Augusta's Letters - Batch #19

18 Apr 1933 - "... I buy my eggs from Martin ... as many as he can spare ... pay him 20 cents a dozen ... but on the fruit truck I can get just as fresh eggs for 18 cents ... butter at the A&P came down to 27 cents ... Martin was here with his bunch for a short time last night ... They (the children) just love to take something home with them, like they used to when they lived on Wilson Ave... but one must have what the other has ... often little Betty will ask what have you got to take home for 'me'? ... and how they do love to eat here! ... and if they just had their supper, they'll sit down in the kitchen with Madge and eat a piece of jelly bread and drink a little milk. They are two interesting kids ... Betty is getting to look like Ruth more and more. Martin beats Betty in looks ... he is a very interesting looking child ... has a beautiful figure ..."

24 Apr 1933 - "... just want to tell you this (about the surprise you sent them) ... after going through the prescribed ceremony, Madge opened the box and fell back in the chair screaming and laughing ... O, that naughty Allie ... you know how she always felt about the old pictures of her ... well, we had a good laugh ... but I don't think the picture is so bad if it wouldn't be for the hats ... that's just the way they looked 30 years ago ... and I wonder what the next generation will think of the popular hats of today? ... and did Martin laugh! ... he took it along to show Bunny ... We let Mrs. Walker go ... Lyddi will be home now ... Madge is still plowing along as always ... Martin and his bunch are well and happy ... Betty is an awful sweet child ... I was at church yesterday for the early service, and took communion ..."

4 May 1933 - "... this has been my sentiment for a long time ... we are a doomed people unless we let ethics, morals, and character to be equal in development with our progress in inventions ... I've gotten to where I hate inventions ... they are partly the cause of our misery we are going through now ... machines are now put in the place of man ... and man can starve while the inventor and his ilk reap their fortune and fame ... the words 'science' and 'invention' nauseate me ... Walter sold his business ... do not know what's next ... Martin and bunch are happy on their farm ... conditions do not seem to be any better ... Martin gets only $18 a week now, but they make out ... Lyddi would like to go to Bowling Green for the summer ... she must borrow the money ..."

14 May 1933 - "... for a mother to know that she is loved by her children is all the reward she would ask for ... I got another great big Mothers Day pleasure ... Little Walter presented himself to his grandmother ... Walter is the proudest father ever. He takes care of that baby like a mother ... he feeds it (it's a bottle baby) and changes his dities ... and you ought to hear him talk to the baby ... I never saw such a happy couple as Walter and Clemmie ... Clemmie says she has the most wonderful husband in the world ... Walter sold out his business without a loss whatever ... they are now taking a little vacation to present the baby to its grandmothers ... after that he will look around for a job ... says he is not worried ... they intend to stay in Orlando for a while ... they rented a small place in the same neighborhood ... and now about our little argument ... I don't mean to condemn the machine in itself, but the man who runs the machinery ... as long as man is man ... selfishness, envy and greed are the sins of the ages, and these sins are, to the greater part, imbedded in the hearts of men ... I can't see it any other way, but that machinery is blocking the way of support for the common people ... I say again I have no use for this so called 'science' and 'invention' ... we would be better off without them ... of course, there is no rule without exceptions ... but I am thinking of it as a whole ..."

6 June 1933 - "... Martin came early for our trip to the country ... we enjoyed a glorious day ... the children were so happy ... they are sure two fine youngsters ... Betty always was an angel baby ... but Martin too is getting to be such a sensible little fellow ... he is very much interested in airplanes ... I hope he'll wear that off ... it surely is an ideal place where they are living ... they are out of sight for everybody ... a little distance off the main road ... a perfect place for rest ... Martin lives in the trees ... Betty can't climb so high yet ... I don't think Martin could have made a better move ..."

Jun 1933 - "... Clemmie is baking bread herself now ... when they were here they ate lunch at Martin's once ... and Walter ate so much of Bunny's homemade bread, that she decided she too would learn to bake bread ... she writes she has very good success, and feels quite proud of her accomplishment ... Clemmie sure is a fine girl. Bunny has changed so much since living in the country ... she does all her own baking, even bakes whole wheat bread for me every week ... she is getting right brave ... does what comes her way ..."