88 Harriet, Gloria, and Ruth go skating on Elvira’s pond

February 19, 1935

Dear Corinna,

I have just come home from the “Leaguer Women Voters”. It was at Mrs. Victor Nelson’s, May Johnson also serving. We studied Children in Industry today and touched on State Legislation. There is never a word of gossip at those meetings. Everyone is too busy learning, to care about saying unkind things.

Gloria just came with a long tale. She spied a nickel in the grating in front of the Big Store. So she went down to Daddy and got a penny for a stick of gum—chewed it—put it on the end of a stick—and fished out the nickel. You should have seen her big eyes when she told me about it.

Last Sunday after I finished your letter Elvira came and wanted me to go out to the skating pond in their field. So H, G and I went and we skated on the loveliest ice I’ve ever been on. Then Howard took the three children on a sled behind the car in the field. They had a great time. We stayed out there for oyster stew and then all went to church together. Beatty Ann pulled one of her surprises when Mrs. Wilson said she couldn’t go out to play. She gave her Grandma a hard look and said, “I’m going to find a great big shot-gun and shoot all you big folks and then I’ll go out to play.” Mrs. Wilson was shocked but tried to reason with her and show her how much she’d miss the big folks.

The wind has been blowing hard for two days—the clothes whipped around in great shape yesterday. In the afternoon Myrtle wanted me to go over and spend the afternoon with Olga Peterson—so I took a lot of holey stockings along and darned them and rested. In the evening we went to the Contest. The boy from Litchfield won—he was fine. The boy from Paynesville took second but he was no better than Myron. In fact all three of them were about on a par—only the one from Litch was really the best. We enjoyed hearing the differences between contestants and it gives us an insight into what Myron needs to do to improve. Esther Larson called up today and discussed it with me as she usually does when we have been together at some evening affair. (I sat by her.) She felt Myron belonged to his group but that our two other contestants showed a decided inferiority to other schools.

Our Radio is on the bum now and my sewing machine is skittish—whatever is the matter with everything in this house, anyhow? Now Arnold is here trying to find the trouble with the Radio.

Dr. Anderson re-bandaged Myron’s foot last night and now in a day or so he may use a cane—tomorrow he will try only one crutch. Dr. A. says the break is healed but the tendons are stiff yet from non-use so he has to exercise them to strengthen his ankle. Myron looked so pleased when he stepped on it the first time. He will limp for awhile till he dares to give it his full weight.

Harriet is going out to Polley’s tonight with the other Camp Fire Girls—it’s a social meeting. It’s a long ways out there—9 miles I guess.

Expected a letter from you today but didn’t get it. Hope Aunt Ev feels good these days. I keep thinking about you both so much. Love from Mother

Gloria read that Uncle ROC thot there might be twins—she said, “I wish it would be 2 Phyllis’ with each a cute freckle like hers on their noses.”