Commencing - RJC

I don't think the picture good

Omaha, Nebr

Wednesday

Mar 21, 1946

Marie -

I received your letter and the family picture also the hot water bottle and the $5.00 money order. Thank you very much for all of them. Marie I don't think the picture good and don't have any made like them again. Have some pictures taken by another photographer and this time please have your mouth closed. Don't look at the camera and wear a dark dress. Please try and arrange to have them taken soon and then send one to my cousins if you will. Thank you. I am enclosing a card to thank you again for what you sent.

If you like the card don't you think it would be a good idea to put them in a scrap book?

The clippings that I sent that I thought looked like Robert Taylor was that Fred Knotts?

Marie I thought you could take a taxi cab and go and see where Home Ave., used to be. I have written that I would like to know that the house looks like and if the same house is there.

Mrs. Lyons dies a few weeks ago at the Imanual hospital. Last fall she sold her house to Minnie's for 2 thousand dollars cash. The house is now rented for 28 dollars a month to some people who don't have any children.

I have been trying to do some washing to-day. Also airing some bed clothes.

Marie being that I try and answer your questions why don't you answer a question I have asked 2 or 3 times before. It is this about the furniture I have here. I would wish for you to take some of the pieces and we can decide that when you some which I hope you will Marie.

I certainly wish that you could come to Omaha for a few weeks and help me with some work. You could leave the children with Mrs. Durand and I don't think it would be so hard if you only will try.

The weather is pleasant here now. You know you havea few things here. Try and inquire where you think you are doing to be sent from Chicago.

I haven't seen your father for about 2 weeks now. At that time he gave me 20 cents. Now Marie I need money again so please could you send me more. I don't like to ask you and I don't each much. But I need to eat some food and I am supposed to drink milk.

Please answer soon as possible Marie. Have you heard from Lottie or Elin recently?

I must now close and say good-night.

I am, Your Mother.

Today is mid-summer's day

Omaha, Nebr

June 21, 1946

Marie -

I received your letter yesterday and I was glad to hear from  you. I suppose by the time you were through packing you were very tired. You didn't mention in your letter what day you left Chicago. I suppose you can notice if the air is fresher there than in Chicago. Especially after the rain one can notice how clean the air seems. We have had rain here also and the roses down at Neff's are very pretty. You know how nice their yard is in the summer time. That reminds me that today is mid-summer's day which means that it is the longest day in the year. In some foreign countries they have quite a celebration on the 21st of June.

Marie I think that will be a good idea if you will come sooner than the Durands and we can visit and talk things over. Then you can take the train and let me know in plenty of time so I can meet you. There was an article in the paper about Frank and I will let you see it when you come as I saved it.

Have you heard from your sisters lately?

I hope you have your pictures along with you.

I suppose this is the first time you have met Frank's aunt. Is there a lake close by?

I hope Marie you will come now by train ahead of the others and please Marie come as soon as possible and I hope you are rested by the time this letter reaches you. Marie I was thinking that it would be better to take a train that arrives in Omaha in the afternoon. So I think that when you receive this letter plan ahead what day you are going to leave and then write and let me know what time the train will be in Omaha. I would rather you come on the train that arrives in the afternoon and if not in the afternoon why in the evening will be all right too. So here is hoping you have the best of arrangements about your trip.

I must close now and walk down to the corner and mail this.

So good-by until I see you in person.

As ever, I am,

Your Mother.

P.S. Your father received a shirt from Betty for father's day, also card.

So I can't iron this letter before I send it.

Omaha, Nebr.
Feb. 10, 1944

Marie -

I have written 1 letter and sent a card Tuesday but haven't heard from you lately. Why don't you answer my letter? I remember your birthday is Saturday so I thought I would write a few lines and wish you a happy birthday. When you were born it was cold and snow like we are having in Omaha at the present time. It began snowing last night and has been snowing all day it seems. I haven't been out doors at all today. This snow reminds me of a poem which goes like this - The snow had begun in the glooming, And busily all the day, Had been heaping over ledge and highway.

That is all I remember at present.

I wish you would send me that poem type-written. I thought of it after I had written the few lines about snow.

Have you had any snow in Chicago?

I am glad your father brought me some coal yesterday.

Last Friday Feb. 4th I went to the Creighton dispensary and then the following Tuesday had an X-Ray taken of my chest. Before I had the X-Ray taken I went to the T.B. association and received a letter. I don't remember if you have been there or not. I know Betty has. So now I have been through that. After I had been to dispensary I went to see the lady who has charge of family welfare. She has given me some assistance. I told her what your address was. I hope you didn't mind. Have you heard from her? Well I sincerely hope you can arrange to come to Omaha for good reasons. Just think it is now over 2 years since I began living alone. Do you remember? I am glad I have been able to have the elective light during this time. But right now my iron cord don't work. So I can't iron this letter before I send it. I'll put the letter on the table light and hope it destroys all germs.

Oh by the way have you called at my cousin's address. Please answer about this as I asked you in letters I have written before.

And please answer about those pictures you had taken out at Yakima Washington last September. I haven't received any of those pictures taken. And please have a stamp picture taken and send it to me this time. Marie you must have neglected to send your father any birthday gift.

Tuesday evening we went out to the Admiral and saw "Ida Lupino and Dennis Morgan in 'The Hard Way". It was really quite good and your father thought so too.

I read some time ago where Ida Lupino lives her roles. And that she has insomnia. Also has a great dane (dog). She seems so serious and oh she can certainly dish it out. In this picture also was an actress who could have been about my age. I heard somebody else say that they had notived how along all the late pictures there is some-one in the picture of an older generation. Oh yes that is perhaps to show the younger people how they may look at about middle age. No-body stays the same do they? But I heard one time that men don't. Well at any rate it goes on and on from one generation to another. Did you ever read or hear how France and Germany have had wards for the last 5 hundred years? Your cousin Joseph is out at Fort Ord, California. I gave Betty the address so she could write him a letter if she wishes to do so.

Oh there is so much snow in front of my back door I can't open it.

Oh your father told me the last time I saw him that Corrine H. was in the hospital. Had a baby boy but it didn't live. That was a case where it didn't take much brains to get married. The man she married had been married before and had one child.

This is from a story I read Quote "It is astonishing how little training or brains a girl needs to get married." Unquote.

Please answer me about the apron.

Did you ever stop to think you have to be reasonable what I mean is when you begin thinking things out?

You really should write your father after each time that you receive the money.

Have you asnwered Elin's letter?

I can hear the wind blowing to-night.

I must close and do I need to remind you to write?

As ever,
I am,
Your Mother.

P.S. Could you please send my mother some doughnuts? Thank you.

Friday Evening.

Marie -

I didn't send this letter yesterday so I will add a few more lines. I thought perhaps I would hear from you to-day.

I thought of a few lines of a poem and it seems quite the way I feel.

Lead kindly light amid th enclustering gloom,
Lead Thou me on,
I do not ask to see the distant scene,

The night is dark and I am far from home.
One step enough for me
Lead Thou me on.

Please correct mistakes.


And now wishing you many happy returns of the day.

Do you still have that pretty birthday card I have you back in 1940? It was pretty enough to frame.

Elin Wanted to Go and See Santa Claus

Omaha, Nebr.

Dec. 11, 1945

Marie -

I haven't received any letter from you since I wrote to you. I hope you received my letter in which I thanked you for the $2.00.

I sent a Christmas card to my cousin Anna in Chicago. I also wrote a letter and said that you were leaving Chicago after graduation. And that I hope that you can her could arrange for a visit some time.

Marie you did not answer me about whether or not you went to see if you could find 100 Home Avenue. I would so much like to have you let me know.

How do you like the clippings I am sending about Santa Claus? I remember at one time Elin came down from Oakland. And Elin wanted to go and see Santa Claus. And you went and talked to Santa Claus while Elin and I looked on. Do you remember the time? And so as you read about Santa that I am sending you it will no doubt remind you of a time when you were a child.

Please answer and let me know if you received my letter.

Mother.

"Do you mind meeeting so many strange people?"

Oakland, Nebr.

June 10, 1945

Marie -

I received your letter and I was glad to hear from you. I also received the sweater. It fits me and I like it very much. Thank you many times for it. I think it is quite similiar to Betty's sweater that is I mean her black one. Don't you think Betty's sweather was beautiful as you remember it?

Wel how are you feeling now after moving? Did you move very far from Chicago? Do you mind meeeting so many strange people?

I haven't written to my cousins yet.

Did you see your friend Katherine before you left Chicago? What is she doing this summer? It is now about a year ago since she and Betty came to Chicago isn't it? Are you going to send Betty any reminder the last part of this month?

I am still here and now the lillies are in bloom. I am waiting to have the furniture sold. This house was sold on May 22nd to a real estate man.

The white cat is still here

I still go over to see Mrs. Anderson. But to-day she wasn't at home so I came back to write this letter to you.

Marie if you can spare any money will you please send me what you can? Thank you.

If you wish to send you father any present for father's day I could suggest a book for kodak pictures. Did you send Martin any-thing for his birthday? I sent him a gift box and I wish he would try and write a few lines to me.

I am going to write a few lines to Bancroft also. I am sending a birthday card to my brother Joe. It is his birthday June 14th and he will be 51 years old.

Do you ever hear from Charlie Clark?

You may send the page to Betty as it is about Camp Brewster.

I must now say good-by.

Please write soon.

I am,

As ever,

Your Mother.

"The sewing machine didn’t seem to work"

Omaha, Nebr.
Nov. 16, 1945.

Marie –

I received your letter dated Nov. 5th and I was glad to hear from you. Thank you very much Marie for the $2.00 enclosed. I received a bill for personal taxes which was $3.35. I would like to pay this bill very much. Marie, do you think that you could send me 1 dollar and 35 cents in the next letter? Thanking you in advace.

Yes it will be all right to leave the sewing machine in Omaha until you want it sent where you intend to live. Did you borrow or rent a machine in Chicago that you have been using?

What color is the outfit that you have been making for Ruthie which you mentioned in your letter?

Marie you wrote that you expect to be in Nebraska after graduation. Will you leave Chicago immediately after? Marie, I have been thinking that in that case you could use most of the best furniture that is here and the curtains that is here. And the curtains which I believe Betty picked out and you both sewed on. So why not plan this way as I have written above? Please answer it in your next letter. I surely hope that you can move some-where a little ways from Omaha. Then you could come and help me with getting things ready like we worked on the sewing machine. Isn’t this a good idea? I hope you agree with me Marie.

Will you please write and ask Lottie and Elin to write to me. Ask Lottie when you write to send you any baby clothes her baby may have outgrown. Do you know how Martin is getting along? Please answer.

Jorgensen’s have a for sale sign on this house facing the school. Please let me know how you like the clippings I am sending.

From Mother.

P.S. The sewing machine didn’t seem to work. The land lady fixed it so your father said. Bought a new needle for it as there was the wrong kind in the machine.

If you should find Marilyn’s letter will you please sent it to me.

I think it would be nice of you if you would write Betty and Morgan to visit Chicago when graduation time comes. Just thought I would remind you so that you could let them know in plenty of time. Write real soon.

"In exchange I let him have some of the best furniture."

Omaha, Nebr.
Nov. 8, 1943

Marie –

I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. Well it is like Christmas weather here now with the snow on the ground and wind blowing. Saturday it started to rain and yesterday it snowed and to-day it is cold weather. Are you having the same kind of weather in Chicago? But then as I used to say there is no bad weather only so many kinds of good weather.

I received the catalogue from Sears, Roebuck and thank you so much. Yes I have looked through it, but not thoroughly. But there isn’t any use asking you to purchase anything for me if you tell me before hand that you don’t know if you will have the money. So it brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. You perhaps don’t have the time to be interested to know what I need. Oh well what does it matter. Perhaps it will soon be too late. And then a lump in my throat at the thought of so many things.

I was to a moving picture yesterday to see Judy Garland in “Presenting Lily Mars.” I think this actress very good. In the picture an older woman must be about my age and Judy Garland sing together “Every little movement has a meaning all it’s own.” I remember when this song came out and was popular at the time. In the picture the older woman says something about remembering when she was young like Judy and wanted to become an actress almost half a century ago.

I am glad that you read my letter over when writing to me. I am pleased to hear that you have written my cousins. I hope that it will be a successful meeting. Please let me know how it turns out. Don’t forget to write me your impressions of the surroundings and your ideas. I am just curious to know. (Pardon me.)

I surely hope you can be back in Omaha for Christmas. I think you have spent every Christmas in Omaha during your entire life haven’t you?

Yes I have new shoes and also over-shoes for which I am very thankful. Your father bought and paid for them. In exchange I let him have some of the best furniture. The big bed with spring and mattress. That stand that I thought so much of mahogany color. And the dresser with 5 drawers and a few other little things. I hope you can come for a visit so you can see for your-self how really nice he has painted them. I’ll then tell you more about any questions you wish to ask.

I haven’t heard from Lottie since I wrote her the last letter. I hope she writes soon. Also to send a picture of the group that was taken at Yakima. I wish you would write Lottie and remind her that it is her duty to write me and let me know how Martin is. I hope this explains what I mean.

Please write soon. I was out to see Betty a week ago yesterday. She was cheerful, I am glad to say. Has she sent the baby quilt cover to you yet?

Good-by for this time.

As ever,
Your Mother.

P.S. I have gone over this letter with a hot iron.