Grandma Augusta's Letters - 22nd Batch

18 May 1934 - "... many things I want to tell you ... there is Mrs. Fleagle ... she lost the apartment house ... her long sickness ... renters didn't pay, and left with broken furniture ... happy to be home again ... are times really getting better? ... I can't see anything in our circles ... some people who have plenty already, are making fortunes out of the New Deal, while the poor people go without ... it provides good fat salaries for the already overstuffed officers of the New Deal ... so long as there is still eleven million unemployed, I can't see it their way ... to me it seems just a new kind of gangsterism ... Did you know that Mr. Tillman, Madge's boss, is running for state senator? ... running against Whitaker ... maybe you know what a good friend of mine he is ... he is a dishonest skunk! ... hope Tillman will win ..."

9 Jun 1934 - "... Walter is having so much trouble with his chickens ... I'm afraid he risked too much for the first experiment ... poor boy ... he's worked so hard, thinking he could make a living out of it ..."

16 Aug 1934 - "... Lydie is out house hunting ... we must leave here by September first ..."

Aug 1934 - "... found something that answers our needs ... at a cost of $2,500 ... $250 down and $25 monthly ... Lydie borrowed the $250 out of her life insurance policy ... it is on Tolliver Street ... just one street below Wilson ... about six blocks from here ... everybody thinks it a good buy ... it has four bedrooms and an upstairs that could be fixed up if necessary ... we are moving Friday, this week ..."

Sep 1934 - "... O, my Allie, to think that your mother forgot your birthday! I could cry. Never before did I forget one of my children's birthdays ... all this moving and excitement took my memory away ... O, I never thought I could ever get like this ... Allie, my darling, please don't hold it against me ... old age is not pleasant when the mind wears down ..."

20 Sep 1934 - "... this terrible forgetfulness makes me feel so blue ... I can't trust a thing to my memory anymore ... it is a terrible cross to bear ... much worse even than not being able to hear ... Walter and Clemmie are moved and settled now ... Clemmie rented out the front room to Sadie ... Little Betty started school last Monday ... she did not like to go ..."

17 Oct 1934 - "... saw Walter and family last night ... W.H. is beginning to talk now ... says most anything, but I can't understand him ... but the rest can ... Lyddi is crazy about that baby ... he told his Daddy some time ago that 'Muvvie's' lawnmower was dirty (meaning her carpetsweeper) ... Clemmie bakes a lot of Kaffenkuchen and they always bring Grandma some ... Betty likes school now and is getting along fine ... Martin is working part time again for the Spartan company ... Lyddi is in good spirits ..."