The Last of Augusta's Letters

Publishing these letters of my grandmother has been a pleasant experience for me. She was a prolific letter writer. In the fifteen years from September, 1920 until her death, she wrote 194 letters to her son Albert, and he saved them all. There's no telling how many more she wrote to others that were not saved. She had a unique way of expressing herself. The excerpts demonstrate the intense love she had for her family and give a vivid insight into what life was life in that era.

To reread them in order, scroll back to the posting of January 16, 2007.

The response I've received has been a pleasant surprise. While most have been from family members who knew the people she wrote about, others have enjoyed reading them too. If anyone would like to see the full text of any letter, let me know the date, and I'll either publish it or send a copy via email. Thanks for your interest.

Here now is the last batch...

14 Mar 1935 - "... it's been so long since I wrote you ... I almost feel like I'm out of the picture already ... it was a hard winter ..."

26 Mar 1935 - "... I am feeling better since it is warm ... reading is hard for me ... writing is easier ... I surely appreciate everything my children do for me ... I would rather though serve than be served ... but my time of serving is over ... time now hangs heavy on my hands ... Walter has been working steady at O'Berry's since Christmas ..."

23 Apr 1935 - "... we were at Martin's last Sunday ... Walter and family came in the afternoon ... "Aitchy" had the time of his life hunting Easter eggs ... he runs through the house calling Betty and 'Bakki' ... even Bunny calls (little Martin) 'Bakki' sometime. Nobody could guess the origin of 'Bakki' ... the children play nice together ... Aitchy feels perfectly at home there ..."

18 Jun 1935 - "... How well Papa holds out ... and what a poor number I am! ... mind and body a wreck ... can't remember anything ..."

Jun 1935 - "... Little Martin and Betty were our visitors over the weekend ... they are lovely children now ... and do they like to come! ... they are both on the honor roll at school ... Little W.H. watches all their movements and does all their stunts as good as they do ... Lyddi is not feeling so well ... all her teeth must come out ... there is always trouble somewhere ... a heart full of love I'm sending to my darling ... it's all I have ... May God bless you ..."


Augusta (Jox) Berg died on 26 July 1935 after a massive stroke. The following letter from her husband, Rev. Fred Berg, was written to Augusta’s sister, Mary, describing her last few hours.


Tampa, Florida
July 30, 1935

Dear Mary,

Just a few lines in answer to your dear letter ... we all thank you for your loving words of sympathy and comfort.

Last Wednesday morning Gusta got up at 6:30, had her breakfast, washed the dishes, brushed floors, made up the beds, got things ready for lunch, and after Lydia got home from summer school, partook of the lunch with appetite. After lunch she wrote a letter to Dora. Towards evening she sewed on a rug for Clemmie. She was called in to supper, ate heartily.

I was the first to get up from the table, then Madge got up to go to Walter's. Lydie also got up, but standing in the doorway noticed a queer expression on Gusta's face. Returning after a minute, Lydia saw Gusta's face drawn up and asked her what was the matter. She called Madge back who was just crossing the front yard and called me from the front porch. When we got there we saw that she had had a stroke and procured help to get her to bed. She mumbled that there was nothing the matter, (but) her left arm and left side were limp. She (tossed) all night, conscious at moments. Thursday we had more hope, but Thursday night she had a hemorrhage in the brain. Friday morning she began dying, but lingered till one o'clock. Her body was taken to a funeral home.

Theodore arrived Saturday, Albert came Sunday. The funeral was held at the funeral home yesterday. A simple service was held in accordance with Gusta's oft expressed wish ... How fortunate it was that Madge had last week off, also Martin had a few days off at weekend. And Albert's school was out. The coffin was loaded with flowers. The four sons, Mac, and a neighbor were the pallbearers.

Our hearts are heavy with sorrow, but we know that she is at home and at rest. She now has what she hoped for and sees what she has believed. We miss her at every turn in the house and the tears flow. My poor girls are thinking of what they might have done for Mother but did not do. But I know they did their best, and you know it too.

God will help us bear this affliction. With our love to you and all of yours,

Sorrowfully,
Fred