Tag Archives: ephemera

Family matters

"News is none here."

One of the things that strikes me the most about these letters is the distance over which they were sent. This one went over the mountain from one town to the next. Today, that’s about a half-hour drive.

June 3, 1942

Dear Daddy

I am over here working. Don’t know when I’ll be at home. But I guess it will pretty soon. Tell Lenis I said to be good till I come home and I will bring him something pretty.

If Mattie decides to go to Detroit tell her to write me first so I can come and see her before she goes.
Well news is none here. If any letters comes for me be sure and save them for me until I come.

I’ll try to be there sometime next week.

So by
Polly

Family matters

"I have told you a thousand lies I guess."

3 Comments

The letters from my mom’s shoebox jump from 1918 to 1942. There was a good bit of migration from the Appalachian region to Detroit in the ’40s, and many of the remaining letters reflect that. This one has a dash of intrigue and a little romance, too. It’s one of my favorites.

Detroit, Mich
June 1, 1942

Dearest Mattie;

Will answer your letter I got Sat. It is the first chance I have had to answer it. I guess you have got the letter about Dixie Nell coming down there by now. I told her if she came back up here without you she was a goner. (Ha)

I would send this over where you stay but I don’t know where to send it. I guess you go home often though and you will get it anyway.

Dixie N is leaving here Sat., I guess you was glad to hear that. I was myself and I hope you are. I don’t know, but I just feel like sometimes that you won’t come or something like. I’m just crazy I guess. Well if nothing happens I’ll be seeing you about the 20th of this month. Boy I’ll bet you can’t get in the house under [illegible] and I gets through cooking and missing. We told Dixie we would get a blond to cook for us and boy does she blow up. You all had better hurry back or we might starve, you know we would before we get a blond, wouldn’t we? Maby we can make it if you all will hurry.

Say you are staying with Mack Tuck. Yes I know him. You live on the same street the hospital is on the lower side of the road, is that right? Maby it won’t be so hard to leave home now that you are already. They are lot of boys over there. I don’t know whether you are save over there or no? (Ha)

Mattie I love to hear you say I can trust you because I believe in you. I always have. I have told you a thousand lies I guess. You know it though. But not while I’m up here I haven’t told you a one. I had a few drinks Sat. is the first time. I’m not a sot like I usted to be Matter. I tell them I have to save my money to by baby …

[I think there must’ve been a page missing here]

… home [illegible] your myself if I had known it I could have left here Fri. night and got there the nixt night, but you can come with Dixie Nell and it will be all the same only I wish I could come with her.
Darling all I can tell you is that I’ll be waiting for you even forever, but I know you’ll be here. [illegible] that’s all there is to it. And please believe what I tell you. I quit lying long ago. I don’t lie, I guess lots of things to big sometimes, but I don’t guess when I talk to you.

Well I have to close now. Write to me everyday Mattie. I’ve just one letter in over a week. Please do.
Darling I love you and you and you

Your
[illegible, but my best guess is “Doug”]

Family matters

"It seems mity lonesome to be off from all your people."

4 Comments

It’s snowing here, and Poppy and I have colds. Which means Rockford and I probably won’t be going away for a few days for our anniversary.

Oh well. At least I’m not off from all my people.

Aug. 8, 1918

“Dear Brother”

I now take the pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know we are all well at this time. Hoping when this reaches your hands safe it will find you all well. Well Tom I have almost give up hopes of Pa ever riting to me any more. I rote to him time and a gain and have got no answer. I want to hear from him mity bad so I hope you will write and tell me how he is getting along.

Well brother you don’t know how much pleasure it would be to me to see you all. It seems mity lonesome to be off from all your people although I have friends by the score here it does not seem like kin folks. Well Tom, Dovie is married. She was married 2 weeks ago today. She married Mr. Richard Isom. He is a mity good Christian man. I am going to send you one of their pictures when I am sure you will get it. Give Elisabeth and the children my love and keep plenty for yourself.
Well Tom all the children can rite for them selves but Roy tell Rhoda Bella said she was going to send her some post cards. She said must she back them to her or you.

Well Tom I am still at work in the mill. I make $1.60 every day. I have been working there four years and the Boss has never said one cross word to me. I dont feel like I have got any Boss. It is a nice place to work. Dovie is married now Bella will have to keep house for me now. They are still here with me but are going to house keeping soon. He has got a good trade. He is a spinner in the spinning mill.

So as I guess you will get tired of reading this I will close for this time and if I get an answer to this next time I will write more.

So write soon
From your sister as every,
Mrs. John T. Smith
So good bye.