8th Batch of Augusta's Letters

3 Jan 1923 - "... I miss my Allie everywhere ... it just seems as if we flew through the last week. But we were together once more and had a happy reunion ... the tree is still standing ... Papa went yesterday ... the boys are busy as ever ... Walter hardly ever comes home before midnight ... Martin the same, but he seems to stand the strain better than Walter ..." - "... Lenchen's salary (is now) $30 a week ..."

14 Jan 1923 - "... I got one (letter) from Papa too ... he has an invitation to Beardstown for the 75th Church Anniversary ... wants to know what I think about it ... now, what could I think about that ... I know what I would do, but Papa must be his own judge ... he doesn't think about things as I do ... I'm outdoors a great deal again, always planting and transplanting something ... and of course, a new plant always needs a little attention. When you come again I hope we'll have a beauty spot. I'm aiming to make this a pretty place without much expense ... Mr. Fleagle is going to get me some roses ... I hope my foliage will do honor to their creator by the time you see them again. You ought to see my nasturtiums ... they are beautiful ... Chickens are coming alright ... got 6 eggs yesterday ... only 4 that don't lay now ... Now I want to talk something over with you, but don't you ever let Lenchen know that I'm meddling in this. Well, she had herself examined by a doctor and he says ... she sits too long in the same position ... and that is all that is wrong with her back ... he said she should change jobs, but I don't think she has the least idea of doing that ... I thought you might help me think it over, but never write anything that I had a hand in it ... it almost kills me to see her suffer ... Booker is more inconsiderate than ever ... she can't (stand) him ..."

24 Jan 1923 - "... Billy is singing so sweetly ... when Lenchen plays the piano ... I am so glad we have the piano ... Lenchen plays for hours in the evening ... now I want to do my part to give this place a home like appearance ... My highest aim is to have a perfect lawn ... just now I'm picking weeds ... flowers only show off on a carpet of grass ... yesterday I got 8 eggs ... now we don't buy any more ... last night Walter said to me, 'You didn't know I became a millionaire today, did you?' I said, 'no' ... well, he said, 'I bought one million German marks for $70.' I said, 'Walter, you are going to lose your $70 ... only a miracle can save Germany' ... don't say anything about it, I wouldn't want him to know I broadcast it."

31 Jan 1923 - "... Walter fertilized the lawn again, and I am watering all day ... so the fertilizer can take effect ... I want a nice lawn and am willing to do my part towards it ... last week I pulled weeds all week ... few minutes at a time ... can't stay at it long ... too hard a job for an elephant."

8 Feb 1923 - "... we have the loveliest weather ... Every day I thank the dear Lord for bringing me to this glorious climate. I haven't had a sick day since I'm here ... and just think of the misery I went through in NC ... some day I hope that you will agree with me that Florida is the dearest spot ever ... This is fair week ... Martin is busy at their booth ... Walter went last night ... won a 8 qt. percolator, an aluminum pan, a wedding ring, and some cuff buttons ... he must have a lucky streak in him ..."

15 Feb 1923 - "... Walter is planning to get a Ford ..."

19 Feb 1923 - "... Walter sold most of his marks ... just kept a few ... he will get his Ford for $480 ..."

28 Feb 1923 - "... Martin's neck is causing him a great deal of trouble again ... he went to a doctor, but they treat it like an ordinary boil, and that's all ... they don't study the thing ... any old woman can treat a boil ... Cold weather drives every inch of pep out of me ... I never, never want to live up North again."

6 Mar 1923 - "... I'm so glad you wrote to Lyddi ..."

21 Mar 1923 - "... How could they let a woman teach a confirmation class! What does Papa think of that? ... and the members? I thought the laity of today are boasting of their independence and of being able to judge for themselves ... I am standing here religiously dizzy and sick to my stomach ... what is the Reverend doing? ..."

27 Mar 1923 - "... My nasturtiums are almost restored to their old glory ... picked oodles of them today again ... I have the prettiest marigolds you ever saw ... nine rose bushes now ... there is still a poinsettia blooming ... I'd rather work in my flowers than do anything else ... we have two hens with biddies now ... one has 11 and the other 8 ... I just can't bear to touch a chicken ... always wait for somebody to catch them for me ... I don't mind feeding them as long as I don't have to touch ..."

7 Apr 1923 - "... Billy is singing, singing, singing so sweet already early in the morning ... but just wait till I get the carpet sweeper going ..."

22 Apr 1923 - "... Martin is going to get me one of those lawn sprinklers. They throw water 5 feet in every direction ... we had an awful stink around the place today ... It was unbearable ... this being Sunday, it was Walter's lot to crawl under the house for an inspection ... he found an old dead cat under Lenchen's room ..."

2 May 1923 - "... I can't come to NC this summer for several reasons ... just have patience a little yet ... for one thing, I couldn't leave and let everything die ... secondly, there is a possibility of Martin getting married in July ... he always said September ... I consoled myself, 'there's many a slip between the cup and the lip', but July! ... that sounds alarming. Well, after all it might be the best for him ... if Bunny is the good girl they say she is ... I'm hoping Walter will find the companion he deserves ... then I can travel ... as dearly as I love this little place, I would gladly give it up if Walter would find a life's companion that is worthy of him ... I am glad you are working your way out (of debt) gradually ... and hope to see the day when you will be happily married to the sweetest girl in the world ... for my days are getting less ... soon I'll be at the end of my journey, and I would like to see all (my children) happily married before I go. Maybe I had better not grumble at Martin's daredevilishness. But I do wish Bunny was no Christian Scientist ... I haven't got no use for that religion, and I know she will try to influence him after they are married ... haven't heard a word from Lyddi for ever so long ..."

11 May 1923 - "... Papa is disgusted with the NC weatherman. I think he prefers Florida ... Florida climate beats them all ... it is never disagreeable and is almost always luffly ... Sunday, Martin and I are going to the greenhouse and get me some palms and other plants ... Seminole Heights belongs to Tampa proper now ... it might have its advantages, but also its disadvantages. We were all satisfied to 'paddle our own canoe' ... Thoughts are not bound to any expression, thoughts have a language all their own."

16 May 1923 - "... Papa will leave for Theodore's tomorrow ... he seems to be more disgusted than ever ..."

27 May 1923 - "... Time is flying with our baby ... I think the wedding is a settled fact ... if only Bunny is the good girl she is said to be ..."

4 Jun 1923 - "... just had a card from Papa ... he's on his way to Logansport. Lenchen's vacation is in sight ... she will be with you long enough to air some of her petty grievances and irritations ... there is something wrong somewhere ... in the first place, she is a too willing horse ... everybody (at work) throws their burdens on her ..."

10 Jun 1923 - "So Mrs. Durant's class was confirmed last Sunday! Lord have mercy! This is a time of woe for the church ... the preachers of today are made, not born ... and it's not only so in our church ... the so-called church is losing out ... my heart aches ... I am losing interest in the church. This is a troubled time in the church as well as in the state. Satan is moving more and more forces into the battlefields ... I am finishing up the flower beds, and with that done, I am planning the next move ... but I know not if Walter will sanction it. I would like to put two palm trees on the west side of the house, about the middle of the porch ... it seems to me they would look very impressive when they get big ... one tree I would call Albert and the other one Lyddi ... then every time I look at them, I'll think of my one time gold dust twins ... I'll first have to get Walter's consent ... he doesn't like palm trees ..."

13 Jun 1923 - "... it's a perfect picture ... so natural ... a perfect likeness of both of them ... I can see myself again in the days of long long ago, living and loving together. Grandma (Mother) was always so dear and sweet, so patient and forebearing, but Grandpa (Father) was the soul of the family. Grandpa was such a strong character ... strict with himself and others, but he always practiced first, before he preached to others. But with all his sternness, he was the most sympathetic soul you'll ever find. I feel his influence to this day. If we had such men as he was at the steering wheel today, methinks the ship of the church would run in a different direction. You couldn't have please me more (with the picture) ... poor Lyddi! I'm going to write her tomorrow. If I only had the money, I would send her the means to come home ... if I could only talk to her once ... she's always on my mind. But, how foolish for her to want to get to the Beardstown school ... I'm going to write Papa to call that nonsense off ..."

22 Jun 1923 - "... now I am going to tell you some news: Walter has a car! ... brought it home last night ... it's a Ford ... much easier to ride in. He paid $700 for it ... bought it from a fellow that only used it two weeks ... it cost $900 new ... He's a little shakey about it yet, but Walter will pick it up. Who would have thought it! The dear Lord has been so good to us ... Martin is working hard ... works every night ... is perfectly contented ... he is going to be married on July 27th ... he'll get the full benefit of his vacation ... they are going to spend their honeymoon at some nearby beach ... he already has the promise of the little house they are to live in. How I will miss that boy! If only Bunny is the girl she is bragged to be ... so you are organist again! ..."

28 Jun 1923 - "... Walter sure is proud of his car ... I am so glad he gets some pleasure ... he has another hobby now. Every Friday night he goes to a prize fight ... Papa is in Chicago now. I am looking for him about the middle of July ..."

8 Jul 1923 - "... got a card from Papa ... he was leaving Chicago for Decatur, Illinois ... says his whole vacation was one continued picnic ..."

31 Jul 1923 - "... Martin looked awful pretty ... did not blush a bit ... was real calm and white. Lenchen and I sure miss our baby. I guess they are having a glorious time at the beach now. I believe I forgot to write you last week ... when Papa is here it just seems as if everything is (topsy turvy). I can't see how in all the world I stood that nervous, uneasy life for 40 years ... a few days of it now wears me out. How I do love calm and quiet!"