105 A tramp chops wood in exchange for breakfast

March 28, 1935

Dear Corinna,

I’ve been to visit school today. I had such a good time as I told Miss Carlson. I told her I knew “Congratulations were in order” but I was quite sure in a few years she would be missing her interesting classes. She said right now she is pretty tired of it but perhaps I knew better than she, how it would be later. The children are so interesting to watch. Some were interested—some were watching the clock for recess time.

It is real cold today and we keep the furnace well up—of course not like it was in January. I am going down to buy a birthday present for Myrtle Arneson. What to give her!? She will be at home to her friends tomorrow.

We all went to the play last night altho Gloria didn’t feel very peppy. Her stomach is much better today so she went to school. She looked so little and thin aside of the other 4th graders. I’ve just got to take her in hand and feed her more milk and eggs and coco-malt etc. Her hands even are slim and tiny aside of the others. I sized them all up this afternoon. Well the play is good—Myron’s part is to take a stand for worth while people in spite of their lack of money and position, in opposition to his mother’s (Gea’s) idea, that people are only important if they have money. Darrel did the courting and love making –can you see him? All did very well I thot.

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Well, I’ve been down and bought a plate for Myrtle—pink glass. I noticed the Oriental poppies on the South are up and the iris on the north as I came home from town. All the mud is dried up now and the wind has been blowing dust yesterday and today. Glad I can stay home tonight and do a little reading. Harriet brought me such a good book from the Library—it’s really a child’s story, I guess. The Story of Mankind by Hendrick Van Loon. Some day I’m going to buy that book so it will be about the house where H and G will see it often and want to read it.

I stopped in at Bessie’s just now and asked her to sing at the next W.C.T.U. meeting and there sat Carl and Oliver Hall waiting for McBroom to come home. Oliver said Aunt Nellie is about the same.

Mrs. Bard was just in a moment and said Rev. Bard has pneumonia. Ruth Pearson is the nurse. I saw Mr. Gronberg chopping wood over there today and wondered where Mr. Bard was.

Yesterday morning a tramp came and chopped wood for his breakfast. Myron was enthusiastic about it. The man ate 3 slices of bread, 4 large pieces of cold meat, 2 rolls, 2 cookies, 1 piece of cake and 2 cups of coffee. Gloria kept tab.

Nat’l. Geographic came today—contains some more bird families—looks interesting.   Myron will mail this for me on the way to the play.

Today Daddy fixed a substantial rod in your closet right in front of the shelf. Harriet’s dresses hang on it nicely so now there will be more room for your clothes and hers in there.

It is nice you are getting fat but now I wish your dresses hadn’t been made so small. Whatever will you do if you keep on adding to your weight? Love from Mother.