Chapter 10
Letters To Hazel While She Visited In Seneca
September 12, 1924 – December 17, 1936
Chanute, Kansas
September 12, 1924
Dearest Hazel – children,
Your letter came today and I was mighty glad to have it. I looked for a letter yesterday and thought you were slow in writing, but then, I know you were busy and tired.
Everything is running along very smooth. I am getting along pretty good. The big boil bursted Tuesday night and gave me relief. The one on the neck is about well, and I just have one on the left arm, and I haven’t noticed any more coming. Stewarts came in and took me to a band concert Tuesday evening. It seems Jr. Sunderland has made up with Zetlin and things are going better.
I am all through with the lily pond and there were a dozen flowers in bloom today. We have had an awful wind all day, and it is raining hard now.
Uncle Lon is surely acting nice with his new car. I thought he was going to meet you at Joplin. I wouldn’t go out to see them if I were you.
Shannon’s kids got so smart and noisy in front of the house Sunday evening that I had to lay the law down to them. I told them to get back where they belonged, and not come down here any more, and they haven’t been back since. They come right to the line and then turn back.
A week from today is circus, and I think I will go. I wish Carl were here. I would love to take him, but I want you to stay until you get your visit over with.
I wanted to go to town tonight and get some paper. This is the last sheet, and I wanted ??? pills, but it is raining and my raincoat is at the Plant. I wish I could get to feel a litle better. I want to cut the grass and clean up around here. I never have felt right since I got burned.
I wish the folks would get Cox to build them a house down there, and get off that blooming hill. You can spend a fortune on a house up there and when you want to sell, you have to give it away.
I will close now, and hope to hear from you again this week.
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
September 15, 1924
Dearest Hazel and children,
I kept looking a litle bit for a letter yesterday, but none came, and I am lonesome for you all today, so I will write you a few lines.
I didn’t get up till 8:30. Had my breakfast and went down town for an hour. Stewarts came in last night and I went down town with them.
I hae some news for you, Dear. Mr. Sunderland called me in yesterday and told me that Kansas City had approved of fixing up the house out by the office, and he told me to take the carpenter foreman over there and tell him what I wanted and they will fix it up at once. So they are starting to work on it tomorrow a.m. and fix it up from top to bottom. It will be made modern in every way. It will have all new floors and paper, new windows and doors. They will put in a cabinet like the one we have here. Brand new bath fixtures and sink in the kitchen. New porches and concrete side walks. Make a barn for a cow, chicken house, and a garage. We will have to pay rent, maybe $15.00 or $20.00 per month. We won’t have to pay for water or electricity, but we have to pay for gas, and we get all the pasture and garden we want. The house will have 5 rooms and a bath. It is going to be a savings of from $15.00 to $20.00 a month for us, saying nothing about a cow and a flock of chickens later on. I think the place will be ready about Oct 5th. They are going to put a force of men to work on it.
Everything is going along here about the same as usual. My boils have about all disappeared, and I am feeling somewhat better. We are busy now cleaning up and cutting weeds around the house which we are going to move in to. It will take us a week to do it.
I am going to close this now, and hope to have a letter from you tomorrow. How are you feeling, dear? And how are the boys?
Love to all of you
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
September 16, 1924
Dearest Hazel – children,
Your letter came this morning, and I was mighty glad to have it, and I am going to write you at once and send you a check in case you should decide to come home. It is getting powerful lonesome here, but I want you to get your visit out before you come.
This is not going to be much of a letter for I am awful tired. I have been fighting those big weeds all day long. A good many of them we have to cut with an ax. They didn’t get started on the house today, but they have been hauling rock, sand, and lumber all day.
I have another nasty boil coming on my arm, but I think that will be the last one.
There is a big storm coming up now and I am going to close now before the lights go out. I am enclosing a check.
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
February 26, 1925
My Dearest Hazel – children,
I was surprised but mighty pleased to get your letter this a.m., for really, I hadn’t expected it until tomorrow. I went out and priced Frank’s grapes Sunday. It only took me an hour. He took me up town and I walked home. Stopped to talk to Mr. Kainey for an hour and also stopped in to see Mr. Sorensen, and he kept me there until dark, and would been there yet if I hadn’t broke away. He gave me a bunch of Danish newspapers, and I have read them all through.
A part of the Plant started at midnight last night, and I think by the end of this week it will be running full force again. We are mighty busy here planting, grading, making hot beds, getting ready to make garden. Went to the poultry farm this a.m. I have 3 men up there and 2 down here.
I planted sweet peas today. I am going to get the tractor over here again tomorrow and plow up that piece on the North side again.
Profit went to Yates Center tonight. He is mowing here tomorrow.
I am getting along just fine here. Wash the dishes after each meal. The cat went on a strike and would not eat old stale bread, so I fried him an egg and gave him some cake. Guess I will go over to the butcher and get him some steak tomorrow.
I am glad you had a nice visit with Verna. It was a nice easy way to get home. You ought to stop there on your way home.
I want you to have your visit out while you are down there. Remember how lonesome it will be up here whenyou come back. It is pretty lonesome here, but then, I don’t have much time to get lonesome. I am awful busy.
They are not getting along very fast with the fence. Bob is working in the Plant and Jim was alone today, but I guess he will have a man to help him tomorrow.
Dearest, this is about all I can think of this time. And besides, I am awful sleepy. Write soon.
All my love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
March 1, 1925
My Dearest Hazel and children,
Your letter came this morning, and I was awful glad to get it. And I will write you a few lines right away and mail it when I go to town tomorrow.
I have had supper and read the paper, and am waiting for the water to get hot so I can wash the dishes, take a bath, and get to bed. I am awful tired tonight. Worked pretty hard today. It has misted a litle here all day.
Wormingtons asked me up there for supper last night and I went. I think I like her a litle better as I get to know her. She acted mighty human last night. Their maid leaves next Saturday and they are trying to find someone else.
I had a short letter from Earl Rudy this a.m. He said, have you forgotten that you left me in Tulsa? He said his sister has another baby girl.
They let the new timekeeper go last night. He couldn’t handle the job.
I have had the yard cleaned up and torn down all the old fences around here, but haven’t plowed the yard yet. We are plowing the ground between the pond and the office now. I think they will finish setting fence posts about Tuesday.
Mr. Sunderland has been made Manager of all the Ash Grove Properties at Chanute, and Mr. Gardner is Superintendent of the Plant.
I do hope you get a chance to go to Neosho and see some of your friends up there.
The water is boiling now and I am going to close now and wash dishes and get to bed.
With love to all of you. Kiss the children for me.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
March 5, 1925
My Dearest Hazel and children,
Just a few lines. It is just 7 o’clock. I am at the office. Didn’t eat any breakfast. I woke up 4 o’clock sick in my stomach.
I am going to take some men on the farm this a.m. and then I think I will come back and go to bed.
Will write more when I get to feeling better.
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
March 7, 1925
My Dearest Hazel and children,
It is 6 o’clock and I have just had supper. I will write you a few lines and mail it as I go to town tonight. I am clean out of groceries, and forgot to order today.
I was awful glad to get your letter. It is getting dreadful lonesome here without you, dear, after a hard day’s work and come home to an empty house.
We are planting locust trees on the farm, schrubs and trees down here, grading lawn, and a thousand and one different things.
I am awful sorry to hear about Aunt Mag. Poor soul. Her path has been a rough one. I guess she has been greatly misunderstood always.
I asked Mr. Sunderland for a $25.00 raise a few days ago, and he said I would get it. He said he may not be able to get it all for me at one time, but it would come in a short time.
No, I haven’t taken down the heating stove yet, but I think I will tomorrow. I expect to work all day tomorrow.
Yes, dear, all bills are paid and I think there is a balance of $20.00 or $23.00 left in the bank.
I want you to stay until you get ready to come back, Dear, and you must stay until things shows a change with Max. But I will close now, take a bath, and go to town, and I will write later.
All my love to all of you.
Carl
P.S. Joe just came and borrowed $5.00 from me.
Chanute, Kansas
March 14, 1925
My Dearest Hazel – children,
I got your letter this a.m. with the sad news. Poor Mag. Her troubles are over now.
I haven’t written all week because you called and kept writing you were coming home. Better stay now until the folks get quieted down again after the shock, but I am awful lonesome here without you and I am beginning to get worried about the children. You never do go home but what you bring them home sick.
It is real winter here today. We have been working on the yard some today. I planted some onion sets and Bermuda onions today and if it warms up, we will plant 8 bushels of potatoes Monday.
I have just had my supper. It is 7:30 and I will have to go to town and mail this. I haven’t anything else to go for. I am cold and the house is cold, so I will close and change clothes and go. I suppose you will be home pretty soon now.
All my love to all.
Carl
P.S. I am not going to K.C. I can’t get away.
Chanute, Kansas
December 31, 1925
Dearest Hazel – children,
It is 5 o’clock and I am going to write you a few lines while the water gets hot so I can wash dishes.
I got home 2:10 in the afternoon. Stopped in Pittsburg for dinner and left there 11:30. The house was awful cold and it was night before I got it opened up.
Sorensen came over yesterday and I had him cull the chickens, and he culled out 12. They laid 2 – 3 and 4 eggs a day while we were gone. Got 3 Tuesday and 2 yesterday. So this morning, I took the 12 down and I got 7 eggs today. The 12 brought $15.20.
I was up on the dairy for a few minutes today. McGinty said Jack was home for Xmas. I haven’t seen Crows but McGinty said they nearly froze to death coming home. They came in 4 o’clock Sunday a.m. I may go up to Crans tonight. The light went out.
6:30. I started supper by candlelight, but the lights soon came on. I called Crows to see if they were going to be home, and they said they were going to count chickens tonight. McFadden is here from K.C. and I guess they have counted everything on the farms. So I think I will walk down and mail this letter and come back.
Klatz is hauling manure for a few days while the weather is good.
I will close this now. Hoping this finds you all well.
All my love to all of you. Write soon.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
April 9, 1926
Dearest Hazel – children,
I mailed you 2 pair of shoes for the children this a.m. Hope they fit them. I didn’t have time to write you yesterday. I got home at noon, just as the 12 o’clock whistle blew. I didn’t have a bit of trouble.
We had a nice day yesterday but today is cold and cloudy again. Mr. Klatz is going to Sunderland’s house and I am going down and get him pretty soon. The shoes cost $2.75 a pair. If they don’t fit them, you had better send them back again.
I will write you later. Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
April 14, 1926
My Dearest Hazel – children,
Your letter came yesterday a.m. and I was awful glad to get it, and I mailed a pair of shoes for Carl to you yesterday. I have looked for your rings high and low, but they are not here.
We had fine weather here Monday – Tuesday but today is cold and gloomy again. It rained hard here from Friday eve till Sunday night and I never left the house all day Sunday except to get the papers.
I visited Crows Friday night, and Sheltons Monday. He was batching. He went to Neosho Saturday and came back Sunday night. His wife went home last week. Lettie, who used to work for Wormington, died at the hospital Sunday night after an operation for tumor, and a colored man working at the Plant dropped dead here Saturday a.m.
They changed our lights yesterday, and I had to exchange globes this a.m., and we have as good lights as ever. We are working around the home today cutting grass and cleaning up. It is awful wet here. Water is standing here all over.
It is time for the mail and I will close and thake this to the office. Will come after you Saturday night.
Love to all.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
July 7, 1927
Dearest Hazel – children,
While I am writing, I thought I had better drop you a few lines. I have just made out a check to National. I got home shortly after 8 o’clock without a bit of trouble, but I doubt I could go much further for the tire is about to blow out, and I am going to send an order to Montgomery for one for $7.39.
I found everything all right at home. It is awful hot here now, and getting pretty dry. I had to give your garden a good hoeing tonight, and if it doesn’t rain soon, I will have to water it. I caught a fine cold coming back and it is staying with me.
They haven’t started pouring concrete on the road yet, but expect to start in the morning.
I had an invitation to go to McGinty’s for supper last night but didn’t go. I worked in the garden till it was dark, as usual.
I have paid the grocery bill $9.00, Mr. Miller, and National so far. I am going to quit now, take a bath and go to bed. Write soon. How are the kids?
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
July 13, 1927
Dearest Hazel – children,
Your letter came yesterday a.m. and I was awful glad to hear from you. This finds me all well and I am getting along just fine.
We have had some awful hot and dry weather. Sunday was the hottest day I ever saw here. It went to 107 here. It was 100 on our front porch.
George Miller came out in the morning. He wanted me to go to Galesburg with him and I did. He wanted to go and see Mr. Shermer. He thinks he wants a garden tractor. We got back about noon and I watered tomatoes in the afternoon. They were getting pretty dry.
We had a nice litle rain about 6 o’clock this a.m. and it looks like we may get some more. I hope we do. We are needing it bad here.
I went up to McGinty’s a night before last. I took her some flowers from your garden. Her Mother and Sister are still there. They are both about sick. Her Sister was in bed. They are planning on going back Monday.
Steve had his girl there. She is a daughter of Larsons that we got the rooster from.
Welk is on his vacation. They are out of town. Fralich says they have gone to Tulsa and Okmulgee to see some of her folks.
Dr. Haynes and Dan McC?? Were out here yesterday to see me. They want me to run for Commander of the Legion, but I don’t think I will. I don’t believe I could be elected. They have election tomorrow nite.
I want you to stay till you get ready to come back. I am getting along fine, and you get your visit out while you are there. I doubt that I will be able to come after you until payday, for I will have to get a new tire and I am not sure I can get one until then.
I am not writing any more checks, for I don’t know what you will need while you are there. Write soon. Love to all.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
July 16, 1927
My Dearest Hazel – children,
I received your short letter this morning and was awful glad to have it. Yes, we had a nice litle rain here Wednesday. Not so much, but we are not suffering any here now.
Well, I went to Legion meeting last night and what do you think. They elected me Commander for next year. I tried my best to get out of it but they refused to take no for an answer. They had a big fight and two factions were lined up and they nominated 6 candidates. Blackwood, myself, Carpenter, Dan McCune, Briley, and Hedrick, but I seemed to be the only man who could be elected on the 4th ballot. I got 32 votes out of 47.
The new Commander automatically becomes a delegate to the State Convention at Ft. Riley. Other delegates are Wedell, McGinty, Washam, Wade and Briley, but I am not going. We are supposed to go to a District Meeting in Columbus, Kansas tomorrow night and Sunday, but I will not go there either.
We got word yesterday that we would have to sleep in tents at Fort Riley, and to bring a blanket and mess kit, and I don’t believe I could get much kick out of it.
Everything is going fine here and I am feeling good. Am awful busy. The garden is growing fine now. I expect to come after you next Friday night and start back Saturday morning if you are ready to come by that time. I don’t like to drive back on Sunday. We won’t have a thing to eat in the house after we do get here.
But I am tired. I didn’t get to bed until 12 last night and I am going to take a bath and go to bed.
With love to all.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
June 13, 1928
Dearest Hazel – children,
Your letter came this a.m. and I was glad to hear from all of you. This finds me fine. Am pretty busy. It rained all Monday night and I don’t think it is through yet.
I have tried to listen in to convention, but static is bad. Am attending committee meetings nearly every night, but unless it clears and warms up at once, I don’t think there will be any body here.
Am selling a bucket of cream every other day and the milk keeps me awful busy.
I had a letter from Olson Rug camp that rug is ready and I have mailed check $22.65. I haven’t any news this time. Have a good time, Dear, and stay until you get ready to come home.
Love to all of you. Write soon.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
June 18, 1928
Dear Hazel and children,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still living and doing pretty well. I had sort of looked for a letter from you yesterday but none came, and sitting around the house today I am just awful lonesome for all of you.
The meeting at Independence today was postponed for some reason. Our children’s day had to be postponed until next year. It started raining 4 o’clock yesterday morning and kept it up till 11 o’clock. We had everything ready for a big day, and I even had the stoves up, and I told Babe Blair if the weather was clear at 3 o’clock to make us 2,000 buns. He said there wasn’t a cloud to be seen nowhere, so he put them in the oven. It cleared off at noon and was nice all day, but it started to rain again at 9 last night and we must have had 4 or 5 inches of rain, for everything is under water across the highway East of us on both sides of Santa Fe track, and the creek is over flowing on the North side. The creek is about as high as it was during the big flood, but the levey is still holding good on the South side. I went to the river at 10 o’clock this a.m. and it is coming up awful fast, but the creek is still running down stream and there is no water around the packing house yet. There is a solid stream of cars traveling out to see the river. I am going out again after a while.
Most of the peach trees back of the house are laying on the ground. We have had a gale blowing the last 48 hours and the ground is so soft and the wind has loosened the roots. I haven’t heard how much rain they have had North of here.
It is 5 o’clock now. I went down town and had dinner and drove out to the river again. It is raising about 6 inches an hour now.
I am selling about .50 worth of cream a day now. I think the yellow heifer will come fresh this week. I am giving white about 2 gallons of milk a day now.
I am going to close this now. It is time to milk and I will mail this out this evening. I hope I hear from you tomorrow.
Love to all of you from
Carl
It is going to rain like everything again tonight. 2/3 of the corn across the road is under water now.
Chanute, Kansas
June 20, 1928
Dear Hazel and children,
Your letter came yesterday. Was glad to have it. I believe the rain is over. We had a big rain last night but it has been clear all day. The river came out a litle, but is going back now. Barker stayed with me last night but I think he will try to go to Humb oldt tonight. I would be awful glad to have you come Sunday, but you come when you get ready, but be sure and let me know if you do come Sunday.
Love to all.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
June 25, 1928
Dear Hazel and children,
I got your letter yesterday p.m. and was sure glad to hear from you. A litle disappointed that you were not coming today. I get dreadfully lonesome for you and the kids, but you don’t get to go home very often and I want you to stay until you get your visit out. I will get along somehow.
We have had a few clear days up here, but it rains every night. The river has gone down 3 or 4 days ago and I think all roads are open now. But you are coming on the train and you do not need to worry about getting through.
Our alfalfa is about ready to cut again, and I wish the weather would get settled.
There isn’t anything new to write about from here, and unless I hear from you, I will prepare for you coming home Wednesday.
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
July 20, 1929
Dearest Hazel and children,
I arrived home at one o’clock yesterday and found everything in good shape.
I found it nice and cool up here. It is getting a litle dry, but we are not suffering yet. I got out and hoed a part of your garden tonight. It is beginning to show the effect of dry weather.
Don and Mrs. McCune came out for a litle while last night and I gathered up about a gallon of plums that had fallen off and sent home with them. They would not keep till you came home.
Potters Hatchery burned to the ground last Sunday and he is starting at once to build a new one. Allens went to Kansas City Monday, and the man brought the car home yesterday. So I guess he will not be home right away. He called up for some flowers and I mailed him a big box and they sewed the lanke (?) and sent him 30 lb of bass.
The river is bank full but they don’t think it will go out.
I haven’t any news to write this time. Let me know when you want to come home. We have our garden contest here a week from today and I will be fairly busy.
Love to all of you.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
June 22, 1931
Dearest Hazel and kids,
I arrived home in good shape at 11 o’clock. It is a good thing I started early or I would have burned up on the road. It got awful hot here, and it is still hotter today. I picked half of peaches yesterday and gave White a basked. I guess cherries will hang another day or two. There is no news this time. Write soon.
With love
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
June 24, 1932
Dear Hazel – children,
Your letter came yesterday and I was glad to have it. This finds me just fine. I am kep mighty busy with the chores and doing a litle work at the Plant. Haven’t done anything in town. It is awful hot and I am afraid to. I am going to get up early in the morning and cultivate roses on Central. Have a job for Dr. Sherman but won’t start till next week.
I will not be after you Sunday. You will not have your visit out.
I am going to have a litle party Wednesday evening. I went to Legion Meeting and we planned it there. Dorr, Dr. Haynes, Fred Foster and Ed Klager are coming out and we will have a Dutch lunch in the yard. They are bringing the eats.
Write now and let me know when you are ready to come home. I would rather get out of making the drive, but if you want me to come, I will come, but I am going to make the round trip in one day.
Write soon and let me know how you are.
Love to all of you.
Chanute, Kansas
May 11, 1935
[Note: This and the following two letters are written on “Hansen Nursery” stationery.]
Dear Hazel and all,
Your letter came this a.m. and will mail this evening. The boys are doing wonderful. Doing all the housework and helping me outside. Mrs. Powell called and I called Mrs. Geeding. Our garden is fine. I will plant 500 tomatoes this evening. Pulled ???at noon and am going after 500 mangoes in the a.m. The boys are going with me. Have planted 150 hills cantaloupe and 5 rows of beans all the way across the place.
If you Mother have to have an operation, have you ever considered of having it done up here where every one of us could be close to her without much expense? Take good care of her, Dear. Mothers like yours are mighty few. The boys miss you terrible but I am keeping them in good humor and don’t worry about us.
Love to all
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
May 16, 1935
Dear Hazel – all,
Your letter came this a.m. and we were glad to hear your Mother is better.
It has rained here every day or night since I wrote you and the weeds are about to take us, and of course, we haven’t been able to plant anything.
If Don can possible bring you, let him. Do so as it is about impossible for me to leave here now. I feel I have neither the time nor the money to make the trip.
We have only lost 1 chick so far, and they are doing well. The boys are doing fine. They had dinner at Geeding’s yesterday and had a nice time. Hope this finds your Mother still better.
Love to all.
Carl
Chanute, Kansas
July 10, 1936
Dear Hazel and everybody,
We got your letter and was glad to hear from you. The boys are doing fine. I let them to to the pool yesterday.
We are picking about 1 bushel of tomatoes a day and get 8 cents for them.
You better come on the bus as we can’t get away. If it is raining, we have a young fortune in crop. We miss you dreadfully, but come when you want to.
Love to all.
Carl
[Note: The following letters were written from Carl to Hazel while Hazel and the children were in Chanute, Kansas.]
St. Joe, Arkansas
December 11, 1936
Dearest Hazel and children,
I arrived here about 4 p.m.. Had an awful nice visit with your folks and left there 7 a.m. I saw Paul Hays at Neosho. I went by Newtonia, Stark City, Seligman, Eureka Springs.
This sure is a wild and wolly country. I am staying with a young couple about a mile from the orchard, and I am not sure that I will stay at the cabin at all. It is awful hard to get to with the car. I haven’t seen enough of the orchard yet that I can begin to estimate how long it will take. I will write you tomorrow.
Love to all of you.
Carl
c/o Hugh Barnett
San Joe, Ark
Gilbert, Arkansas
December 14, 1936
Dearest Hazel – Kids,
I hae just finished writing Miss Hemphill and I will send you a few lines.
I am camping up here. I enjoy it better than living with the hill billies.
This is beautiful country. A new country. We don’t know anything about hills at home. I won’t know for several days how soon I can get through here. It looks like it might last over 2 weeks, yet it is awful nice here. But I get so dreadful lonesome for all of you.
I will try to tell you in my next letter how soon I will come home.
Love to all.
Carl
c/o W. W. Reynolds
Gilbert, Ark.
Write soon
Gilbert, Arkansas
December 14, 1936
It is 6:20. I have had breakfast but too dark to see yet. Put in a big day yesterday. I think now I will finish here about Friday or Saturday. I am writing your mother and asking her and your Dad to get ready to come home with me and spend Xmas with us, and I will take them back after Xmas. I wish you would write her and urge her on.
I am going to close and try to write you tomorrow.
Love to all.
Carl
c/o Hugh Barnett
San Joe, Ark
Saint Joe, Arkansas
December 15, 1936
Dearest Hazel – Kids,
I got disturbed in my writing you last night by some of the hill billies coming in to see me, and I had to stop and visit with them. It is 8 o’clock now and no one has come, and I will start another letter.
I am feeling fine and getting along nice with the wash (?). It will be Monday or Tuesday before I can write and tell you how soon I can finish. It is an awful big job and I am getting awful lonesome to see you all. I was wondering if I could induce you to come back with me down here for a week and leave the kids with the folks?
You have never seen the Ozarks yet until you see this country. It is a new country and sparcely settled. I never saw such sunrises and sunsets as they have here. The country is too beautiful to describe.
I wrote Miss Hemphill last night, but mail only goes out from here every other day. There are a good many of the natives come up and visit me during the day, and you don’t need to worry about any thing happen to me, Dear, for there is nearly always some one visiting me here.
The Hemphills have bitten off an awful big job, and it is going to cost them a lot of money to see it through. The orchard is pretty badly grown up in oak sprouts and wild dewberry, blackberry, and huckleberry, and it needs a lot of work.
It is almost 9 o’clock and I am going to bed. I will add some to this tomorrow and get it off first thing Monday a.m.
Sunday morning. It is 6 o’clock. I woke up 4:30. Was well rested. Got up at 5. Have had my breakfast (All Bran), 2 eggs, 4 slices toast, 2 cups coffee, all cooked over the coals in the fireplace. I am not fooling with the gasoline stove. I am waiting for daylight to come around so I can get to work. How I enjoy this camp life in this fine cabin.
I think I might hire a man to help me. If I do, I can possible get through Saturday or Sunday. Will try to let you know in a day or two.
I made a hurried trip to Marafield, the county seat, is 18 miles, yesterday to get the saw filed and get some groceries. This country beats anything I ever saw for beautiful scenery. They have a fine highway through here, but no side road, just trails and paths. It is now 6:30 and I am going to close. I can start working 7 o’clock. I am looking for a boy up here today who will mail this in the morning, and I will get another letter off to you not later than Tuesday. Kiss and love the kids for me, and all my love to all of you. Write me c/o Hugh Barnett, San Joe, Ark.
Carl
December 16, 1936
Saint Joe, Ark
Dearest Hazel – Kids,
I didn’t get your letter mailed today. Didn’t get to town, and no one came. I haven’t seen a human soul add day, but I am going to San Joe in the a.m. to get a saw filed and mail this, and I am sending the Hemphills a letter. I will finish Saturday and I am going to ask if they want to come while I am here, to come Saturday.
I suppose school will close for Xmas vacation Friday. If I don’t finish until Saturday evening, I will not start till Sunday a.m. and stop at Seneca.
It has been real September weather here today. I worked in my shirt sleeves from 10 till 4.
I hear the hounds out in the timber. These hillbillies sleep all day and chase possums and foxes all night.
I hope you hae informed your folks that I am coming after them on my way home. I wish that drive was over. You warned about my glasses. I took my old ones along.
I am pretty tired and I will close and go to bed. It is 8:30.
Good night. Tell Robert I am coming as fast as I can.
Love to all of you. If you write me any more, address me at Gen Del, San Joe.
Carl
Wednesday a.m. I changed my mind. I will not write Hemphill ??? and ask them to come down. If they should come out to see you, you may tell them that I will be here until early Sunday morning, then they can suit themselves.
With love
Carl
Monday evening. Dearest Hazel – Kids.
I had to run to San Joe today to get the saw filed and get something to eat. I mailed you a letter, one to your Mother and a second one to Miss Hemphill. I caught your letter in the Post Office before it went out on the route or it wouldn’t have been delivered until tomorrow. I was sure glad to hear from all of you and glad to get the news. The first I have had since I left.
It looks like I might get through the latter part of this week, and I am going back through Seneca and see if I can induce the folks to come home with me. I told your Mother in my letter that I would bring them home.
You ask if this is a flat country. No. All hills and hollows. Hills reach half way to the clouds. Prettiest country I ever saw. Most of it has never been cleared off, and it is very sparsely populated.
My cold is a lot better. Not well. I am enjoying the work and this cabin immensely, but get dreadfully lonesome for all of you and some news.
Got hold of an old paper in town. These hill billies don’t read.
Tell Robert and Mary that I will try to be home by Sunday.
We are having nice weather. It went above 70 today. Hope it will stay till I get done. The cabin gets pretty cold and I have to get up and put some logs in the fire, but they have plenty of wood, oak and walnut.
I am going to close this, wash a few dishes and go to bed. I will try to get this mailed tomorrow, and will write again in a day or two.
Love to all.
Carl