Sun 1. We went to church & SS today, and then were invited out to Brassfields for dinner. We had a fine chicken dinner. Wrote the children when I got home. Owen brought Tricksye home this afternoon. It look like rain again. Owen was here for supper.
Mon 2. I picked strawberries awhile till the rain stopped me. We have picked about 6½ qts so far. It has been so dry the berries are small. If this rain had come earlier we would have had “oodles.” The Monday Club entertained the Shakespeare Club at the Club house today with a fried chicken dinner. We had a nice time. Had a nice visit with Mrs. Prey. She reads Dr. Clark’s books. Came home, sewed, got supper, did the dishes & worked on walnuts. I have about 5 lbs picked out. Congress has turned everything over into Roosevelt’s hands. He can take anything he needs for the defense program. Looks like the whole works is involved.
Here’s a newspaper headline from this date in 1941 that describes the implications of Roosevelt having declared a “national emergency” in late May.
Tue 3. I picked 7 qts of berries this AM. Makes 13½ altogether. Made 8 pints of jam & had some for dinner & supper. We looked for Linnie & Gerrit today but they did not come. Lightning went visiting today. The chickens are growing nicely but I am anxious to get them on the market. Bess came in this evening. Asked me to go to see Henry Aldrich (picture show). We did not get home till eleven. We did not get any mail today. Every seat was taken at the show except the front row. We had to parade clear down in front. I felt conspicuous.
The Aldrich Family was a popular radio show that ran from 1939 to 1953. A series of films featuring awkward teen Henry Aldrich were based on the show, including Life with Henry, released in January, 1941.
Wed 4. After doing up the morning’s work I picked about 5 qts of berries. That makes 18½. I have the bed divided—pick half of it each day. Guess there will not be so many. Canned 1½ qts today. Finished my two aprons today. Rather looked for Linnie but she did not come. Phoned Glidden about buying asparagus. Ordered 20 lbs @ 4¢. Should can 10 qts. I have been reading “Why Do Men Suffer” by Leslie D. Weatherhead.
Why Do Men Suffer? is a treatise on human suffering published in 1936 by a prominent British Methodist minister and theologian. You can read it online here.
Thu 5. I picked 8 qts of berries this AM. That makes 26½ . Canned 5 pts cold packed without sugar. Guess Linnie is not coming down. Dad helped me stem the berries. Am trying to get Dad to “dress up.” He wears one pair of pants till it is stiff. I’d like to have him look niftier but he delights in looking “tuff.” Mrs. Brassfield came to study this afternoon. Their hands are full. She had a letter from Irene. She had a trip into NY with a boat ride on the Hudson. Did not get our alfalfa hay today as we planned.
The Brassfields’ teenage daughter Irene was living in Media with Ruth and Bob as a household helper.
Fri 6. I’ll add 10 qts to my picking today, making 36½ I have picked. I made 10 pints of jam with Certo. Have a qt ready for Bess. Today was Rooster Day in Lake City. While I picked strawberries I heard a crash. It was a store house for corn which the wind blew over. Learned a man was killed when it happened. I was surprised to get three pair of hose from Katharine. I just asked her to send old ones. Joyce ate dinner with us today. We had new peas & potatoes.
Sat 7. It has been so cold today that I wore a coat & wool cap to pick strawberries and was none too warm. Picked about 8 qts or 8½ which makes 45. I made jam today. We washed & cleaned the house. Bess was here this PM. I gave her a couple quarts of strawberries, some pickles and radishes. She bought .35 worth of nuts. She helped me sack four pounds which I sent home with Mr. Grooters for Mrs. G to sell. Mr. was here for supper. We drove out to Brassfields to have him help with hay Monday PM.
Sun 8. It has been so cold today that we have had a fire. We went to SS. I had a good big class. Staid for church—Children’s Day program. Collection $10.42. Have read, rested & written today. We had chicken & strawberries for dinner. Wrote Katharine, Ruth, Gerald, & John & Alice.
Mon 9. I picked about 8 qts of berries. Makes the total 53. There will not be so many more. Dad went to Glidden after the asparagus I ordered. 20 lbs. It was 6¢ per lb instead of 4¢ as they did not have enough seconds. It has made 14 qts. I cooked it first—added lemon juice. We also bought a dozen canned. Got Bess $1.00 worth. I went to the Monday Club picnic with Mrs. Snyder. Had a nice time. Mrs. Mighel had the lesson. Long! Came home with Mrs. Gartrell. Dad has the asparagus washed. I got it on at 15 till 8, so I am staying up to watch it. Have canned 4½ pints of strawberries. It has been cold and rainy today.
Tue 10. The big event of the day was our driving to Rockwell City and getting our drivers’ licenses. Cost us 50¢ each. Will last two years. We weighed a rooster today that had reached 4¾ lbs. Wish they all weighed that much. Had our third dish of peas today. “The Great Dictator” is on and I’d like to see it. I did not get the ironing finished. Had a stomach upset. Lost all my supper. Suffered several hours with gas pain.
The Great Dictatorwas Charlie Chaplin’s biggest box-office hit, a dark political satire comedy film. Chaplin wrote, directed, and produced it, starring as both a Jewish barber and a fascist dictator. Here’s the closing speech from the movie, which is three and a half minutes that’s well worth listening to.
Wed 11. Ate breakfast. Felt fairly well. Picked 3 qts of berries, got dinner, ate it & had another “throw-up.” Have been in bed all afternoon. Dad got me some medicine from McCrary. I am in a quandary about my insulin—to take or not to take when my food all comes up. Had no sugar in my urine test today. Have picked about 56 qts of strawberries. Mrs. Brassfield offered me some cherries today. Perhaps Dad can pick them tomorrow. Ate a piece of bread & drank a cup of milk. 4 A units & 1 B Unit. Fixed some orange juice with sugar 6 A units but it makes gas pains right away. Rev. Robinson called for the Children’s Day money this PM. 10:30—just called the Doctor. He told me to take sugar via rectum if my food came up—which it did & which I did.
In the 1940s, diabetic diets started transitioning from very low-carb to an emphasis on balancing carbohydrate intake with insulin dosage. Food units were one mechanism for tracking carbohydrate intake. I’m guessing that the “sugar via rectum” was a way of getting sugar into her system to balance the insulin dose after she got sick and lost the food she had eaten.
Thu 12. Puttered around this forenoon. Got up and ironed after dinner. Mrs. Brassfield was in. Brought me some chicken. It tasted good and I ate it with some bread & butter but it along with my supper of tea & toast came up about 10 PM. I then went to sleep & had a good rest. Dad picked enough cherries to make 3½ qts. They were pretty wormy. Yesterday and today have been rather hard ones. Took just half as much insulin as usual, as the doctor suggested. Took some sugar & water as a rectal injection to balance insulin.
Fri 13. Another rainy morning! Tell is as blue as indigo. I took only half my insulin. Ate a little oatmeal & ½ slice of toast. Feel a bit squeamish. Have felt better today. It is now bedtime and I have not thrown up my supper. I will take my full amount of insulin in the morning and see if I can get by alright. Will use orange juice if I need to. No mail today but some papers. It has rained almost all day. The chickens are a sight. Their white feathers are dirty. Most of them wear mud bibs these days.
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Sat 14. Rain, and more rain. The chickens look so bedraggled and the mud is fierce. The porches need scrubbing. I am feeling much better. Took my regular dose of insulin and food accordingly. Dad is having trouble with his back. Can scarcely straighten up. I have been hemming a tablecloth and napkins for Bess. She was in awhile this evening. I have them all done but three napkins. We got a nice letter from Katharine. She is going with Ruth Brice to summer school in Vermont.
Sun 15. It is sunny this morning but as Dad isn’t feeling well I am staying at home with him. I hate to miss but am not too peppy myself. Radio says all Jews in Franceare to be deprived of any work that brings them in touch with other people. Mrs. Brassfield was here awhile this afternoon. I walked to the Christian church this evening & walked home alone. Dad’s back hurt him so he went to bed. Today is Father’s day. We were surprised to have Gerald call up from Minneapolis to talk to Dad.
The Vichy government in France enacted a series of laws that defined who was considered a member of the “Jewish race” and established prohibitions on the professional and cultural activities they could participate in. Laws such as these were already in place in Germany and German-occupied countries.
Mon 16. It has been a lovely cool day. It seems so good to have the rain stop. Charlie Dunlap came to cultivate today. He was here for dinner. I planned to can a hen but had part of it for dinner and part is saved for tomorrow. We got a load of alfalfa hay from Pittman. We looked up prices on chickens—can get 17¢ for those over 4 lbs. We caught about 85 or 90 to fatten up a bit. I went out to Brassfield’s awhile this PM. Got some mulberries & Mrs. B came in & helped me can them. Mrs. Mighel called to ask me to be her guest at Wed. at Pres. Ladies’ Aid.
Tue 17. Dad spent a bad night. He screamed with pain when he got out of bed. We had Dr. Gatrell come down to give him a treatment. I milked one cow & he milked one. I think his trouble is from carrying too much feed. I have carried feed & water today, separated, & have been nurse maid. We got Mr. Brassfield to do the milking at night. Bess was in awhile. She took me up town to get the leather belt fixed. Dr. G strapped him up.
Wed 18. Dad felt pretty bad in bed but after an enema, rubbing with “Heat” and all he feels much better. Drove down town after some groceries and feed. I had given up going to the luncheon but since he is so much better I will go I think. Went to the luncheon as a guest of Mrs. Mighel. Had a nice time. Dad was able to milk tonight. We got a nice letter from Ruth today. She wants me to come east early. Finished hemming Bess’s tablecloth & 12 napkins this PM.
Infrared heat lamps with light massage was a recommended treatment for back pain at this time, in conjunction with a back brace (the “leather belt” mentioned in the previous day’s entry). It sounds like enemas, which have fluctuated in popularity throughout history, were used relatively frequently as a general health treatment at this time.
Thu 19. Dad felt so badly that we got Elvis B to come in to milk. I have been carrying feed & water, getting the cows in, chasing Green’s pony and have just had breakfast. It sure takes the pep. I will be so glad when Dad gets well. I am not equal to the extra work. Dad has felt better today. We have been catching chickens to sell. Wernick offered us 17¢ for 3 lbs & up. We must have 300 caught.
Fri 20. I got up early to catch the roosters that were still in the chicken house. Caught 50. The truck got here about 7 AM. We sold 316 for 207.57. Chickens cost us $112. The chicken feed up to date has cost us 254.86 but we have all the pullets. We paid some of the feed bills. The buyer was from Marshalltown and said this was as nice stuff as he ever saw. Dad is better this PM. I am pretty tired. Got a card from Alice today.
Sat 21. This has been a hard day. I went to Brassfields for mulberries. Bottled 24 bottles—about 12 qt with lemon juice in it. Mrs. Brassfield has decided to go to camp Monday. Got a letter from Katharine saying Ruth Brice is sick and can’t go to school. She may come home. I hope so. Bess was in this evening to borrow some dishes, silverware and a table. She will have another bunch of company tomorrow. My biggest thrill today was rescuing a little turkey. It ran away from its mommy. It hid in the grape vine and when I went to catch it, it ran under the closet. Dad tried to grab it & it was next located in the vault. I tried to hook it up but couldn’t. Dad said it was a goner. I got a long pasteboard box and put some feed in it. It was open at the end. I let it down & tried to chase it in there but couldn't find it. I got a light & supposed it was dead, as it was not to be seen. Decided to pull the box up & was happily surprised to find it sitting in the box. I washed its feet and restored it to its mother.
Emma and Tell had an outhouse—it sounds like the little turkey ended up in the space underneath it! Glad the story ended well.
Sun 22. I got up rather early, took my insulin & ate breakfast then went back to bed & staid till nearly 11. Got dinner—a chicken & potatoes & gravy. Did up the work. Rested again. Margaret Ann Smith was here. Haven’t found a car to go to camp yet. Mrs. Reid also was here awhile. We went to the Union service at Baptist church. Rev. Weakland preached, Hilma was there. We took her home & went in to see Louise & the rest for a few minutes. I wrote each of the children this PM.
Mon 23. Lightning—second visit. Elvis took her. Pullets 15 weeks old. This has been a perfect day. I did a big washing. Took a sleep, then folded clothes. Sold 114 pullets today @ 20¢ per pound—420 lbs—check $84.00. Sent Florence 45.00 today.
Tue 24. The pullets were delivered this morning. We were glad to get the money for them. We paid Mr. Grooters all we owed him and bought 5 more sacks for the new chickens. We went up town awhile. I paid $1.00 for my permanent. Bess & Mr. G were both here for supper. Bess took me to the Missionary meeting at Mrs. Damons. She asked me to be her guest at her club on Friday. Florence called up today. She wants our lawn furniture.
Wed 25. This has been a warm day. After I had my work done up I went out to help Elvis wash bottles & cans. I got dinner & we picked raspberries. I canned 5½ qts & made a raspberry pie. We got word from Katharine that she is still planning to go to school. Also got word that Irene plans to wait till in August to come home. We cleaned up the garden today.
Thu 26. We had a nice rain today. It stopped the cultivating this PM. Charlie Dunlap had started on it the third time. Dad had a man cutting weeds today. I picked peas & beans. Canned 3 pints peas, 3 pints onions, 1 pint beets, 2 pints & 2 qts of green beans. Picked out some walnut meats. Dad is better. He cleaned out the chicken house. We plan to get our next batch of chickens tomorrow. No mail today. Mr. Brassfield took a load of SS folks from the Christian church to Sac C. for a picnic. He phoned Mrs. B. to meet him there. Brassfields plan to go Soo City on Sat to his brother’s funeral. He died in Cal.
Fri 27. We sold 27 roosters today for $16.66—17¢ per lb. Tonight we caught 93 pullets making 302 in the barn. Do not know just how many we will keep. This afternoon I went as Bess’ guest to Mrs. Doty’s, in the country to her club. Afterwards I went home with Bess & Dad came out for supper. Came home & spent an hour catching chickens. We will get our other chickens tomorrow.
Sat 28. Mr. Dunlap was here to cultivate today. Has a least another day. I went out to Brassfields—picked enough raspberries to can 2 qts, enough cherries to can 1½ pints. Canned 3 qts of juice for Mrs. Brassfield. They went to Soo City to Mr. B’s brother’s funeral. We got a telegram from Irene saying she would be in Carrol tomorrow. Got a letter from Ruth today. We got 563 chickens from Wernick tonight (after sundown). They were hatched June 16. Two weeks old on Monday. Sold $14.85 worth of roosters today. Plan to sell the old hens on Monday. Dad sprayed the chicken house today. Got it in good shape.
Sun 29. This has been a very hot day. Dad & I went to SS then we drove to Carrol to meet a 12:35 PM bus expecting Irene but she did not come. We were pretty anxious but a telegram came this PM saying her bus had broken down and she would be here at 3:17 tomorrow. Dad will take his car and go again. I wrote the girls today. Think Katharine will go to Bread Loaf tomorrow, to summer school. Bess was here when I got home from church tonight.
Mon 30. We got up early & met the 3:17 AM bus at Carrol but Irene did not come. We will go back to meet the 12:50 one. Sold 12 hens for $10.39. We went to Carrol again to meet the bus and this time Irene came. She had let the bus she should have come on get away. She had quite an experience on way home. One bus broke down and all but 5 got drunk. While waiting in Chicago went to a movie & a man wanted to hold her hand. It was pretty dangerous. I bought Daddy some shirts, socks & pants today in Carrol.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for July 1941.
