Tag Archives: Sister Amelia

Waiting For Coal (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 26 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. afternoon & spending it at the hospital. Glen & I came down this morning. Yesterday when I was here Mother seemed so low I thought we had better be here as much as possible today. I stayed last night until nearly 10 o’clock. She gets weaker all the time. It doesn’t seem possible for her to get any weaker and last. The dietitian came up this afternoon to see would like for supper but she said she didn’t want anything at all. She seems less drowsy today than she did yesterday. If you have the letter I wrote yesterday I told you how awful she looked then. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole today but think he isn’t giving much medicine now except for sleep.

Glen is some better – at least able to come with me today. I had Dr. Cole give me two prescriptions for him yesterday & it seems to be helping some. They are still waiting on Mother’s condition to go home. Think they should go now but hate to leave.

The old home town isn’t what it used to be. Last night when we got back to town I thought I would stop at the groc. store & pick up a few things – well, it was only a little past – well not quite 11 – and you remember how the crowds used to mill around the streets till about midnight. The only store I found open was

[page 2] the Morgan place and they were sold out of bread – what I wanted most. The streets were deserted and everything closed. Nick’s were still open but Sat. night is about the only time they stay that late. I don’t know what those people do who used to hang around town so late.

I saw Sister Amelia yesterday & she said to tell you hello for her. Also saw Sister Juventia and she was asking about you & said she missed “you boys” – (who doesn’t). Alma W. said Reed was wishing “that little devil” was back. He needs to see a Dr. & won’t go see anyone – guess he is waiting for you to come back. Mrs. Plummer came out on David’s birthday & brought him a gift. She goes to Dr. M. for shots and she said he asked her about us. I haven’t seen him since I brought Mother down here to Dr. Cole. Dr. M. was out of town when David was hurt and out of town when Mark cut his hand so I can’t help it if he doesn’t have the latest on us.

It is nice & sunny out today but chilly. This fall came without delay. It was summer one week then fall the next & it’s been cool ever since. It has been hard on our coal supply because with a baby (now two) in the house we had to have heat. I told J. & M. if we couldn’t get any coal we would have to go someplace else to live. I am just doing what everyone else around Kent is doing about coal – waiting for it to come. I suppose it will be winter (I hope).

Well, I have rambled on & on without saying much. I told you in yesterday’s [letter] the trouble with the powder room plumbing & Geo. Monroe finding it – the pipe leading from the house was broken – he fixed it.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/06/waiting-for-coal-gladys/

900 Points of Beef (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 17 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

No letters today but have had up to Sept. 6 so can’t complain. I went to Laf. today to see Mother & meet Glen. He left T.H. Tues. eve. & drove thru to Williamsburg without stopping & then started back the same day he got there. If you could see him now with Mark you would never know he had missed any sleep. When we came home from Laf. Mark & John went out to the fair with Statons and after feeding Mark David, I fried some of the new steak for our supper. I went to Sheldon & got some meat this a.m. – the quarter we got was over 130 lbs. It will take over 900 points. I am going over to get the bones when it is cut up and

[page 2] cook the bones to get soup broth. I had never thought of that until someone else told me about doing it.

I saw Dr. Cole a few minutes and he couldn’t give me any encouragement about Mother. – Her abdomen is full of fluid. He is still giving her Betalin every day.

There is so much noise & talking going on around I can hardly think. I saw Sister Celerita today – She has just been put on 3d Main. She was in O.B. three years ago. She was so glad to see me & asked about you. Sisters we knew when you were here are in other hospitals. Only a few are still in St. E. Sister Amelia is now Supt. of Nurses in St. E.

Will try to do better next time.

Love, Mother

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/15/900-points-of-beef-gladys/