As this month opens, Emma and Tell are starting their second year on the rented farm in Lake City, with one room occupied by Florence Gray, a relative of the owners. Tell is also working as a caretaker at the church.
Fri 1. Tell has been working at the church as there is to be a picture show there. We did not go. Have been working on the dining room curtains today. There is so much to be done at the house. Florence staid here last night—or rather the night before. How I wish I might have the whole house. I can not bear the smell of the oil stove.
According to this article, kerosene stoves and heaters were still very common in the 1930s, serving as a bridge between the era of coal and wood-fueled stoves and that of electricity and gas.
Sat 2. It has been a busy-busy day. I have the curtains up in the front room. The girls helped me. Linnie has been sewing some too & Gertie has been crocheting. Mrs. Brassfield called this PM and Mrs. Williams this evening. They are very kind. We got a letter from Miriam saying Gerald has been very sick. They have moved to Trolley Heights. We also heard from Ruth & Katharine.
Trolley Heights is a subdivision in Mexico, MO. Toward the end of last month Gerald and Miriam were having financial troubles and were at risk of being thrown out of their current lodgings.
Sun 3. Dad & I went to SS. Dad taught my class. We staid for church. Linnie & Gertie came. We have had a quiet Sunday. Tell had to go to the church for a funeral this afternoon. Besse is feeling badly over losing her hearing—I feel so sorry for her. We worked the Crossword puzzle in the Advocate.
Mon 4. I did not go to the club today but made Linnie a hostess dress. Gertie went to the church to practice on the pipe organ. I set four goose eggs under a hen today. We want to get some more baby chickens soon. This has been a beautiful warm day.
A hostess dress is a cross between an evening dress and a bathrobe—elegant and comfortable for wearing when entertaining at home.
Tue 5. Got a fifth goose egg to put under the hen today. We had a bad snow storm this afternoon. Tell went to the church to work on the tables. Gertie went to practice on the pipe organ. She also made us a batch of bread & cinnamon rolls. It was real good. She brought a lot of food with her. Bess drove in today. Visited a little while. We had rolls & tea. Tell fixed the maternity house for the hogs today. They are “expecting” from the 7th to the 10th. Hope we have a lot of little pigs.
I learned that pig pregnancies are relatively short, lasting about 115 days. During this time it’s important to reduce their stress, keep them from fighting, and manage their food intake.
Wed 6. I have been working on my dress today. The storm is terrible all over the country—the worst blizzard we have had this winter. We are showing our Oregon visitors some weather. Tell wired the hog house today. Linnie read us the book on Prayer “Five laws that govern prayer” by S.D. Gordon. We got a card from Miriam that Gerald is better. They have moved to Trolley Heights, in three upstairs rooms with no water. Miriam is expecting next month.
Poor Miriam! Expecting a baby while living in three upstairs rooms with no water with her husband and three other kids!
Gordon’s 1925 book contains five addresses delivered to the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Based on a table of contents I found here, the five laws are: Need, Abiding, Confidence-Persistence, Practiced Skill, and the Use of Jesus’ Name. I found a PDF of another book he wrote, Quiet Talks on Prayer.
Thu 7. I have been getting in snow to melt for soft water this morning. Dad started it. Tell has gone to the church to work on the tables and to clean the snow off the walks. It stormed all night. Storm extended from Montana to the Atlantic seaboard. Our first little pigs came today—there were 11 of them. Tell is making some tables for the church.
The blizzard of April 1938 lasted for 3 days and caused flooding, tornadoes, and major road closures and power outages.
Fri 8. Mr. Tod staid all night. It got pretty cold for the little pigs. The second sow had 12. Several are so weak they will not get by. I have been melting snow since we are out of soft water.
Hard water contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium that can cause problems with laundry. In the early 1930s, portable water softener tanks were made available for monthly rental.
Sat 9. This has been a beautiful day. We have washed, ironed, scrubbed, made donuts, rolls and cinnamon rolls, swept, dusted, sewed & crocheted, etc. etc. Looks like we would not have anything to do next week??? Besse was here awhile this evening. We got a letter from Ruth today. She is looking for Katharine to spend her vacation with her but it seems Katharine is not planning to go. We lost several pigs today.
Sun 10. The sun & wind got the best of the snow today. It has been warm & windy. We all went to church & SS this AM & Tell & I went to the Christian church to a Union Choir service called “The Seven Last Words of Christ”—music by Dubois. It was very lovely. We had a chicken for dinner. It was good. Lost & found—my glove??? Linnie looked for a phone call from Gerrit but it came not.
This oratorio, composed in Paris in 1867, includes all seven of Christ’s sayings during the crucifixion. The original composition is in Latin, but the recordings I found all used the English text.
Mon 11. This has been a lovely day. The snow has disappeared. I am glad for the soft water we melted—a bathtub, 2 tubs, & a boiler full. We bought a few New Hampshire chicks today and also an electric brooder (second hand). We also ordered some baby chicks from the Hatchery. Tell bought 47 eggs & took them to Werneke to have hatched (Game). Tell & I went to church. Linnie did not want to go so Gertie staid at home with her. We found Gerrit had called Linnie up but did not say for her to come home. However she thinks they will go home in the morning. The radio from Chris arrived today. It is much better than the one we had.
Tue 12. We got up early and took Linnie and Gertie to Carnarvon to take the train. I hated to see them go for sometimes I feel I will not see them again. We fixed up the little brooder house—got our 5.00 electric brooder & have our 53 chickens comfortable. They are two weeks old. I do hope they do well. I will be getting some more later. Mrs. Brassfield was here to get help with her Easter morning service. We got the family letter today. It was interesting. The wind is blowing cold today.
Wed 13. It is somewhat windy. Tell is working on the tables. I am planning to go to Aid. We are going to Glidden this afterwards. I wrote the family letter for Tell. We went to Glidden—had a lovely supper at Rev. Walker’s. Saw Miss Malen. She is looking so thin. We took Florence Grey with us. Went to the church service in the evening. About 16 young people were at the altar.
Thu 14. We were invited to Rev. Johnsons for supper this evening. Miss Malen was there also. She is not looking at all well. We had a lovely time—am getting some suggestions for my SB Banquet. We took Florence with us to Glidden.
Fri 15. We decided to go to Glidden to look at a cow today. We found a nice guernsey & told Mr. Parker we would buy it—$100. We will get it as soon as John Lohr sends the money which he promised. We went to the church in Glidden to attend the services awhile. It was very beautiful—an hour for communion during which the organ played, then the four young men had a service of song & Bible reading. We stopped to get a separator at Elsons to try out. I drove out to Bess’s after we got home. Paid Ed $5.00. We went to church here this evening. Mr. Grooters was here for both dinner & supper. Bro’t me a sack of feed.
Sat 16. The check came today from John Lohr so we got our new Guernsey cow. Did the Sat work this AM. Besse came soon after dinner. Mrs. Brassfield also came and we studied the SS lesson. Then I went to help at the church—I had cooked two chickens for them this AM. We got a letter from Katharine & a card from Gerald.
Guernsey cows are used for dairy production, with milk that is rich, flavorful, golden in color, and high in fat and protein.
Sun 17. Began the day by attending a Sunrise Easter service at 5:15 AM. Home for breakfast, then listened to three different morning programs over the radio. It surely is fine to have it. Went to church, taught my SS class, & home for dinner. Have had to watch the new cow today—she got out once. Wrote the children some letters & now am writing John Lohr. Tell has gone to League. I broke my glasses (the temple).
Mon 18. Florence paid for her milk this morning. Today begins another period. It is a lovely morning. I worked out doors awhile. Built a temporary enclosure for my fifty chickens. Cleaned out the cave and put some milk down there. Went to Monday club at Mrs. Packers. Will be glad when the WFMS is over & my lesson given. Read a letter from Linnie today, also the family letter containing Luther’s last letter. Dad had my glasses fixed. Made some cheese tonight. Sent the girls letters today. Florence went away today.
Tue 19. Today the goose laid a three-yolked egg. I made a custard with it. Dad is building fence today. I have to give the lesson at WFMS tonight. Went to Mrs. Wasseners to WFMS. Gave the lesson. A nice group was there. Besse came for me. Poor girl, she can not hear much at a meeting.
Earlier this month Emma mentioned that Besse was losing her hearing. It looks like hearing aids were available at this time, but they were large and expensive.
Wed 20. We got letters from Ruth & Katharine today, also from Gertie. I took our first gallon of cream to the creamery. Also sold some cottage cheese. Sent the note to John Lohr. Mr. Summerfield is here and is raking the corn stalks. Dad is burning them. He has been building fence. Bess brought me ten turkey eggs yesterday & I set them today. I had a hen that wanted to set.
Thu 21. Have done the ironing today. Helped Dad burn the stalks. Besse came in this afternoon to have me help her with her coat. She staid for supper. Mrs. Brassfield & Joyce came down awhile & Mr. & Mrs. Grooters were also here awhile. They say Grandmother Weston’s days are numbered. They drove home tonight. Besse brought me some more eggs—12 turkey eggs to set. We only got 87¢ for a gal. of cream. Tell went to Lohrville to take a load of young people to a League convention.
Fri 22. Dad has been building the fence between the pasture & field today. It has been cold and windy. The Summerfield boy plowed here today. Was here for dinner. I set the turkey eggs under the hen who has been setting on the goose eggs. Bess & Mrs. Brassfield came down this evening and studied the SS lesson.
Sat 23. It has been very cold today. The Summerfield boy has been plowing. Was here for dinner. I sold 56¢ cream and some cheese & eggs. Will have more cheese for Monday. I went to the church to help Tell with the sweeping. Besse came in awhile this evening. Got a letter from Mrs. Swallum today. She sent me my gloves and some Heavenly Blue Morning Glory Seed.
Sun 24. It was dark and cloudy this AM but is warm and sunny this PM. Tell went to the church early. I went to SS, taught my class, and have had a nice PM. Dinner, dishes, a sleep, & a good Radio program all help to make a pleasant Sunday. Tell & I walked over the farm a bit. First asparagus is up. We went to the Christian Church this evening. They are holding Evangelistic meetings. We played a hymn by striking crockery bowls.
Mon 25. A rather heavy rain altered our plans for the day. We had intended to plant garden. Tell cut the potatoes. I ordered 150 strawberry plants. Did a little mending this PM. Rev. Johnson was here for supper. Came after Jack, who is to be married tomorrow. He is coming up again Wednesday. He made a cupboard for Jack and is painting it. He thinks he can use Bob and Ruth this summer. I wrote all the children today. Sent Margaret a quarter for her birthday. Jack just came for a board Dad gave him for the cabinet. We got a letter from John Lohr today.
Tue 26. Dad & I went to the church this AM to scrub the kitchen. Took some cream to the creamery. Got only 71¢ for it. We went to Brassfields to see if they would buy butter of us—at least till we pay them what we owe them. Bess called to ask me to go to the Mother’s Day Tea with her. We want to put the strawberry plants in tomorrow. We got a nice letter from Ruth today. She says today Dorothy Boyd has an audition at Curtis. Sent a Postcard Lastline limerick to Limerick Club—Dept A, 537 S. Dearborn St. Chicago. “Haw! Haw! laughed the horse and the gang!”
Apparently last-line limerick contests were quite popular in newspapers and in promotions for movies and products. Here’s one I found in a 1927 newspaper that contains an example, including the winning responses.
Wed 27. We had rather a hard rain again last night. Looks like we would not get our garden in today! Mrs. Vogel phoned that Grandmother Weston died this morning. Her funeral will be tomorrow at the Squires Funeral Home. Bess took me to the Mother’s Day Tea at the church. We called on Mrs. Miles. Took her organ books home. Also called on Mrs. Vogel & Mrs. Grooters. Bought a box of strawberries for 18¢. Our first! It has rained so hard we can not make garden nor set out strawberry plants. Dad is still making fence. Florence got home tonight. Began getting milk. Bess took me to see Rev. & Mrs. Johnson at Jack’s apartment to talk about the Missionary programs. He is going to make them for me.
Flora Adelaide Goodell Birdsall Weston was Robert’s twice-widowed maternal grandmother, who was living with his family in Iowa Falls.
Thu 28. This is a cold windy day. Not a nice day for a funeral. Grandma Weston is to be laid on the hillside this afternoon. We went. Dad was a pallbearer. Rev. Babbit of Des Moines & Rev. Walker had charge of the funeral. Hilma & Waters sang. Mrs. Short play on an organ. Not many mourners. Over 90 yrs-old—3 mo & 25 days. She looked sweet and calm. Mrs. (Judge) Henderson said she was with her when her first baby was born. She said “Mrs. Weston was a Christian if there ever was one.” The two songs were “Ivory Palaces” & “Some Day the Silver Cord Will Break”. She was dressed in black. I thought of Bob & Ruth as I looked & looked for them. I set a hen tonight on goose & turkey eggs.
Also known as Saved by Grace, this hymn was written in 1891 by Fanny Crosby, a prolific (and blind) lyricist and composer. It has an interesting history.
Fri 29. It has been cool today. Bess came in this morning & was here all day. She brought me some meat. I put her to bed. I went to town with eggs & cheese today. Mr. Todd was here to plow & harrow and I set out a strawberry bed. It made me tired. I asked Mr. Grooters to sell my geese for me. I set a second hen in the chicken house and one in the barn, all on turkey or goose eggs.
Sat 30. Besse worked last night and was in bed today. She wanted Mrs. Brassfield and me to come out to study the SS lesson so we went. Dad did not get home till 10 PM. The car has something wrong with it. I do not know how I’ll get to Glidden after the programs Rev. Johnson is making for me for Dist. Convention.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for May 1938.