Augusta's Letters - Batch #16

30 Aug 1926 - "... Baby is getting so independent ... doesn't want to be led by the hand ... and always makes for the street ... he and Papa are great friends ... Papa gets him over every afternoon for an outing ..."

16 Sep 1926 - "... I didn't know what to think ... thought you were lost or something ... till I heard from you today ... but still don't have your address ... sending this to the high school ... we expected you to come over on your birthday, but no Allie ... Lyddi baked you a cake but no birthday boy ... Lyddi looks much better ... she sure deserved this rest ... we are both enjoying being together again ... we talk and talk and talk ..."

9 Dec 1926 - "... So you'll only have a week at Christmas ... Papa won't have more than that either ... Tillie and baby are coming along with Papa, and maybe Theo too, but Papa wasn't sure of that. I am so anxious to see Patricia ... wonder how our two babies will carry on together ..."

28 Apr 1927 - "... I can't ... write anymore ... too tired, body and mind, to think. I believe my nerves are on strike ... not being able to hear is hard on the nerves, but not being able to speak and express your thoughts in the proper words, is still harder ... gone, all gone... I felt this blankness coming on me a long time already ... but my will power always helped me out and forced itself through that bundle of nerves ... but even that seems to be gone now ... don't ever mention it, but I believe it is Lyddi's case that is wearing me out so. O, how I hate to see her go again! ... the whip was hanging over our head so close, for the 11th of May was speedily nearing ... she hoped, of course, but there was no assurance ... but yesterday, she heard from Washington ... from the Board of Labor ... she has an extension until November 1st ... we are happy about that ... she is working fearful hard ... some time in May she will finish school ..."

10 May 1929 - "... last year this time Lyddi had heaps and heaps of trouble waiting for her ... but she held out courageously in the struggle and will come out the winner ... and, O, Allie, we owe you so much! Without your help she could never have found her way out. The kindness you showed her will reap fruit ... and if she can get a school here at home, she will have a chance to soon pay you back ... It seems as if Martin too has an outlook for a job ... he took his examination with the Purina Feed Co. and made 96. He is promised a job at the next opening. Walter expects to stay in Orlando all summer ... comes home on weekends ... he looks real well, but is getting so slender his clothes just hang on him ... but he claims he weighs 206 pounds ... he seems to be cheerful ..."

22 May 1929 - "... school closing is near ... does West Palm keep the full 9 months of school? ... I sure wish Lyddi could get a position here ... everything is always so uncertain. If I had Lyddi with me and Martin at work again ... what a load would be lifted ... Little Betty is the sweetest angel child ... she smiles and kicks at everybody and when she is left alone she smiles at the angels. I never saw such a darling child ... I am playing in the yard now to my hearts content. All day, time to play! ... Pay us a visit with the first opportunity ..."

9 Sep 1929 - "Congratulations to you ... my thoughts go back 36 years ... it is all so plain ... how happy I was! ... I think it was because little Gustav was taken away that you were so welcome ... Lydia has accepted a position in the Lake City High School as commercial teacher at $125 a month ... she couldn't get anything in Tampa ..."

30 Jul 1931 - "... July 10, a girl from West Palm, Mabel Stevens, called here to see you. I didn't see her ... Papa talked to her ... she said to tell you they were missing you ... Madge is spending the night at Indian Rocks with a bunch of girls ..."

7 Aug 1931 - "... I don't see why scientists with their gigantic wisdom and knowledge don't get busy and do something useful, instead of figuring out the mileage from one star to another, and figuring out the ... years it takes to evolve from a louse to an elephant ... why not try to can the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter? ... that would be something useful ..."

14 Aug 1931 - "... received my birthday letter Sunday. Thank you so much for your good wishes. Also received the other letter and gift. I certainly appreciate your kind and loving thoughts of me, but I can't accept such a big gift from you boys at this time, when you both have to struggle for your existence ... please don't be offended ... your love and affection is the thing I will always accept ... We were all invited to Martin's for my birthday ... Walter was here too and Lyddi ... we were all together but you and Teddy ... Betty was so happy to have so many people around her ..."

1 Oct 1931 - "... Lyddi says that the bunch at Plant think she is only holding your place for you ... they are expecting you back again ... how funny! ... When they saw the announcement of Walter's wedding in the paper, they came to her real excited and wanted to know was that our Mr. Berg. Allie, I think that they thought more of you than you thought ... Well, were you surprised? Walter told me last summer ... said it was to be kept a secret till they can live together. Walter said they got married secretly on account of business reasons. They had a plan, but it did not materialize ... Guess Madge wrote you all about it ... told you about the announcement ... Saturday they will both quit O'Berry ... Walter was here as a member of this family for the last time last week. It was hard for me to see him go ... we will all miss him. Clemmie will meet Walter in Orlando Saturday ... then they will immediately leave for Daytona Beach for a short vacation ... while there they will look around for a place in a small town where they could open up a little business for themselves. They are not out to make money, just a living. Walter would like a little land with it where he could make a garden and raise chickens. It would do Walter good if he could do some outside work. Can you imagine that nobody at the office had any idea that they were even sweethearts ... the announcement came like a flash of lightning to them. Of course, O'Berry had to be told months ago ... so he could look around for another man. I know they both feel easier now since they can move in the open. I think they will be a very happy couple ... both are so round and solid. I don't think Walter could have found a better companion. May God bless them!"

18 Nov 1931 - "... Papa says Theo is awful hard hit ... can't make any collections at all ... and all his other income is falling off ... nobody has any money there ... NC is worse off than Florida ... he thinks he will have to go bankrupt and lose everything ... trying to find some way out of it ... poor boy! ... Just had a letter from Clemmie ... they are beginning to like it real well ... are satisfied so far ... Martin and Bunny seem to be quite satisfied in the country ... little Martin likes it much better than in town ... he enjoys his bus rides ... did I tell you that he won a star the other week for reading? ... Little Betty is getting to be a little chatterbox ... she is jabbering all day ..."