Sunday, March 29, 1925

The days slip by so fast! Friday, I cleaned the front room in the forenoon and mended in the afternoon. Yesterday morning I did my regular Saturday's cleaning, transplated a geranium, a rose geranium, and a foliage plant -- slips from my only window box & put them in pots. In the afternoon I bathed the three kids & myself. Neil went to dtown with Daddy as the latter didn't work. John got a new suit. Last evening I finished Colliers for February 14th. The kids all have head colds and Bricky was quite irritable yesterday. Neil & Bricky went to S.S. this morning but to different ones, Bricky going with Ruth. Les came for a few minutes. I gave Bricky's wardrobe one coat of gray paint -- some job. I didn't get through until noon. Daddy, Virgil & Bricky left right after noon, driving down to see Aunt Clara. Ha! I finished "Bobbed Hair" the serial in the Colliers by twenty authors & started "Sargan -- King of Kings" by H.G. Wells.

Thursday, March 26, 1925

Let's see. What have I (and family) been doing? I washed Tuesday and Herman stopped for a few minutes. Ruth's baby (a boy) came on the 16th. Clara was taking care of them & had an attack of acute appendicitis. Monday night Oscar had to stay home with Ruth as Herman brought Oscar's truck up for gasoline. I wrote Clara a letter. Virgil borrowed four dollars from me to buy her some flowers. Ha!

Yesterday, in the morning, I cleaned the kids' room, ironed in the afternoon. I took Ruth Luce to the Fair last evening -- it was her birthday. The show was "Frivolous Sal" and Eugene O'Brien was sure keen. I had a chat with Mrs. Eva Luce. Got a letter from Mama yesterday and sent her one today. I finished my ironing today and that's all I did do. I finished reading the Woman's Home Companion for April to-night. Daddy is lying snoring on the lounge. I reckon I should take him and go to bed. Did I say that Neil is the best of the boys in his class? They number in Reading as we used to do in Spelling, you know. He varies from one to eight -- but he's always the first boy.

We got our National package today -- the most important thing, my dress, didn't come! Bricky's hat was O.K. -- also the rest of the things. Theresa Blitz, an eighteen year old girl who lives across the alley, died yesterday. She was one of Bricky's friends. Chilly & windy today, but real warm yesterday.

Monday, March 23, 1925

Today was a lovely day -- warm enough to be without a fire. I cleaned our bedroom today, some dirty job! Bricky was visiting her various friends practically all day. I must put a stop to her going away so much. The kids went to S.S. yesterday -- had to make Neil go. Daddy worked until one o'clock & then helped Dave Clark "lay out" his house the rest of the day. Ruth was over in the afternoon and stayed for supper. She was also over a little while this afternoon after school. Bricky went to town with her Saturday afternoon. She wore her new cape and felt quite grand I suppose.

I prepared Lesson No. 17 yesterday & sent it today. Also sent an order to the National. I went to town Saturday evening -- was only gone about an hour. I got some flower seeds for my boxes -- foliage and geraniums. I put more Kodak pictures in my books yesterday. George Irvin & Virgil were over a few minutes this evening trying to sell us the former's car. (Of course we didn't buy it.)

Jackie sure does some cute things -- looks at me out of the corners of his eyes, frowns, pouts, etc. He says quite a few things. I sat him in his high chair tonight and was busy getting supper. I heard him say "No-No" & looked around and he was getting dirt out of the flower box. His hair curls a little -- do you think I'll have one curly head after all?

Friday, March 20, 1925

I forgot one little item of interest -- one evening this week, Ruth* came in and said that the girls were going to smoke cigarettes (seventh grade girls) how's that? And they were all getting fancy garters. She didn't know whether her Grandma would let her do the latter or not.

Well, I got my lesson back yesterday. I didn't get such a bad grade -- 95, but the criticism discouraged me. I got a sick headache over it. "He" said I needed to learn dramatization and characterization. I agree with him all right, but how am I to do it?

We got the Woman's Home Companion yesterday and American this A.M. Also got Neil's exchanged cap -- O.K. Regular old March wind today, but sunshiny. Bricky is rocking her nude baby, signing to it, making up her song as she goes along. I must get lunch.




*I believe that Ruth is Ruth Hayson, the daughter of James Hayson (Uncle Jim) and Lula Cramer. Uncle Jim was only 16 years older than Winnie and married fairly late (age 30). His wife, Lula, was 13 years younger than he -- the same age as Zella. Ruth was twelve or thirteen in 1925 and I think she stayed with Winnie and John for a time at some point.

Wednesday, March 18, 1925

I should be in bed -- it's 10:10, but I'm afraid I'll forget what little has happened if I wait until tomorrow. I got a letter from Mama today. She hasn't heard from Bernice yet. I washed yesterday and ironed some this morning. This afternoon I cleaned the linen closet in the dining room. Of course, Bricky helped me -- also to tear a few carpet rags. I told her all the nursery rhymes and other verses I knew. While I was ironing my "Unity" came this afternoon which I devoured eagerly -- I sure get to wanting it badly before it comes.

Last evening and this, too, Daddy and I played "Hide the Thimble" with Neil and Bricky. I am now reading Colliers for Feb. 7. Ain't I speedy? Also wrote a letter to Mama tonight and sent her March American Today. Daddy also has a lesson ready to send -- Geometry II. They came for the typewriter Monday -- wonder when I'll get it again. It rained some late yesterday and was quite dark today. Got a ton of coal yesterday -- $7.50 -- hope our last one for this winter. Good night!

Monday, March 16, 1925

I went up town Saturday night -- didn't get much -- a toy for each of the kids. Glenn came for his things & went home while I was gone. I loafed yesterday -- washed dishes twice is all I did. John even got breakfast & dinner & we had a delicatessen supper. I typed some of my diary until my paper gave out. Bricky went to S.S. with Ruth, and Ruth was over a little while in the afternoon. I worked on my lesson some & read in Colliers for Jan. 24. Do you think I'll ever catch up? Today promises to be a real spring day, and it's about time. We have had only about two so far. Just wrote a letter to Mrs. Burquett.

Wednesday, March 14, 1925

Today is the start of another journal that covers about 6 months in 1925. By this time Winnie is 28, married, and the mother of three young children. Neil is 6, Bricky is 3 1/2, and Jack is 1 1/2. They spent the first years of their marriage in Detroit, but moved back to Topeka, Kansas sometime between Bricky and Jack's births. --kp

Just to be foolish, I thought I would start a diary again. Glenn M. came yesterday afternoon to see if he could stay all night (which of course he could). He came up to consult with Dr. Kraus concerning his teeth. The doctor thinks he'll have to have about nine out but wants to take an X-ray first. He said their bad condition is the result of a fever he had when small -- measles or smallpox, & that his whole system is undermined because of their condition. Glenn went up to town to meet Mabel at 5:30 and they both came back here for supper. Mabel had a Marcela and she looked fine. It, combined with the sense of satisfaction having a job gives her, improves her. Glenn went to a show but came in before we went to bed.

I got a letter from Dorothy. I worked hard all morning. Glenn went out to the S.B.A. Hospital to see Mabel and hasn't returned yet (4:30). Bathed Jackie and Bricky this afternoon and typed a few pages of an old diary. I sent a letter to Fossbergs. It is real cold today -- can't seem to keep the house warm enough.

Thursday, July 31, 1924

Today has been an awfully lonesome day. I haven't done anything much except read. Read the Ladies Home Journal for June. I got three letters, one from Dorothy -- Neil is in Topeka this week; one from Babe and one from Aunt Bessie -- she asked me to stop there on my way home. She also said Lawrence Sillin & his wife finally had a baby that is living. Aunt Jennie got a letter from Grandma and Uncle Jim's "late" wife has left him. It makes a person want to do something for him and the boys. I wrote letters to Jonesie and Lassemores, also one to Dorothy tonight. I have gotten two letters from John this week, but both were written last week. He sent me ten "bucks".

I went into town yesterday; Aunt Jennie & I walked. Mrs. Hitchins' daughter Maud & two boys, Robert, five, and Rex, two, were there -- came for a visit from Illinois. The older one doesn't mind very well. Earl H. is home -- came this a.m., I guess. Uncle Ed said he killed a rattlesnake on his way home '' "we" killd one other since I've been here, one morning on our way to town. Other "things" around here are centipedes (very dangerous, but I haven't seen one yet), and lizards (saw one Sunday when we were getting rock), and prairie dogs -- they are funny looking little things -- sitting on top of their holes looking at you, turning their earless heads this way and that.

Tuesday, July 29, 1924

We went east to the hills for a load of wood Sunday morning. We went out on a high peak & looked over east to the sheep camp in the valley. It was quite a spectacle I wish I had my Kodak here. I sure held my breath, coming home, once. We were going on a very steep hill, sidewise, it seemed as though we just must tip over. But we didn't. Then we went for a load of rock, too. We went for a load of rock two weeks ago Sunday, too. We saw a lot of peculiar rock formations. There are a lot of sort of round rocks with a honeycomb surface. They look like petrified turtles. Then there are rocks that look exactly like petrified tree stumps. There there are white crystal-like stones that are quite pretty.

I brought along my June magazines to read. And I have read Irving Bacheller's "The Man for the Ages" concerning Lincoln; Carolyn Wells' "Wheels Within Wheels" and I am reading Gene S. Porter's "Her Father's Daughter." In the last, the heroine is too good, but all Mrs. Porter's heroines are.

Aunt Jennie goes with Uncle Ed about four mornings a week to haul water home. She "keeps" the store while he goes for the water and then she brings it home. I have been going along; have stayed home twice.

I have gotten about eight letters from John since I've been here and about six from Mama, two from Dorothy & one from Bernice. Zella took Jackie (Paul & Buster, too) & went home with Bernice & Ed. She was supposed to have come home Sunday, but I haven't heard whether they did or not. One of Mama's ltters worried me, because she had had no help with the kids one Saturday night. So I wrote & asked John to help a bit and as a consequence, he took Bricky & kept her this past week. I guess Neil misses me. Mama seemed to think he was homesick for me. After all the stew Uncle Ralph & Aunt Rena had about Dorothy keeping house for the bunch at 616 Polk St., she finally got to dit it anyway, which suited everyone concerned.

There have been three birthdays since I left. Jackie was a year old on the 10th, John was twenty-eight on the 24th and Babe was twenty-one on the 25th. I sent John some cigars and Babe a dollar bill.

I wrote Emily Davis a letter last night and Helen Symons one Sunday.

Last Saturday, a week ago, we had quite a lark. Uncle Ed got the old car started & took Aunt J., Cecil, Grandfather Wilkes and me to Thatcher to a sale. Uncle Ed auctioneered it -- he's quite keen at it. It took him about three hours and he made ten dollars -- not so bad. Aunt Jennie & I bought some books -- about fifteen for a dollar, some of them were: David Copperfield, Silas Marner, Ancient Mariner, Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Daddy Long Legs & some "lesser lights."

Then a week ago Sunday, Delhi had a picnic. The two stores had a joint stand. We sold pop and Raymonds sold ice cream. I helped Aunt Jennie sell pop. It was hot, dusty & windy. They had a little baseball before dinner & afterwards some horse races, kid races, etc.

Sometimes, in the afternoon, Aunt Jennie, Cecil and I "take to the hills" as Cecil says. Aunt Jennie & I take our reading material along. We find the highest spot on the windiest side and sit in a bed of pine needles and read. The other day I lay down, face up, and watched some magic, white billowy clouds drifting and shifting. It brought back childhood memories of similar stunts and vague recollections of the day-dreams the act inspired. It brought to mind an urge I have had for some time -- to live out from the city a ways where we could see something and the children could have the right chance.

Monday, July 28, 1924

I can't seem to really feel an "urge' to write, so I'll write without it. Consequently, it probably will not be a very systematic history of events, nor will it b as interesting as it would be if I felt "inspired." I wanted to describe as well as I can the place here and also the manner of living prevalent around here. Of course, it's all claims and the people are all pioneers. Uncle Ed & Aunt Jennie have a half section with only about 80 acres that could be cultivated. They have no well, but they could have if they could afford one. I guess, even as dry as it is, there is a little spring water in the big canyon east of the house. There are some range horses that make their habitat here on Aunt J's & Uncle Ed's place. The leader, a stallion of course, is a noble looking black horse whom people around here have named "Cyclone." They say he has never been caught.

The house here is about fourteen feet square, built of rock, quarried by Uncle Ed & Aunt Jennie from their own hills & put together by them with a mortar made from a dust called gyp also from their land. They have just a dirt floor which Aunt Jennie has covered with these heavy pasteboard boxes flattened. Then she has little rugs on that -- one fair sized square one in the center of the floor & several smaller ones, all made by Aunt Jennie. They have a little stove in which they burn cedar & pine -- also from their hills. They have a sanitary couch* which Cecil & I sleep on; an old dresser, the rest of the furniture is made from boxes. Oh, a trunk with an oil cloth serves as a wash stand, and Uncle Ed made the table. So you can see they are just as truly pioneers as the pilgrims, a rather startling thought. The house roof is made of logs with dirt & brush over the top. The barn is built of logs with brush & dirt for a ceiling. They have three horses: Fanny, Prince, both big, well fed (as Uncle Ed's livestock always is), the other one is a little gray thing, Babe, a colt of the rough bunch. It had gotten into a canyon & old Cyclone had forced its mother to leave it. So Aunt Jennie & Uncle Ed brought it up. Then they have a cave which is a storeroom & it also has a sanitary cot that Uncle Ed & Aunt J. sleep on. Then there is a chicken coop, also built of rock. Right at present, they have only two hens, a rooster & two dozen baby chickens. Oh, yes, Cecil has a Banty Hen. Aunt Jennie is raising rabbits to eat, instead. She has quite a bunch -- three bucks -- two browns & a black; five does -- one black, two browns and two yellows; about sixteen half-growns; and thirteen small ones -- between two mothers. there are only two white ones among them & I want to take them home for my kids.

Uncle Ed and Aunt Jennie certainly get along nicely & seem to love each other, which makes them pleasant people to live with. Evidently they have the three requirements of a happy marriage: "a sense of honor, a sense of proportion and a sense of humor." In exchanging ideas with Aunt Jennie since I've been here, I find that we think alike on a great many things -- well, all the major things, but sometimes differ on little things as the taste in curtains, dress goods etc.

Aunt Jennie is studying to take the Exams. She has the school here if she can get a certificate. It seems to me it takes a lot of grit to "study up" after twenty five years. We are always excusing ourselves to each other for having such dull minds and finding expressions in our reading that describes them One that I remember, a man referred to his intellect as a "vague rumor." How's that?

I can't tell yet whether the dry air is doing my nose any good or not, but I sorta think it is. I am helping the altitude by using vaporub & Aunt J & I are taking a tonic, too. I weighed 88 when I left Kansas. A week after I'd been here, I weighed 90. Some of this may have been a difference in the scales, But in another week I weighed 91 and the end of the third week I weighed the same. Altho' my mind isn't as clear as it used to be when I went to school, still some days I don't have the headache.

*I looked up "sanitary cot". Apparently they were metal framed beds with canvas sides that could be folded down, that could be used as a couch during the day and bed at night. One guess as to the name suggests that Victorians thought metal was easier to clean than wood and therefore sanitary.