As this month opens, Emma is still figuring out how to cope with her recent diabetes diagnosis. None of the kids are planning to be home for Christmas, and she’s feeling a little lonely.
Fri 1. Tell took Gerrit’s car and drove to Eldora this morning. I sent for Alice’s machine. I do hope he brings it. Linnie & I quilted a lot today. Played dominoes in the evening. My sugar test showed sugar at 20th drop. I hate it. Brassfields want the milk tonight. Mr. Grooters came in for supper this evening.
One early home test for sugar in the urine involved boiling urine over an alcohol burner and observing color change after adding a chemical reagent. It sounds like Emma’s involved adding one drop at a time and seeing when there was a change in color.
Sat 2. A real little wind with some snow came up last night. Hope Tell has no trouble getting home. I slept cold. Did not go to bed till eleven & got up about 8. Gerrit had the fires built. Tell got home about 2:30. He did not bring the machine. I was so disappointed. Sent out my blank reports today.
Sun 3. Tell & I went to Sunday School. Gerrit & Linnie came to church. We ate dinner, rested, picked out nuts & went to bed.
Mon 4. Linnie & I quilted today. We nearly finished the quilt. Got a nice letter from Ruth but it contained sad news about Gerald. He has broken his parole. It nearly kills me to have him locked up again. Miriam is looking for a job. She has not yet written me. Wrote to Betty. It is terrible.
Oh, dear. Emma and Tell’s son Gerald had just gotten out of the Missouri penitentiary on parole after bad check charges.
Tue 5. Linnie & I washed this A.M. Bess came in & I went down to get some groceries. Gave Bess some liver. She phoned in that she wanted us to let her have ½ hog now & they would return it later. [Note at top of page: 91 lbs of meat to Williams.]
Wed 6. Gerrit & Linnie started home this A.M. We gave them some few things to take home. It is a most wonderful day for their trip. The sun is shining and it is lovely out. They want to get home today because it is Gerrit’s mother’s birthday. I went to the Aid—had the devotions. Stopped at the drawing. Did some shopping and came home. Was too tired to go to school. Cut & made the binding for Ruth’s quilt. Basted it on before going to bed. Meant to get the hog canned tomorrow but Mrs. Green wanted me to go to Ft. Dodge with her & the preacher.
Gerrit was Emma’s brother-in-law. Hismother, Cornelia Johanna Muilenberg, would have been celebrating her 89th birthday. She had been widowed a few years previously and was living with a daughter and her family in Orange City, Iowa, not far from Linnie and Gerrit.
Thu 7. Started to the Religious Education Conference about 9 A.M. It was a lovely day. We went in Dr. Emme’s class. Had a nice day. Ate a 35¢ chicken dinner—but of course did not eat the dessert. Saw Mrs. Watkins of Gilmore City. Shopped a little. Came home via Lohrville to take Rev. Buckwalterhome. Got supper. Mrs. Brassfield came down a little while. Dad beat me at dominoes before going to bed.
With Emma’s recent diabetes diagnosis, it sounds like she was being very attentive to her diet.
Fri 8. This morning I prayed for a machine. Tonight I have it. And it is an electric one. Cost 30.00. Have paid 5.00. Can pay the rest by the month. Finished the ironing this A.M. Canned the sausage and made the lard. Went to the WCTU today. This evening Bess & Thelma were here to study. Took my chicken over to Mrs. Loehner’s. Did not think they wanted the heart-liver & gizzard so cooked it. Guess they will not put mine in the dressing.
It looks like Emma got a sewing machine of her own, as she wasn’t having much luck borrowing Alice’s again.
Sat 9. After doing up my work I went to the church with my milk and apricots. Took a quart of nut meats to Brassfields. The SB wanted me to help with their booth. I worked till noon. Came home & went back & helped till 4 P.M. We did not go back for supper. It has been a lovely warm day. Saw such a beautiful sunset this evening—a green mountain of color—yellow, orange, blue, rose etc. Finished basting a binding on Ruth’s quilt.
Cedar Rapids Iowa station KDAT put together a lovely collection of Iowa sunset and sunrise images. Here’s one of them.
Sun 10. Dad & I went to SS & church this morning. It is again a lovely warm day. I have rested some and picked out nearly a quart of nut meats. Have listened to the Radio & written the family letter. Told the folks about Gerald and it comforted me and will perhaps do the others good. Drink is so deceitful.
Mon 11. It has been another beautiful day. I got up late for I could not sleep last night. I wrote some letters. Heard from Miriam today. I am so sorry for Gerald. But I am sure he will come to himself. Got a paper with an account of Mary Lohr Mitchell’s healing. Also read of Grace Reik’s death. She left twin babies. We went to see about whether Mr. Wernick would buy our eggs for hatching. I phoned Mrs. Nelson about getting some roosters to head my flock. She will know tomorrow.
Mary was the daughter of Tell’s late sister Maloa. She was about 50 years old at this time and living in Illinois with her family. I’m not sure what she was healed from, but she lived into her 90s.
Tue 12. I got up at 6 A.M. Spent a while writing a poem for Mrs. Frank Wright. Did up the work, scrubbed and worked on binding the quilt. Took out the binding which was stitched on by machine twice. Have it basted on again ready to stitch. We bought 11 roosters from Mrs. Nelson today at $1.00 each. Had to use $4.00 out of my dime bank. Just spoke to her in time for them. We went to see Wernick yesterday about buying our eggs for hatching. Mrs. Wernick invited us to the meeting at their church tonight but Dad was too sleepy to go. I feel so sorry for Gerald.
Coin banks have long been popular ways of saving money. I found quite a few examples of banks specifically for dimes. Some were mechanical, with a lock that opened once a total of $5.00 had been deposited; others just served as a repository for the coins. Here’s one from 1938. If you want to dig further, here are two collectors’ organizations: one for mechanical banks and one for still banks.
Wed 13. Finished binding Ruth’s quilt today. Am glad it is done. It looks pretty. Sent my Sunrise poem to Mrs. Wright and also to the SS Times. Dad & I took our eggs to town then we were at the drawing, & then went to Brassfields where I bought some Christmas cards and wrapping paper. Got a rubber bib for Roberta Ruth. We played dominoes in the evening. I beat Dad. Now we have both won a game.
I found this example of Christmas wrapping paper from the 1939 World’s Fair.
Thu 14. Another lovely day. I have finished Katharine’s quilt. Bound it by hand. This afternoon we have dressed six chickens ready to can tomorrow. How I love my machine! Ernest Wetter was here and put up Florence’s little stove today. Got a letter from Katharine with the check in. How I wish we might tithe our money. It is always spent before we know it.
Fri 15. We dressed three more chickens this morning. Had two canners full. It is so nice to have. I was tired but we got the quilt wrapped and mailed. In the evening we went to an oyster supper out at Martins. Mrs. Brassfield came down to study after we got home. I bought a new bottle of Haines’ Solution for 75¢. Will be glad when we can pay our doctor bill.
Sat 16. We had another mild Spring like day. It is wonderful December. I washed windows on the outside without a coat on. Did more mending on the machine. Fixed up a pair of trousers Dad bought. Got a letter from Linnie & one from Ruth today. Ruth is disappointed we can’t come. Bess got home this A.M. Called me. Then she came in to spend the evening.
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Sun 17. Dad & I went to SS & church this AM. Taught our classes. Staid at home the rest of the day. Wrote some letters & greetings. Read several articles aloud and slept awhile. As I look forward to spending Christmas alone—with Gerald where he is it looks hard. But I am glad I am not cast down, and that I have faith.
Mon 18. I got up late. Spent the morning doing up my work. Got ready to go to the Club. It was a Christmas party at Miss White’s. I received a box of chocolate candy. Dad and I played dominoes this evening. I beat him.
Perhaps not the best Christmas present for someone recently diagnosed with diabetes! Here’s a 1939 box of chocolates.
Tue 19. Found the earth all snow-covered this morning. It was quite a change from our warm weather. Kept the hens in today. Got 53 eggs. They went up a cent. Have sewed today. Made two linings for the bushel baskets so they could be used for clothes. Worked on my underskirts this P.M. Bess came in and we went to the Christmas Missionary meeting this evening. It was the gift exchange. I got two wash rags.
Wed 20. It has been much colder today. I did a little washing and churning. Did not get up very early. Made a test. Found sugar at 8th drop which was rather discouraging. Went to the Ladies’ Aid. They had a gift exchange. That is the third one in three days. Went to the drawing—20 $5 bills were given away. I got a little bag at L.A. It is now a little after seven. Dad has gone to bed. I am blue and lonely tonight. My eyes are sore. I wish I might be healed. I think we have 2.17 credit at Millers. We will have more than a case of eggs this week.
Thu 21. Just a bad cold I guess—my eye is red & my neck stiff. I feel punk. Have done very little today. Spent some time on the davenport. Sewed a little. Ironed a little etc etc. Dad has worked on the base of a lamp almost all day. I beat him playing dominoes tonight.
Tell loved working in wood, and we have several examples of his work, including candlesticks and perhaps even this lamp.
Fri 22. We fixed a branch of evergreen and a string of Christmas lights in the window. It speaks of the joy of Christmas. Water is water whether in drops or bucketfuls. So the green of the tree—the many colored lights—the shining star are all symbols of the One who came to bring Christmas to us. Life can be beautiful. One needs to find the silver linings to the clouds. Wrote a few Christmas cards. Got a package from Ruth—slippers for Dad & holders for me. Besse was in. Bought 3.00 worth of eggs so I could have cash. Gave her a credit at the store. We sold 4.05 worth today. I beat Dad at dominoes. Then he had to go to bed.
Sat 23. Today is Ruth’s birthday. How we would like to be with her. Am dreading Christmas. Am afraid we will be lonely. I wrote a number of Christmas greetings and We got them off today.
Sun 24. Dad & I went to SS and church this A.M. Had a simple dinner. They are all simple these days tho’ I baked a pie yesterday. We had such a nice warm day. It was very unusual. We went to the Christmas program Sunday evening. It was interesting. Saw Louise a minute. Irene gave me a little china dog at the church.
Mon 25. I drove down town—or Dad did after the mail but we could not get it. Went to Brassfields & waited awhile. They had just opened their gifts around the tree. Had a simple dinner. We opened a can of chicken. Margie Jean & Bud called. MJ brought me a tiny picture. After dinner I sewed & Dad worked on his chores etc. Mrs. Brassfield came down. She said they will not want any more milk she thinks. Bess came in the evening & I went to the picture show. It was so very crowded. Dad took us down. Bess drove home. I was not so tired.
Here are some movie ads from this date in 1939—wonder if Emma saw one of these?
Tue 26. We have had a little snow today. I intended to wash but didn’t as it was so cloudy. My test showed sugar at the 18th & 20th drops. Bess came in & staid awhile this afternoon. We got a letter from Katharine, Elizabeth & one from Herald of Hope containing two blest handkerchiefs—one for Gerald & one for me and a bunch of tracts. I have been marking Katharine’s quilt. Bern was here. Yesterday wasn’t so lonely.
While I was looking around to see if I could learn anything about “blest handkerchiefs,” I found this blog post (mystery object #27: bible faith prosperity handkerchief) from a quirky and entertaining site called Museum Fatigue. If you’re in the mood for a tangent that has nothing at all to do with Emma, check it out!
Wed 27. We got a letter from Miriam containing a picture of James Edward. He is a very sweet looking boy. We had quite a lot of snow today. Both Dad & I have been home all day. I finished marking Katharine’s tulip quilt & put it in the frames to finish quilting it. All the border—all around the appliqued basket & tulips & some other designs have to be put in. Linnie had a lot done on it. Dad is refinishing my sewing machine. It looks better already. I do hope he makes a table for it. I am thinking of raising turkeys next year.
James Edward was Gerald and Miriam’s fourth (living) child. He would have been about 19 months old.
Thu 28. After doing up the morning work we decided to wash. We had a big one for we had not washed for several weeks. Dad hung a few things out but we dried almost everything on the rack. It was sunny but cold. The afternoon was spent quilting. I got a letter from the “mink” woman. I am quite interested in raising minks.
Fri 29. Did a part of the ironing today. Miss Howell came down this afternoon to ask me to teach in the county school. I accepted & will be accredited in the course I am to teach. I got a card from Happy Smith about a rally at Ft. Dodge Feb. 11th.
Sat 30. Heard the last chapter of “The Sister of the Angels” by Elizabeth Goudge. It was read by Betty Wells. I got up so late. Did up the work. Finished the ironing. Mended. Then in the afternoon Mrs. Brassfield came and we studied the SS lesson. Did not get to quilt till evening after Bess came. She staid till 10 P.M.
Elizabeth Goudge was a British writer of fiction and children’s books. This book was the second in a trilogy called The Torminster Saga, and it tells “an enchanting story about Henrietta, a young girl in love with every nook and cranny of her grandfather’s cathedral…a perfect story for the holiday season…”
Sun 31. It was cold today but not too cold for Dad and me to walk to SS. Not many present. I took the two classes together. Dad went home after SS & I staid for church. Bess took us both home. We have sat around, read & slept. This is the last day of 1939. Book will soon be closed. We got 61 eggs today. Most yet! Tomorrow begins the New Year! Besse came this evening & staid until almost 12. It is now ten minutes till 1940.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for January 1940.
Exciting News!!
I’m starting a second family history project in January—Travels with K—that picks up Emma’s daughter (my great-aunt) Katharine’s story in the 1960s with letters and journals from her travels—including teaching school in Tehran and in Chang Mai. Weekly posts will start in January 2025…it’s July 1963, and she’s aboard ship with several friends and heading for Paris!
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