Saturday Evening

January 25th, 1943

Dear Ralph,

            Just got the Indians in bed and everything is quiet now.  Except for Art- and can he snore.  I started you a letter last week, but that’s stale now.  How’s come everybody else gets a letter but me?  Don’t I rate more than a card??  Peeps said she was going to write you a letter some day.  She got her grade card Thursday. all A’s.  Not bad considering.  Butchie talks about you all the time.  He said he wanted to see how many wolves you shot.  He wants to know where the Army is, what kind of coats you wear- well, I’m telling you it’s enough to see you nuts sometimes.

            We were uptown today.

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I was talking to Margie.  She came up to Namie’s and then I saw her up at the 5 and 10.  She’s getting ready to start to work Monday.  Got a permanent and everything.  Say, you won’t know her.  Butchie said if she got a job down at the store he would get to go down everyday and buy a sucker.  I told her she had better take her nervine with her.  She’s starting to shake already.  Pop was up at Carrollton too.  He brought your letter up for me to read.  Boy, is he glad to get a letter.  Kinda calms him.  He’s torn all the paper off their bedroom and Jim is coming to paper it.  There were just about six plys of paper on it.  I think some dates back to Noah’s

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time.  She’s gonna paint it, too.  If she can get any paint.

            Well, how do you like it by now?  Say, I could have used some of those clothes this week.  It’s been awful cold.  Yesterday was just like Spring though. I suppose it’s getting ready to do something.  Is it warm or what in North Carolina?  And before I forget it, is that 481st or 481st?  And don’t make you Private. Like Put., it worries me.  Due to circumstances beyond my control I just had to tell you.  Some day you have time send the kids a card.  It would tickle them to death.  Of course, they don’t like you or anything.  And they don’t like Margie either. 

            Atie got a job in a restaurant

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up at Canton.  $15 per week.  Ross was in the other night and can he blow!  He said the foreman told him to do something and he just told him where to go.  That won’t last forever.  He stood up with Bill and Agnes.  She got hitched in a maternity dress.  New style, huh?  Everyone around here sure is giving Bill the duce.  His oil well doesn’t seem to be doing much good. 

            Paul Gamble is in North Carolin too.  I don’t know what camp though.  Atie said he was taking up airplanes.

            A lot of the kids asked me about you today.  They didn’t know where you were.  Donald and Dale goes the 1st of Feb.  Art’s Dad said they registered 108 for the next call.  He said there isn’t very many

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left in Carroll County anymore.

            Rachel Jane Thomas joined the WAVES.  Mom said she was going to tell you about her.  Pop sent you the Journal so you’ll get all the news. 

            Mom and Pop were up last Sunday.  For once they were here before I got the potatoes cooked.  Kinda floored me. 

            What would you like for me to send you?  Candy is scarce so I’ll make some, if you think you wouldn’t get ponies and fall out of your bed-or whatever it is.  Write and tell me all about it.  I would like to see the place. 

            It’s about 12 O’clock, so I think I’ll go to bed.  Write more tomorrow.

                                                                       

 

 

Sunday P.M.

 

It sure is foggy here today.  The kids and Art have the

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“snorts”.  I hope I escape.  I was going to have “them” up for dinner, but I thought maybe Mom would get something. 

            I’m sending you a box of candy.  Maybe it will be all mashed up when you get it, so spoon it.

            Peepee went down to Steubenville with Johnnie and Namie.  They took Ethel and Carol home.  Butchie was asleep when they left or we would have had some music.  Did you know Graves has a hoggery or a piggery or whatever you call them?  He bought 12 the other day.  They pulled them all down to that shed and you never heard such noise.  Pap said Mom was going

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to write to you tonight.  I would have written sooner but I didn’t know where to send it.

 

                                                                                    Monday Morning

 

            Here it is 8:30 Mon. Morn. And I haven’t finished this yet.  Peepee and Butchie are up.  She’s ready for school.  It’s nice here today. Just looks like Spring.  Art went to work, but he didn’t feel so hot yet.

            I suppose Margie is starting to work this morning.  She’ll probably be out today, Butchie sure likes her.  She got Mom a frame for your picture.  She had it hid before so it wouldn’t get dirty.  Margie put it in the frame for her and the other day I was down she made me

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take it apart and get a hair off of your nose.  It was about as big as a ? but she could see it. 

            Well, I think I’d better sign off.  I’ll write another letter this week.  Maybe I’ll get it written quicker than this one.  Don’t forget to write soon.  Be good and don’t hit anybody with a snowball like Bill J. did.  Lost his stripes I guess. 

            Butchie said he sent you this candy.

            If you need anything-write.

                                                                                    Lots of Love,

                                                                                                Ila