Sunday Night,

Dearest Hal,

Today we had a picnic dinner in the basement of the church so we could stay there and have the auxiliary session young people’s meetings because no one has much gas and has to save it in every possible way. Sam enjoys these church dinners very much. Everyone makes much of him. I’m afraid he is getting too much attention but it isn’t very easy to remedy. He takes it very well but I wonder what will be the reaction as he gets older and doesn’t have so much.

We only have our dinners at church the 1^st. Sunday of every month. We have not been to Tinkling for quite a long time. I miss it cause I have some friends down there I have not had a chance to see. It would be nice to go out to Hebron some time, too far I guess, I would never get that far on an A gas book. That means 3 gallons a week or 12 in any one month so we go to town to take our shots and that is all.

Today over the radio we learn that shoes are being rationed beginning tomorrow. Sam has to have some just the same. The ones he has been wearing are just too short. He is growing so fast by the looks very well and he has a very good appetite. He weighs 48 lbs now I believe that is about 2 lbs more he weighed when you last saw him.

Hal. We have had some pictures taken. I was so terribly ashamed of those awful pictures we had to send at Christmas. You really should have some good pictures since there is a restriction on sending packages. Pictures are one of the few things we can send. Will you please send me a statement singed by your superior officer (?) or yourself so I can get the post office here to accept the packages for mailing. We have seen the proofs and I hope you will like them. They are going to cost us $25 for six pictures. That will be two of me and four of Sam. I thought you’d want nana to have one of Sam. She hasn’t seen him for a very long time.

I am sending you the statement of our finances. I know you will be very unhappy. I am very unhappy about it myself. I should not have had the pictures made but I wanted you to see what a handsome little boy your son is.

He paid Dr. Blanton $20.00 and we owe him $15.00 now on the original bill and $5.00 for our new serum we started on this week. So that will be $20.00 more to him.

I draw $15.00 a week to pay board laundry, gas, and other expenses. I can’t to save my life make it stretch to any clothes. I give Sam $1.00 a week to buy war stamps. He is a on his 2^nd bond.

I have enough now to buy another bond with my Feb. allotment. That will make 5 bonds or $4000.00 we have saved in year or is it two because we had some in the bank at Bragg.

As soon as I get the Dr. paid and our pictures paid for I can have $100.00 a month. I hope. I used to buy a dress for 25c a yard for cotton to make a house dress. This month I bought 2 house dresses and paid 69c and 79c a yard for them. I bought 2 pairs of cotton stockings 1.50 a pr. 3 shirts for Sam 79c. They used to cost 29c or 39c. I bought Sam material for 2 pr. Of overalls and two play shirts and it all cost $15. Money just doesn’t go anywhere with prices like they are now.

I love you very much darling and I hope you won’t be upset by this letter.
Take good care of yourself.

All my love,

Paige

$12.67 cash on hand Jan 1.

250.00 money order for Dec.

200.00 Allotment for Jan.

400.00 money order for Jan.

9862.67 total cash for Jan.

$75.00 ($15.00 per wk for 5 wks) for board, laundry, gas, church cont. and other expenses.

25.00 To “Nana”.

20.00 To Dr. Blanton.

3.25 To Augusta Motors for servicing car and minor repairs.

7.10 Farm Bureau Insurance.

15.00 clothes.

10.00 Miss Bickle (down payment on pictures).

155.35

$707.32 cash on hand Feb. 1.

650.00 money orders from you

57.32 my savings.