48 Harriet practices singing “I don’t want to play in your yard” for the Athletics specialty

November 20, 1934

Dear Kinny,

And still it rains—a very different November than we have had before—2 years ago on November 8th when Mrs. Strong was buried—you remember that awful blizzard we had. It is nearly Thanksgiving and this day is like any chilly rainy, summer day could be.

I washed as usual yesterday—some of the clothes are still in the tub but I dried the starched clothes upstairs. I will iron some time this afternoon I guess. I have been sitting sewing doll clothes this morning. We are going to have whole wheat pancakes and pork steak for dinner—you know how Daddy likes that.

Harriet and Marjorie are in a specialty for the Athletics play. There are 3 pairs of girls in it—they are to sing “I don’t want to play in your yard”—dressed in blue gingham and sun-bonnets, etc. Miss Branae sent the music home last night for me to teach it to Marjorie and Harriet. Harriet played the music almost all at once without mistakes. Gloria even tried it—she is getting so she wants to try other things besides her regular lesson.

Tuesday eve.

We went up to Chorus as Gloria wrote but the teacher didn’t come. He may have had car trouble. I have just read Gloria’s letter. I’ll leave it to you to figure out the squash episode.

This afternoon I went to League of Women Voters at Chester Nelson’s. She served pumpkin pie and whipped cream and coffee. When we were ready to go John Franklin said “All I had was pie, Mother.” I guess he thot there was more to it, than he had had.

Tonight when Myrtle and I came in from Chorus, Bobby said, “O, Mother, go home.” He likes so well to be here with Harriet and Gloria.

Una Stark goes to Chorus now—she said I should greet you. She has a new suit and hat—she looks so nice.

My clothes are still in the tub. I’ll have to hang them out tomorrow. I ironed the starched clothes tonight after I came home from the League.

Myron is at play practice as usual. We heard them tonight when we were waiting for the music teacher. It sounds wild.

Tomorrow I am going to try to continue my house-cleaning—bathroom is next in order. I expect to be through by Christmas time—maybe. Goodnight dear little girl, Mother.

Dear Kinny,

I was crying because I was lonesome for you. Mother just went up to school at chorus practice. We are going to stay home with Bobby, and I am going to write to you. Today I had a hair cut and I had to go up town for Myrtle Arneson—she gave me two cents to spend. I came back and made supper for mother. Then Harriet went up town. When Harriet came back and up at our steps she had dropped a squash and just came in. She saw a hole in the sack and I counted it and there were only seven and there were supposed to be eight. Then she went out to look for it. Lots of Love, Gloria Ruth Stafford.

P.S. She found it. I haven’t written to you for so long that I thought I better write a long letter.

Dear Kinney,

Mother is going to Chorus practice tonight and we are going to stay home alone (as we always do) and I decided to write to you.

Marjorie and I and some 3 and 4 graders are going to be in the specialty for the Athletics play. We are going to sing “I don’t want to play in your yard”. We have to dress as the song tells us to. We had the music home and I could play it without mistakes.

For Book Week we wrote book reports and drew pictures to illustrate them. I chose “Anne of Green Gables”. I drew the home and it’s beautiful surroundings. We also had to write descriptions and bring and read our favorite poems. My description was also on Anne of Green Gables. For my favorite poem I chose Longfellow’s “The Children’s Hour”. I’ll be seein’ you in the funnies. Your sister, Harriet Stafford.