As we open this month, Emma and Tell are still staying at Nell Malen’s house in Glidden, Iowa. It seems like they are doing some maintenance work in exchange for a place to stay while they figure out what comes next. As always, Emma has gotten involved with the local Methodist Episcopal church and its various activities.
Mon 1. I spent a bad night. Did not get much sleep till toward morning. We wrote Mont Lawn today asking them to consider us for a second place. Worked on my rug. Think I will get it out tomorrow.
Tue 2. It was pretty cold this A.M. but warmed up after dinner. I worked on my rug this forenoon. After dinner I went with Mrs. Johnson to the Woman’s club. 10 there. Came home, finished my rug. We got letters from Ruth & Gerald today.
Wed 3. Waked up this A.M. with a sick head ache. Have felt punk all day. Dad does the work & takes care of me. He is a pretty good nurse. Got a letter from Mr. Muhleman & one from Katharine. Guess we will have to break our last traveler’s check. We need to have a break. Tell went to prayer meeting. Left before seven so was gone about three hours.
Thu 4. Have felt better today. Have sewed on five pair of panties for Katharine today. It seems good to feel like working. We are down to two cents. Have not had any butter today, but we had a good supper any way—chicken & biscuits & gravy. There has not a can of chicken spoiled. Letter from Fred Hicks today. Would like to see the school carnival tonight but haven’t the dime! Ha! Ha!
It has been a long hard road so far for Emma and Tell. The good news is that things start to get a little better over the next several months.1
Fri 5. Have had a good bit of pain today but went to the W.C.T.U. at the “Manse”—Mrs. Overholtzer’s. They have a lovely big house. We got a letter from Berne today. Had to cash our last Traveler’s check today. Dad got his watch fixed—$2.50. We will pay for the coal & get a little more and it will soon be gone. I need shoes but guess I can wait. Got a card from Mt. Lawn telling us to apply later for summer work. Heard Bob & Ruth over at Leonard’s. Lots of static. We are very comfortable.
Sat 6. Spent the day sewing. Finished up four pairs of panties & sent them with the afghan and white purse which she left last summer to Katharine. We got the oil check today. I am wondering what will become of us this Spring. Dad wants to do something but I don’t know what. We had a letter from Lou & one from Alice.
In March 1931 Emma first mentions the oil check, which was their share of dividends from an oil lease in Oklahoma. These checks seem to come very regularly, and although they are not large, they are always a lifeline.
Sun 7. Suppose Gerald went home today from Keytesville. Hope everything will be OK now. We went to church & SS this AM. Dad has gone to mail a letter to K. We got one from Ruth today.
The Chariton County Jail and Sheriff’s Residence in Keytesville, MO, where Gerald would have been serving his time (I’m not sure for what, but it sounds like it was about a 30-day sentence), was built in 1906.
Mon 8. I sewed on Katharine’s panties this forenoon & Dad helped me put on a rug this PM. I have started to hook it. We thought it possible Miss Malen might be home today but guess she will not come for 3 or 4 weeks yet. It was rather cold & stormy today. School carnival was postponed the second time.
Tue 9. Dad and I washed today. Got the machine in & did it all up. I did not get to sleep until about 3 A.M. but felt pretty well nevertheless. We looked for a letter from Gerald or Miriam but it didn’t come. Worked on my rug awhile. It goes pretty slowly with such fine rags. Roosevelt wants 15 members in Supreme Court.
The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 (aka the “court-packing plan”) was proposed by President Roosevelt in the hopes of obtaining favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation the Court had ruled unconstitutional. This initiative ultimately failed. Here is a picture of the court as it was constituted from 1932-1937 under Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.
Wed 10. A letter from Katharine, one from Ruth & one from Miss Malen. Miss Malen will begin another meeting at Lorimor next Sunday. Tell has started Linnie’s candlestick. I sent for the S.S. Times today. Had five in the club. Wrote Gerald a letter today.
Thu 11. Dad & I went to Carroll with Rev. Johnson. I got some new shoes to see if they would relieve my aches and pains. They surely feel much better than my old ones. They ought to—cost $9.69 but if they save a doctor bill & a lot of pain they are worth it. Came home and ironed awhile. Think I will write Linnie tonight.
Fri 12. Finished the ironing this AM. Have worked on my rug & Dad on the candlestick for Linnie. Went to Leonard’s to hear Bob & Ruth but the static & interference made it very hard to hear. The family letter came & went today. Mrs. Golding called this evening. Told me I was to help serve at Missionary next week. I wrote Ruth & Katharine today.
Emma and Tell’s contribution to the family “round robin” letter was in the files. I have included a somewhat shortened version of it at the end of this post.
Sat 13. I am feeling much better since I got these arch-support shoes. Have worked on my rug today. It goes slowly but I think it will be quite pretty. We cannot understand why we do not hear from Gerald. Dad has been working on the candlestick. Mrs. McNaught came down to ask me to teach her S.S. class tomorrow.
Here’s a 1937 newspaper ad for arch-support shoes.
Sun 14. Dad taught Prof. Moore’s class & I taught Mrs. McNaught’s this morning. Rev. Johnson preached a good sermon on Digging Wells. A card from Miss Malen says she will be home tomorrow as her next meeting is to be postponed. Rev. & Mrs. Certs & she will be here for dinner so we are asking the Johnsons.
The theme of “digging wells” is a popular sermon topic based on Genesis 26: 18-25. Here is one take on this theme if you’d like to do some of your own digging…
Mon 15. Miss Malen got home for dinner today. Rev & Mrs. Certs brought her. We also had Rev. & Mrs. Johnson here for dinner. I got pretty tired. Daddy did all the dishes. I went to the SB meeting at Wests tonight. Very few there. It is stormy out.
Tue 16. This is a lovely day. The sun is shining. I do not feel at all well as I ache so badly. Have been helping Miss Malen with her curtains. Dad has about finished the candlestick. Wants to start a lamp for Katharine. Wish we knew what was best for us to do.
In a recent visit with my mom (Emma’s granddaughter and Robert/Ruth’s daughter), we discussed how Robert, who loved to work in walnut, had picked up this interest and skill at least in part from his father-in-law Tell. I have several cherished pieces made by each of them.
Wed 17. The big thing today was the supper meeting at the church, after which we listened to Stanley Jones over the Radio—in his farewell speech of the preaching mission before going back to India. It was very impressive. The occasion was also a pound party for the Johnsons.
In 1938, Time magazine called E. Stanley Jones “the world’s greatest Christian missionary.” His book The Christ of the Indian Road (PDF linked here), about what he had taught and learned in his years of servce as a missionary in India, sold over a million copies after its publication in 1925.
Thu 18. Mr. & Mrs. Smith spent the day with Miss Malen. They were here for dinner. We enjoyed them so much. They said she had had this same foot trouble and had gotten shoes to correct it. But it a was a month before she got relief. Dad is working on the candlestick & picture frame. I am working on a rug.
Fri 19. Today I helped with the W.F.M.S. at Mrs. Wests. There were about 23 to serve. Miss Malen helped me as I was so tired. It is terribly slippery out. We had a fine meeting but am glad my part is over. Going now to hear Bob & Ruth.
Sat 20. A real snow storm has developed this afternoon and evening. There is a bad bizzard on tho’ it is not very cold. I got a letter from Linnie & one from Katharine today. The preacher called this P.M. Brought an old sewing machine down to make into a typewriter desk. My foot & leg hurt so badly tonight.
Here’s one example of what this might have looked like.
Sun 21. We all went to church & SS this AM. Miss Malen preached. Had a chicken dinner (canned). All the chicken has been good. Rested in PM & walked to church at night. Got pretty tired.
Mon 22. Did not get to sleep till 1 AM. Guess the walk was too much for me. Have not done much today. Washed our gowns & worked on the rug. Got a letter from Katharine. The check she sent for 25.00 overdrew her acct & was protested. Too bad! Went to hear Bob & Ruth but they were on at 6 PM so we just heard the finish. I am so tired.
Tue 23. It looks as though the sky was full of dust. The wind has been blowing pretty hard today tho’ I have not been out. We were asked to sing in the Easter Cantata—first practice tonight but we decided not to go. Dad has been making a drawer for a type-writer desk for Rev. Johnson. I have been working on my rug. Wrote a letter to Katharine.
Wed 24. Did not sleep until 3 or 4 this A.M. Was pretty tired out. Got up later. Rev. Johnson was here. He took us to Carroll to see the shoe man & Dr. Morrison. Got some medicine from him. Got a card from John. Said Gerald had stopped there on his way to S. Rock after corn. Did not go out to prayer meeting tonight. Weighed 159½ today.
Thu 25. Tonight is the class party at Rev. Johnson’s. Do not know yet whether I will feel able to go or not. Have not done much today but get so tired. Miss M has gone to Dedham to take Rev. J’s Bible class for him as he has a funeral. We went to the class party. Not many there but we had a good time. Rev. J. came after us & took us home.
Fri 26. I have felt better today and did some cleaning. Washed the curtains in the doorway. Miss Malen bought a 2nd hand davenport & chair today. We got a letter from Katharine today. She bought her a new coat & dress. How I wish Dad could get a suit. His is pretty shiny. Has worn it two years. We are so anxious for a job.
Sat 27. Have felt fierce today. Spent most of the time lying down today. Sent in an answer to Crisco & Ivory Soap.
Here’s an ad for the Crisco contest. The Ivory Soap competition was similar, with 60 Pontiac cars awarded over a six-week period.
Sun 28. Did not feel like going to church today. It has been a long day. Wrote to Linnie & Ruth. Today was Donald Leonard’s birthday. He is 15 yrs old. We each had a slice of his birthday cake. We gave him a tie.
Special Feature: Family Letter from Emma and Tell
Glidden, Iowa. Lincoln's Birthday 1937. Dear Ones All, As Tell is busy at some walnut work I will answer the Robin this time. Didn't get to put my chirp in at all last time and Tell wasn't able to make much of a noise. We would like to travel along with the Robin this time and visit all the homes it enters. Here's to the health, wealth and happiness of Brother John who originated the plan and started the winged messenger on its way. The oftener it makes its journey the stronger is that invisible bond which binds us all together. Like Pollyanna Mitchell we too are glad for all the nice things that the various members of the family enjoy. We hope you are all in good health and rejoice with those who are recovering from sickness. Especially glad to know John is improving. I got a little "jingly" after coming home from Rochester some few years ago and wrote the following which expresses my feelings almost every Spring. Spring Fever [note: I have only included a couple of verses!] Although the winter winds still blow And still I see the ice and snow, 'Tis in my blood, I want to sing For well I know, 'twill soon be Spring. I want to see the furrows black Watch plowmen turn the rows all back. I long to plant the garden seeds And I'll be glad to pull out weeds. Yesterday, the snow began to melt. We went to Carroll with the preacher and drove through pools of water on the pavement. The papers says the snow will continue to go today and I say "Let it go." The other day we came home and found a dead puppy in front of our house and again my jingle muse got to working. A Child's Lament for her Dead Puppy. [note: I've only included one verse] What's the matter, little pup? Tell me why you don't get up? Yesterday, you ran around, Now, you're lying on the ground. Bear with me, dear robin readers- this is my only chance to get my poems? before the public. We were glad to hear from Fred. I'd like to see all the little cottages on Lake Hickory again and eat some of the sunfish it has stored away in its cold refrigerator. My! Weren't they good? We do not know what we are going to do. Tell still wants to go on a farm but I don't know how it can be accomplished. There are many farms to rent and more money could be made renting an eighty and getting started than in buying a small acreage. Well, I have hooked rugs all winter. I am working on my fourth and if "I do say so myself, as shouldn't" some of them are good-looking. It keeps me out of mischief. With love and best wishes to all the dear ones. Tell and Emma.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for March 1937.
On the week I was working on this post, I was walking with my friend June. Somewhere on our walk, she bent down and picked up two pennies that were on the ground (the very pennies in this image) and handed them to me. I felt Emma winking at me!