Augusta's Letters - Batch #18

Jan 1933 - "Writing goes a little better than it did the last time, but it is still very hard for me ... I am improving slowly ... I am still in bed the greater part of the time ..."

3 Jan 1933 - "... Well, Clemmie's time is coming nearer and nearer ... they expect the little visitor by February. I wish it was over ... Clemmie is feeling fine, and they are both so happy."

13 Jan 1933 - "... Do you get your pay in real money now for teaching? ... the girls too are under heavy strain ... Lyddi was cut $30 a month, and no telling how long this term will last ... Mrs. Walker does all the work around here now ... she is fine ... she charges $7 a week ..."

1 Feb 1933 - "... Schools ought to be put on federal responsibility ... they are having an awful time here ... no money ... Walter was here last Monday ... he closed up O'Berry's books ... I believe he did it last year too ... the little visitor is expected either the last part of this month or the first of next ... it would be a nice birthday gift for Wallie ... I am now realizing that I am an old woman!"

14 Feb 1933 - "... I am afraid I never will be what I was before ... my travelling days are done ... my sickness cost the girls plenty ... and so little coming in ... poor Lyddi is so discouraged sometimes ... there might be a possibility of Walter coming back ... it's getting awfully hard for them ... things are getting worse all the time ... I think he could get back on at O'Berry's any time ... we would then stay all together in this house till the problem is worked out ... of course that won't be just yet ... they are expecting their little visitor in a few weeks ... you are asking about Martin ... he is better off now than he was in the time of the boom ... he bought 5 acres of land with a house on, about 9 miles from here for $500 ... paying it off at $10 a month ... without interest ... he figures should business get on the rocks, he could raise a little for himself anyway ... taxes are only $9 a year ... he is holding his own in the feed business ... the company bought him a new car ... Betty is such a little darling ... Martin too is a fine little fellow ... nobody could tell if Betty's head gets red under the hair ... she has such heavy hair ... almost white ... Brownie had 8 pups again last week ... by the way, Beardstown is hard hit too ... they moved the railroad shop away from there ..."

20 Feb 1933 - "... Papa seems to be in better condition than he was any winter before ... says he never even had a cold and can sleep like a log ... wish I could say that ... I suffer much from sleeplessness ... sometimes I see dawn before I fall asleep ... I was out in the yard Saturday ... walked around quite awhile ..."

10 Mar 1933 - "Here comes the good long expected news. I, and we all feel so relieved ... now Clemmie has her little Wallie, as she always called the little visitor. I know they are the happiest, proudest parents ever ... another March baby ... the telegram came about 8 o'clock ..."

20 Mar 1933 - "I want to satisfy you first about the baby's little personality. This is the report of things all around Orlando from Mrs. Croft: There is no hat big enough in Orlando now to fit Walter ... and for me not to worry about Clemmie ... she is well taken care of ... has a very good doctor and nurse ... and is doing fine ... Baby is 21 inches long, has blue eyes and black hair, light brown and dark lashes, a nice little round head and little Scotch ears pasted close to his head. Now, can you picture him? I can hardly wait till I see him ... Walter said he never sold so much as he did since the baby arrived ... it is just too bad there is no work for the people ... it's a fine community out there ... in normal times, I'm sure they would make good out there ... well, we'll soon know what the near future will bring. I hope Roosevelt will speed up employment for the people with the same interest as he did the banking business. To me it seems that needs first attention now ... I went to Martin's last Sunday ... did a good deal of walking too around the place ... I do think Martin struck a bargain ... the house isn't so much but it answers the purpose, and the children are very happy there. They have electric lights but no bathroom. They must use a wash tub. There is a little room that would just be suitable for a bathroom ... sometime if he can afford it, they will make a bathroom out of it ... we had to get along without a bathroom too till we came to Greensboro ..."

21 Mar 1933 - "... when you dwell on the beautiful music you are hearing and on the worthwhile things you are seeing, you make my mouth water. I am so glad you can enjoy all of this ... Mine has been a very common every day life, with never a treat for the soul ... duty, duty, nothing but duty. The things that were put in my reach, never really appealed to me ... they were just as common as my life. But why should I complain. It was the lot assigned to me ... and why complain at this hour in life ... what a folly! ... No, I shall cheerfully follow my old course, stimulated with the overwhelming beauty of the near future ... and I had my compensation too ... more, maybe, than others had ... I certainly have much to be thankful for ... we are all poor ... and sometime I am thankful even for our poverty ... after all, it is the easiest burden to carry ... and the Lord always helped us over the tough ends of the road ... if one has to fight for everything one has, it is appreciated more than if one has everything thrown in his lap. Martin says business is terrible ... he fears the worst ... haven't heard from Walter and Clemmie ... they don't complain and don't brag."

1 Apr 1933 - "This is April first, but it's no April fool message that I am going to tell you now. I will let the telegram speak for itself ... Now, what do you think of that? It was a complete surprise to me ... The girls though knew it for months, but Tillie did not want them to tell me on account of my condition ... Well, another March baby (Adelaide) in the family ... Little Wallie's just 3 weeks older ... I only hope Tillie will fare well ... financial conditions are terrible at Theo's ..."