-gladys/

Hospital Trip (Gladys)

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: July 26, 1943 envelope

: July 26, 1943, p. 1

: July 26, 1943, p. 2

: July 26, 1943, p. 3

: July 26, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 26 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Home with David from the hospital – He is doing fine. I asked Dr. Cole about the break this morning & then went up to X Ray & looked at the pictures. Dr. Cole said it wasn’t a bad break – I’ll draw a picture at the end to show how small a thing it was. However small it still has to be in a cast. I wrote you all the minute details yesterday and hope you get the letter. I supposed the first thing people would say that we were careless and you might know the first one to say anything was D.K. She called shortly after we came home today to inquire about David and right off started to tell me what she would do to me if she ever caught me letting children handle the baby again. I was tired from two restless nights and two days in the hospital standing over David trying to keep him quiet and in no mood to take any scolding from anyone and especially from her, so I told her right off it was an accident and we weren’t careless with D. and everyone sorry it

[page 2] had happened – the main thing now is to get the break mended which it will no doubt do in due time. Dr. Cole said to bring D. down in another week for him to see. I am enclosing a picture of Virginia with David. She feels so badly about it. She baked a cake & brought it over this afternoon. She is a nice little girl. She has two younger sister – one three years old. She is so used to handling children was the reason I would let her hold David – She is the same age as Mark and he is used to taking care of David. I wouldn’t allow Betty, who is seven, to handle David any. As I said yesterday none of the children handled him much because he played in his bed and pen a lot. The children would often push him in the buggy, but as much as they wanted to hold him I always reminded them we didn’t want him spoiled – (too much).

Yours of July 5-6-8-9-10 came today so that was a lift – I got a kick from yours telling me to spank D. He had has been getting some correcting – I don’t want him to be “rotten” when you come home – or any time. I’ll admit I was a little low and I needed a few letters from Navy 60. The boys got letters too but haven’t had time to read them

[page 3] You mentioned money in one of your letters rec’d today – I was trying to figure out how much you get a month now but haven’t quite figured it yet. Our bank acc’t is low now but the Ins. loan is paid and all bills. I am still trying to figure a way to get the piano I mentioned. I suppose I shouldn’t think about it but they are so hard to find and this one is in first class condition. I’ll let you know what I do. As I said I probably won’t get your reply until after I have decided what to do.

Mrs. Washburn came up this afternoon to see David – That family has the breaks too. She can’t get over how much fuss John & Mark make over David. John said they were so much in love with D. because he looks like you. Adding that David is the best looking baby & you the handsomest man – Beat your chest.

Jim & Thelma came about 9 P.M. yesterday. They came to the hospital to get me today. They have to be back Thurs. eve, so will have to leave here tomorrow. Jim’s new uniforms are very good looking. He first got his when the new color came out but he says he can use it another year yet. I’ll do my drawing on the back.

Love –
Mother

Virginia Zell holding David, July 1943

An Emergency Leave (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 22, 1943 envelope

: July 22, 1943, p. 1

: July 22, 1943, p. 2

: July 22, 1943, p. 3

: July 22, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 22 – 1943

DearDaddy –

If the weather takes a beating it’s because of the variety. It is too cool today to have the windows on the north open. Yesterday it was so sweltering hot after the rain we had in the a.m. then during the night this cold wind started blowing in from the north. I was tired from the trip to Laf. yesterday, besides cleaning the weeks out around the evergreens after supper, and thought I would go right to sleep, but heard Mother and went in to see about her. She was having gas pains so bad she couldn’t rest. I didn’t have anything for pain so gave her a nembulal – she quieted down and has slept most of the day from it – however she didn’t sleep any yesterday due to the heat and

[page 2] said she didn’t sleep between 3 & 4 this morning so that is one of the reasons she has slept so much today. I saw Dr. Cole and he changed one of her medicines. She took one does last night and while I was downstairs this morning after taking her breakfast up she tried to take a dose of medicine & dropped the bottle and broke it, so will have to get that prescription refilled. Jim wrote that if I thought he should come home to go to the Red Cross & get him an emergency leave. I called Bob Hufty this a.m. and he was going to talk to Ed M. – the Red Cross man in Goodland who takes care of those things – and get Him to come home. I hope I am doing the right thing, but Jim think he will get a leave after he gets a placement – but I am afraid it may not work out that way – and as frail as Mother is I think he should come home. If it were your Mother I think I would go thru the Red Cross and get an emergency leave for you.

Mark is out with D. giving him a sunning – David slept so long this afternoon I had to awaken him to give him his dinner. He has had only one bottle today. Drank his milk from a glass at 11 & 3.

[page 3] Mark picked beans again and we got 4 more qts canned today – by picking them and canning 4 qts at a time it won’t be such a task. We have 8 qt now and think there will be another picking Sat.

Tomorrow is David’s 10^th month. I weighed him this a.m. but he hasn’t made much gain the past month. He eats good and takes a can of milk a day but he is so active I think he keeps streamlined. He doesn’t look thin but his Mother wanted to add another lb. to his chart on his 10^th month – He is doing “O.K.” so that is all that’s necessary. He won’t sit on my lap – he climbs all over me if I try to hold him – he likes action. He climbs out of his play chair (you saw it in one picture). The other day he managed to get his chair pushed over to the stove and I watched him to see what he would do – He got hold of the oven door handle and pulled himself up to the stove and played on the burners – I stood right behind him so he wouldn’t fall to see how far he would go. He doesn’t like No! No! he gives them a dirty look.

[page 4] John is reading the new Colliers. He needs a new reed for the oboe & couldn’t get one so can’t go to band practice tonite. I have been promising the children a wiener roast in the back yard so will have that for them this evening. There is a lot of trash accumulated in the furnace I want to get burned. It’s hard to get marshmallows but John is a good buyer and has cornered several packages so they are going to have them in addition to wieners – Mrs. Zell said she would furnish ice cream & cookies.

Mary McGee Arnett went to Laf. with Arlene & I yesterday. She is Dr. Cole’s patient. Her baby is due in 5 wks. Her husband is in Texas and she thinks maybe he will have to leave U.S. before the baby is born (it’s been done before).

Kathryn Ade joined the Women’s Marine Corps. She is at present at Lake Geneva, Wis. awaiting call. I see by the paper that Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Lohr (Rose Carter – still owes us 12⁰⁰) have a baby boy. Also Bud Hancock is a father – baby girl – That’s about all the news I see & think will interest you.

Love Mother

Writing Early (Gladys)

3 Replies

: July 21, 1943 envelope

: July 21, 1943, p. 1

: July 21, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 21 1943

Dear Daddy –

The mail hasn’t come yet – I am writing early because have to go to Laf. Arlene wants to go to the dentist at 1: and we will have to leave about 11: – I am going to get things all done before I go – baby’s bath & food – Mother’s dinner & something lined out for J. & m. It is raining right now so will be a good day to leave the family – they will stay in better (without resentment). John doesn’t mind so much. Mark wanted to go along – I don’t know why, except he just started saying he wanted to and wouldn’t change – but John remonstrated and with good cause because Mark can help here at home and he has nothing to go for. I wouldn’t go myself but have to get Mother’s Bacillus Acidophilus at the hospital. That is about all

[page 2] I need to go for – except want to see Dr. C. and tell him about Mother. She has been having gas pains, and food hurts her stomach.

One day last week Jessie & Clarence Schauwecker stopped on their way home from Whiting and Jessie told some of the people around C.C. she had stopped. We got a letter from Opal Storm. It was a nice newsy letter – the same old Opal but we appreciated it and had a few chuckles over it. She said Harry had written you & had an answer.

Had an inquiry from Allison in Indpls on Cracker Algood. I answered the questions & returned it tho it was addressed to you. I wonder why she is in Indpls wanting work. I just wonder if there is any family trouble there. I thought Gerald had a good job in Laf. and with the baby to look after – I don’t understand.

I must start moving around here & get things in order before I go.
Love Mother