Feb. 7, 1943
Dear Ralph,
It is
Sunday again and it is cold and windy with a little snow. Friday was a beautiful
day. The fire went out in the grate and we didn’t miss it. Bobbie and she came
down today. I saw some flies and bugs and they were very lively. Billy got to
fighting Whistler so I put him out in the box all day then I brought him in
that evening and put him back in with Whistler, and about 12 o’ clock that
night after I was ready for bed, I had to take him back out to the box. He was
fighting again.
So
yesterday Dad knocked in the head of that old oil barrel in the wagon shed and
burned it out. So they all have a barrel now. Bunnie
is asleep.
Dad is at
Jimmies’ Junior was down a little while ago. He wanted 3 doz. Eggs for Myrtle.
He says he is going to enlist after his birthday February 23.
The hens
are laying real well. I still have about 50 of the old
ones.
They are just
beginning to lay now. You might send me about a ton of your white sand, it would be good for them to dust in if it didn’t
scare them to death.
Marjorie
took a crate of eggs up to the store last Tuesday and I have another one for
her this week. She stayed last Monday and Tuesday nights and went home on Wednesday.
The store closes at four on Wednesday.
She was going to stay here Thursday and Friday nights, but she couldn’t drive
in. I went to the Red Cross serving at Pets Tuesday night. I wasn’t quite ready
when Marjorie and Ila came
in. I thought I was going to have to walk but I didn’t. Jim Abaugh
is coming Tuesday to paint. What do you have to do in your work.
Maybe you
will be yodeling yet. I expect you have other letters by this time.
Pop got
some tablets instead of capsules to doctor the sheep. We tried it Saturday but
didn’t do any better than when you helped. We spoiled 4 tablets. We are going
to get a machine to give them to them. I gave Shep
one of the New Sheep Capsules this morning all by myself. He was very peaceful.
This is Monday. It is a beautiful day.
Pop is
standing here waiting to take this to the office, so I will stop. Write real
soon,
Marge
[little booklet]
For Honour and for Her!
PASTE
“HER”
PORTRAIT HERE
The poem is gummed on
the back for fastening in your pay-book, or ditty box
For Honour and for Her
SOMEWHERE, a woman, thrusting fear away,
Faces the future bravely for your sake;
Toils on from dawn till dark; from day to day;
Fights back her tears, nor needs the bitter ache;
She loves you, trusts you, breathes
in prayer your name;
Soil not her faith in you, by sin or shame
Somewhere a woman-mother, sweetheart, wife-
Waits between hopes and fears for your return;
Her kiss, her words, will cheer you in the strife,
When death itself confronts you, grimaro
stern;
But let her imagine all your
reverence claim,
When base temptations scorch you with
their flame.
Somewhere a woman watches – filled with pride;
Shrined in her heart, you share a
place with none,
She toils, she waits, she prays, till side by side
You stand together when the battle’s done
O keep for her dear sake a
stainless name
Bring back to her a manhood
free from shame
MARAGARET
SCRUTON
Lesyian Chambers.