Tag Archives: motherhood

October 4, 1931

Sunday Night.

Oct. 4, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Mama and I went to church tonight while Papa kept Walter White. Walter White was almost asleep when we left him. Mr. Palmer brought us home. We had not been with him over a minute before he began asking about Claudelle.

October 4, 1931

October 4, 1931

I really did carry W.W. to Sunday School this morning. Mrs. Pilgreen has the cradle roll class and has three assistants. W.W. decided he didn’t want me to leave him with the crowd of strange little boys and girls so I stayed in the room with him. He was satisfied and immediately started playing with the little trains, automobiles, blocks, boxes etc. etc. that were provided. I gave him a dime to drop in the collection box but he would not do it until Mrs. Pilgreen showed him how. Then he dropped his in the slot, and, when a timid little boy would not drop his in, Walter White took it and did it for him. It was lots of fun to watch them. It really is a Sunday kindergarten where the teachers watch and study the pupils while they play together. They try to teach them to be unselfish etc. For those that are large enough and care to take part there are songs and nature studies. It is really fine and the children enjoy it. After a Sunday or two they are willing for their parents to leave them for their own classes. The Mothers’ class is just across the hall from the children’s. After it was all over Walter White was the last one to leave. He had just opened a closet door and found the closet full of playthings. He wanted to stay. He can say “choo-choo train,” “autobile” and anything else he wants to say. Ina Marie spent today with us. W.W. feels more kindly toward her now. Occasionally he suddenly leans toward her and says “kiss.” Of course she is always ready and it is real sweet. Sometimes he changes his mind before she reaches him so he pushes her away. He is not as unselfish with his toys as he used to be. He is going to have to learn how to play with other children. He holds his own almost too well now.

By the way, Honey, I forgot last night to ask you to thank Dr. Shelmire for his invitation to us to visit them.

I imagine you and Mr. Hall started on your trip to Florida today. The checks have had time to reach Charleston. I hope you will have a pleasant trip. Also, that you will continue to write often. I can hardly wait to receive your report on the Tampa situation.

We love you ever so much.

Always, your

Ina.

October 2, 1931

Friday Night.
Oct. 2, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter of Monday night started the day off right for me. On the days that I do not get one from you things don’t seem to go so good.

October 2, 1931

October 2, 1931

I was interested to note the tone of Jimmie’s letter – rather blue and somewhat apologetic didn’t you think? You are not going to reply to it, are you?

Your “sprout” is sleeping soundly. He has a good time all day and sleeps well at night. One of his new stunts today was, when we asked him what he was, to pucker up his lips like he ust to do when he said “owna go, owna go” and say “hobo.” He picks up things so quickly that it is almost alarming. Mama carried him for a walk this afternoon. She said she felt almost like she was with a man when she was with him. After being with Ina Marie he does seem big and grown-up. He is so sweet and good natured. He speaks of you often now, but for a week or two when we first came he would not mention you. We would ask him “where is Daddy” etc. and he would immediately change the subject to the moon, stars, lights or something else without answering. It gave me a queer feeling to see him deliberately avoid speaking of you when I knew that he used to talk of you almost constantly. Even when he heard a car drive in he would not say is usual “is that Daddy – it’s Daddy.” I can’t imagine why he did it. He stopped mentioning you as soon as you left us on the train. I would not tell you before because I thought it might hurt your feelings. For the last few days he has been calling “Daddy” & “Walter” real often and loves to talk about you. Isn’t it queer? I knew he had not forgotten you. He either did not like it because you did not come with us or he was resigned to it and did not care to discuss it. Again I say, babies, or rather, little boys, have more sense than we give them credit for. I wonder if he realizes that it will not be so very long before we see you again so he can afford to speak of you. He hears us talking about it. Of course I don’t expect as much of him as Mr. Parman did of his 6 week old baby.

We love you lots & lots, Honey.

Always, your devoted family,
Walter White & Ina.

October 1, 1931

Thursday Night.

Oct. 1, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter of Sunday night came today. I was very glad to have it. There was no letter from you yesterday.

It will be lovely if Mr. Hall’s light traps prove successful as a means of control of sandflies. I am sure you enjoyed your visit with Mr. & Mrs. Hall & David. I have been intending ever since we came to write them and others at the lab but I don’t seem to be able to think to purchase cards when I am down town.

October 1, 1931

October 1, 1931

Today when we would ask Walter White “whose boy are you?” he would answer “Daddy’s boy.” Mama taught him that. He is learning so fast. Each day I think he is as interesting as he can be, but the next day he is more so. For one thing, he doesn’t care much for little girls – especially affectionate little girls (how long will it last?) We made a mistake by asking Ina Marie to love him. She tried to and fondly called him “Baby.” He resented it and, in order to prevent its occurring again, he pushed her down every time she approached him. She is such a sweet affectionate little thing and is so crazy about him that it is a shame the way he treats her. He wouldn’t be very kind to a baby sister I’m afraid. When he looks at a magazine he calls the pictures “baby,” “man” or “boy” but seldom says “girl.” He likes the big girls, though. Every morning at 7:30 when he hears Susie coming down the back stairs he gets down from the table, rushes to the back door, opens it and has started down the steps by the time she reaches him. Then she places him between herself and her husband in the car and he goes with her to take her husband down town to work. It takes only about ten minutes, but W.W. expects it every day. Susie says she wishes he were hers. Bertie and Mr. & Mrs. Cain pay a great deal of attention to him too. If they are going down town and back quickly they sometimes carry him. He makes friends readily.

Last night I went to prayer meeting. Rev. Taylor had announced his subject as “The Menace of the Movies” and, since my husband was such a movie fan, I thought I should go. The talk was interesting and sensible.

We had a letter from Claudelle today. She is making $5.00 per month escorting a senior student who is blind to her classes from one building to another. She is trying to get other employment but says it is strange how people don’t want her to work for them. Honey, if her Bureau check comes to Charleston will you forward it to Uvalde please? In her letter today she was wondering if it had come.

It will be fine for Mr. Hall, Mr. Hull and Gilbert if they can do some school work this winter.

Last night was quite cool which reminded me that I failed to tell you where the quilts were. I do hope you thought to look in the closet in the hall because that is exactly where they are.

Please remember Walter White and me to the lab force and the Robinsons. I’ll write them all soon.

We love you, Honey, and I miss you too. I hope you sleep good.

Always, your
Ina.

September 26, 1931

Saturday Night.
Sept. 26, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your card of Wednesday A.M. and letter of Tuesday night came this morning. I appreciate your writing the card for fear you could not locate the letter. I judge you found it though.

September 26, 1931

September 26, 1931

After reading your letter I told Walter White that Daddy said “I love you too, Buddy.” He surprised me by answering immediately “O.K., Baby.” Sounds like flapper talk, doesn’t it? Bertie taught him that. Honey, he is the sweetest baby in the world. Of course it is because he is ours that I think so but I love him more every day. I didn’t know I could love him any more than I did, but I do. Honestly, I love him so much that it hurts. It brings tears to my eyes. I don’t know how to explain it. I suppose it is partly because he looks so much like you and I miss you.

Mama spent this afternoon at Thelma’s. At one o’clock Thelma went to Dr. Massie’s office to have seven more teeth extracted. She got along nicely this time. There are six more teeth, then she will be ready to let her gums “set” for a few months before getting her plates – is that what you call false teeth? Poor girl! I have not had Dr. Massie look at my teeth yet but I intend to do so soon.

Mrs. Monagin spent a while with Walter White, Papa and me this afternoon. She said Mervin was suffering with yellow jaundice and was told by his physician that it would be about two months before he could recover completely. He has been without a job for a long time.

Thank you for the compliment from A.K. It is nice to be told once in a while that one is not fading as fast as it sometimes seems.

I love you immensely, Honey, and I hope you sleep good.

The family sends love.

Always, your

Ina.