Tag Archives: family

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Night.
Sept. 23, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

Since in your yesterday’s letter you said I would not get a letter today, none of us went down town today. We will go down in the morning rather early so I think you will receive this one on the same day that you would have had it been mailed late this evening. I missed your letter, Dear, but don’t blame you in the least for not writing. I have thought of you lots and lots during the day just the same.

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

We have all been busy today. Papa is repapering two of the bedrooms and the bathroom, Mama is as busy as a bee all day as usual, and I have cooked some, washed dishes, cleaned house, almost made a dress and capped it all by mowing the lawn. Now, I would have put that “mowing the lawn” in Capital letters, but you know almost as well as I do how “enormous” our lawn is. It is some larger than it was when you were here, but it doesn’t cover all the yard yet. I don’t know what it needs – real honest-to-goodness rain though I suppose.

It is getting late now – almost eight thirty, so I must “catch up”?? with some sleep (that I lost last June).

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

I still love you and love you and then – I love you some more.

Yours, always,
Ina.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach 9/22
Tuesday Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Two real good letters from you today and an enclosure of Claudelle’s. I enjoyed hers too. I wonder how she happened to say “Mother” during the past few weeks. Is it because I say Mother Lewis and she wants to tease? I am sure that Mother Lewis does not care or she would have objected before now.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

I went to Jax for a little while today. There is so much to be worked that it will keep me pretty busy. However, I am going to stay with it until I hear from Mr. B as to how long I am to be in Fla. I’d like to know before I go down the state. Had a letter from him yesterday and he did not mention the Dallas work. Evidently he had not heard from Dr. Hunter. He seemed to be pleased with Dr. Riley’s (University of Minnesota) letter of congratulations on the findings of last season, for he said “It is pleasing to note that he agrees with me and many others in considering the work you have done in Florida of a very distinct value.” Bish does not pin on any bouquets. Dr. Hunter’s comment was that it was “a good constructive piece of work.” Dr. Cort of Johns Hopkins said that it was the greatest contribution in human helminthology that had been made for a long time. He told Dr. White this. But all of this has not yet increased my check any, though Dr. White told me that he knew that Bish had made the recommendation. Sometimes they are slow in going through and are apt to be dated back when they are received. You and I can use the increase very nicely and here’s hoping that it is effective pretty soon. I have not asked for a raise, but if I don’t hear something I may remind Bish of it. He has always been very fine to me and I am sure that he will do what he can. Anyway, we are not going to starve or go hungry.

There are some good prospects of our acreage increasing in value. The remaining tracts, which are only a few, are selling at $100 per acre now. The same company are buying beyond our tracts and they are going to ask $200 for them when the “snow birds” come down. At that rate, ours should see $300 by Spring. This would make a nice little profit, considering the small amount invested. We can use the money, and when any dollars are rolling our way I hope we can stop them.

I love you, Dear, more than I can tell you. With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Night.
Sept. 21, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I spent today with Thelma and the children and we had a good time. Thelma and I were busy about half the day making a dress for Thelma Lee. I brought both the children home with me, so they are making things lively for us this evening. They donate a few cats to our flock occasionally, then come out here to play with them.

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

I saw Dr. Bowman down town yesterday morning and he told me of the Medical Association article he received from you and said he read it all very carefully, enjoying and appreciating it. I sincerely hope you will be successful in the work you have taken up since Dr. White left. I certainly can’t see any harm in your keeping quiet about it to him, because it is yours and not his.

I’ll bet you can’t guess what I saw as I was going down town this morning about 9:30. As I was driving leisurely along just beyond “Claudelle’s and my hill” I saw something, I mean two somethings, jump the fence at my left about 30 ft. ahead, and I was honestly stunned to see two big deer (they didn’t have any horns either) run across the road in front of the car and jump the right hand fence, finally disappearing across the guajilla ridge beyond. I was so surprised that I could hardly believe my eyes. I wish you could have been with me, Sweetheart, to have seen them too. If they had had horns and it had been in season, it would have been fine, wouldn’t it? I believe even I could have killed them both easily if I hadn’t been so excited and, too, if I had the nerve, but honestly, they are such beautiful, graceful and (quoting Mrs. Roark’s description of the calf she saw) innocent looking creatures, I don’t believe I could do it.*

The coffee is coming fine. I really do like it now, almost as well as I do cocoa, and I know that I shall soon like it as well if not better. No, Dear, I wouldn’t want you to think of giving it up because you like it better than I did cocoa. I have been wanting to like coffee for a long time but just hadn’t had the nerve to start. I am so glad now that I did start because it is almost perfectly good already.

By the way, I had the nicest dream last night. I dreamed that you and I were married and were visiting in Mississippi. Before going to your mother’s home, we went to a church social (I’m sure that’s the first place you would want to go!?) and there I met your Mother. I dreamed that she was so sweet and that I fell in love with her at once. I know that she is sweet and that I am going to love her lots.

I also love you lots, Sweetheart, and then lots and lots more. I love to think of you in the daytime and dream of you at night.

Yours, forever,
Ina.

*Ina is being modest about her hunting skills. She was an excellent shot, and would have had no trouble taking down a deer at 30 feet.

September 17, 1925

Thursday Nite.
Sept. 17, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

Whilst the lamp is sputtering in the breeze I want to tell you that I did get a letter today and I was thoroughly ready for it too, as I always am, but especially because I failed to get one yesterday.

I am returning Mr. Blanchard’s letter as you may want to keep it. It is a mighty nice one, and I believe I am as proud of those complimentary letters as you are. Of course I know you are making a success anyway, but there is nothing like encouraging words from people, is there? It just puts new life into you and makes you realize more than ever the importance of your task or problem and its accomplishment. Bless your heart, I’m proud of you.

September 17, 1925

September 17, 1925

When you received this fat envelope, did you think I was sending you my whole life’s diary? False alarm! ‘Tis just Claudelle’s of what has happened since she left here Monday morning. I don’t know what she would think of me if she knew I was sending it to you, but it is the first letter we have received from her there and it gives a detailed description of everything she saw and thought I think. As you will gather from her letter, she and Lucille are expecting to work part of the time. We don’t know yet just how many hours a week they will be on duty (office work), but not many I think. You can judge for yourself just how much of the letter to take seriously. Perhaps the following will better enable you to understand the “book”:

Cast of Characters:

Mother – Just Mama. She took a sudden notion before leaving to change it.

Turner D – Sort of a “sissy” young man whom Claudelle and the other girls have refused numbers of dates.

Mrs. Shirer (Aunt Lee) – Lucille’s Aunt.

Lois, Juanita, Lucille Lewis – the other girls from Uvalde.

Dr. Stanford – Pres. of Westmoreland College who was our instructor in two courses at Kerrville and of whom C. and I formed a rather unfavorable opinion. You remember my telling you of his carrying me home etc. from church services one night?

Three O’Clock – A poor little ugly black kitten we have that C. plays with when we sit on the front porch in the evenings.

Also, I will add by way of explanation that the reference to the probability of my liking the “beautiful painting” is because of my well-known admiration for anything pink or peach colored. When I can I choose ‘most all of my dresses of that color.

Dear, the Jacksonville paper of which you wrote didn’t come today, but I’m sure it will tomorrow. Thank you for sending it because I’m very much interested. I am looking forward to the time when I can be with you and see the property first hand.

Could you stand the shock if I told you it was – raining!? It really is – too bad! Papa has just gone out on the front porch and said there were stars everywhere. It did rain some though.

Sweetheart, I love you lots and lots and lots and then a whole lot more.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Yours always,
Ina.

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

Tuesday Night.
Sept. 15, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

With the crickets and coyotes furnishing a rather weird, lonesome accompaniment, I should be able to write you a very touching letter tonight. However, I am not going to try to bring forth the tears. I would give ‘most anything to be with you now though. I love you, Dear.

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

I believe I failed to tell you in my last letter of the pleasant visit we had yesterday afternoon from Mr. and Mrs. Parman and Mrs. Roark. We enjoyed it so much. Mrs. Roark has just returned from Kerrville where she went with the intention of spending two days with friends there, but she spent three weeks instead. You should hear her describe the “perfectly lovely“! things she saw and time she had. She is still full of enthusiasm over everything, but I have never seen her act as “grown-up” as she did yesterday. No doubt ’twas my “dignity”? that calmed her so. Really, though, I think it is when she is out among the flowers, rocks etc. that she lets her imagination run away. As for me, I like her very much. She is just as sincere and conscientious as she can be, and never says an unkind word about anyone. Of course she has her faults, and so have we all, but she is sweet. She has been with Mrs. Parman for several days but expected to go to Regan Wells today to get things ready to go to Dallas to meet Dr. Roark. I think he expects to work there for a while. By the way, Mrs. Roark added to my hope chest by giving me a pretty hand embroidered linen guest towel. It was mighty sweet of her to do it, and I surely did appreciate it. I’ll show it to you and let you dry your face on it after we are married. Now, don’t you think I’m good to you?

Mr. Parman has just returned from a business trip to Houston, and thinks that he may leave next week for Dallas to work for a while. He is awaiting further instructions.

I know you will be glad when Mr. Bishopp writes you definitely as to where “we” will be this winter. You would like very much to know before making your trip down the state I am sure. No doubt he will write you again as soon as he will have had time to have heard from Dr. Hunter.

Sweetheart, we were sorry when you wrote that you doubted if either your mother or sister could come for the wedding. Mama and I have often talked about it and hoped that your Mother, Father, brother, or sister and her husband could come. We would be glad to have any of them as guests in our home, and had intended writing them after the date was set and inviting them to our home. I think it would be so nice if your sister could be here to play the wedding march, don’t you? We didn’t know whether she played the pipe organ or not, but, for some reason, ours has not been installed yet, and probably will not be by that time. Remember, your people are just as welcome as they can be here and we would be very glad to have them. Yes, I know that I am going to love them all, and I am looking forward with lots of pleasure to knowing them. It’s sweet of them to want you to bring me to see them, and I would enjoy it so much too. I sincerely hope that I will not be a disappointment to them.

Thanks for the invitation of A. Harris & Co. to open a charge account. There must be something about your name or the look on your face that gives the impression of your being a married man. I hadn’t noticed that you had such a “married” look. You certainly don’t look “henpecked” and I sincerely hope you will never have reason to even feel that way, much less to look it.

My! how I do wish I could see you and Claudelle tonight.

Always, your
Ina.

September 12, 1925

Saturday Nite.
Sept. 12, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Your Tuesday’s letter came today and, as usual, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Sweetheart, I didn’t intend for my former impression of homesteading to cause you to give up the idea entirely. I thought that perhaps you would find it very different down there from that in the West. Don’t hesitate on my account to investigate it, because I don’t know a thing about the conditions there, and it may be the very thing to do. I note with deep interest your new investment, and it sounds good to me. It is one of which you can feel sure of at least a reasonable profit no matter what happens, and, as you say, you stand a good chance to realize a big profit. Dr. White did go contrary to his disposition, didn’t he? The proposition must have been very attractive or he wouldn’t have departed from his conservative ways long enough to make a purchase.

September 12, 1925

September 12, 1925

Bob, Thelma and the children have just left after spending the evening with us. Thelma Lee is proudly exhibiting a loose tooth. She thinks she is getting to be a mighty big girl. I always hate to see them begin shedding their teeth. It gives them such a ragged appearance. It’s too bad that there isn’t a more graceful way of doing it.

Claudelle and I went for our last hike to the hilltop this evening. It gives me sort of a queer sad feeling when I realize that probably it was the last hike we will take together. She is leaving Monday morning and very likely will not return until about time for the wedding. I suppose it seems a little strange to you that I should take her leaving so seriously since she will really be so near home in San Antonio, but when you realize what great chums we have become you will understand. However, I am mighty glad that she can go.

I love you, Sweetheart, and although I love the members of my family very very much, I feel that I couldn’t be happy without you and I want to go with you even though it means leaving them. Dear, you don’t know how very much I do love you.

Always,
Your Ina.

September 11, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach, Friday Nite 9/11.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have been busy today, due to my absence yesterday and also had a general house cleaning. I like to have my Lab in pretty good order, but it has been almost impossible before this time. Had a nice letter from both Sister and Mother tonight, and they are anxious for me to bring you to see them. Both want to know when the wedding will take place. I doubt if either of them could come for the wedding, but just the same they want to know you. As I have told you before, Dear, my people “are just folks” and they are the same 365 days in the year. You will be just as welcome as I am, and I know that they will love you too.

September 11, 1925 (Walter)

September 11, 1925 (Walter)

Mr. Bishopp’s letter came tonight and while he had made tentative plans that I should return to Dallas when the most active work was completed here, he is considering my suggestion for all winter work in Florida and has written to Dr. Hunter for his opinion.

I am going to Jax again tomorrow as I did not accomplish my mission yesterday. The late schedule of the trains, and our interest in acreage, caused me to lose out on the work. But I’ll have time to do it tomorrow and also some additional running about. It is difficult to get Lab supplies even at Jax and it means to run about quite a little.

I note what you said about your Dad and Mother, after they are at home alone. It will be lonesome for them and it would be well if you can get them to visit. We will have them to come down and be with us when we are located, and I know that we can show them a good time. I want them to feel just as much at home with us as they would feel in their own home, and to stay just as long as they want to.

With a sweet “goodnight,” I love you, and love you and love you.

Your
Walter

Enclosed in the same envelope:

This was not addressed to “The Madam” but as it is a Ladies Furnishings store, perhaps it was intended for you?

W. E. D.

A. Harris Charge Account

A. Harris Charge Account

September 11, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Nite
Sept. 11, 1925.

Dearest Sweetheart:

This evening we carried Claudelle to a banquet at the Sunshine Dining Room given by the Methodist sunday school in honor of the students of the church who are leaving for college. While she was there Mama and I visited. We have just returned and she reports a very delightful evening.

September 11, 1925 (Ina)

September 11, 1925 (Ina)

I suppose Dr. White left you yesterday. I can imagine you in deepest mourning today. Even though the latter part of his stay was more pleasant for you than the first, I’ll venture to say that you shed not a tear when you bade him goodbye and you feel a strange sweet sense of freedom today. You’ve had my sympathy all along, and I am so glad that you will not be burdened with him and his queer notions and habits any more. I imagine he was sorry to leave the work down there.

We had a letter today from Mama’s youngest sister, Mrs. L.W. Brister, who lives in Bogue Chitto, our old home town. She says that it has been a very prosperous year for most of the people in that part of the state. She says that most of the farmers made a wonderful cotton crop, and the way she expressed it “everyone is smiling and buying a Ford.” Her brother-in-law is in the Ford business there. We would be pleased to have a little bit of their rain and prosperity out here just now.

No doubt you will be leaving in a few days on your trip down the state. I am sure it will be interesting and you will enjoy it. I am looking forward to your reports on it from time to time.

I still love you, Sweetheart, just as much as ever, and, if possible, some more. I don’t think it would be possible for one person to love another more than I do you.

Always, your
Ina.

September 6, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Night.
Sept. 6, 1925.

Dear Sweetheart:

We have just returned from church services. I drove home alone since Claudelle had a date and Mama and Papa came home in the Ford. As Claudelle and I have to go to League so early in the evening, Mama and Papa can’t go with us but they follow up about an hour later. When C. leaves for school I am going to try again to persuade Mama and Papa to go to places more than they do now. I want them to get in the habit so that they will not be so lonely when we both are away. They are accustomed now to having young people around and that keeps them feeling younger, but I can’t bear the idea of their settling down out here after we leave and growing old. They are both inclined to be very much of “stay at homes.”

September 6, 1925 (Ina)

September 6, 1925 (Ina)

The moonlight on the water sounds very tempting to me. I wish I could be with you this evening and we could go in the surf together. We are going to be so happy, Sweetheart, when we can be together always. I get so much pleasure out of planning it.

In your Wednesday’s letter which I received today you sounded so tired and sleepy after your trip into Jacksonville. I know how you feel after a rushed day and I know how you crave a good night of refreshing sleep. Sometimes those days that seem the busiest and most tiresome are those on which we feel that we have accomplished least. However, later we often find that day’s work amounted to a great deal more than we thought it did at the time. I have been through a number of days like that in my business experience and also in my work at home. Even at that though, every day is immensely worth living.

I love you Sweetheart, most preciously and would give worlds to be with you right now and tell you in the most “impressive” way.

Always your
Ina.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)*

Jax Beach, Fla.,
Sunday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday was a pretty busy day and by the time I had finished rubbing my sun burns, it was quite late. At the time I thought I would write to you this morning, but we had some experiments which needed attention, so the whole day got by us and now I find that I have missed a day.

There is quite a crowd down here today, and I left Dr. White on the Board Walk watching the pretty girls. He admires them anyway, and sometimes I believe he wishes that he had married when he was younger. Tonight he told me that he thought that I ought to get married. Told him that I intended to, but asked him what I would do with a wife at the present time. I guess I could take care of you if you were here now, but I certainly couldn’t make it home like and neither could you. Perhaps it would be all right as a honeymoon, but at the present time I wouldn’t know just where I was going to take you. But it won’t be so very long, Dear, before we will have it figured out and I’ll be the happiest human in the world.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

I can hardly wait for the time to come when I can come for you and can then have you with me always. I look at your photos many times every day and have them handy where I can see them often. Then I think of the many happy evenings of my stay in Uvalde and the swing where you and I spent most of them. Tomorrow will be three months, since you said “yes” and it seems longer, especially since I left you.

Tuesday, Dr. White and I are invited up for dinner with the Kirby-Smiths again. They will drive back with us after dinner. I haven’t seen Mrs. Gallagher except the one time, and I feel a little mean about it for she left word at Dr. K.S. office for me to phone her and later wrote a note to the effect that she was leaving on a vacation. I’ll see her again, but am in no hurry about it. After Dr. White leaves, I may have her little boy to come down here and spend a few days with me. He is a nice kid and I think a lot of him. When I saw him he wanted to know when I was coming back to their house to live. The little girl is mighty sweet too, but not nearly as pretty as Thelma Lee or Rietha. I haven’t seen any as pretty as Thelma Lee anywhere.

I didn’t get a letter yesterday or today but tomorrow will probably bring one. I love you, Sweetheart, with every tender affection and I am continually wishing for you. You can bet that I am true to you every minute of the time, too.

With all my love and a real sweet goodnight, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

* This one got out of sequence in the file, so I’m putting it on the blog in the right spot.