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Sometimes it can be tough to read a letter from Mama Margaret when you're hungry. I love mince pie!
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307 W St James St
San Jose April 5
Dear Eva,
It is rather late for a birth day letter, but time goes so fast here that I didn’t think of it in time to get a letter there for the day. So then I thought I might as well wait until I had plenty of time for writing.
The Allarios are out tonight and I have just given Margaret her nourishment from the bottle at 8:00 and she is sound asleep. She sleeps so well at night, when she wakens for her refreshment she never cries but her teetering [???] hands or her fists wakens me then I get up and call Mrs. Allario.
Then she goes to sleep again and goes through the same thing toward morning. The last two mornings it was almost six so I stayed up. I never call Mrs. A but once during the night. Margaret likes the bottle for her early morning feed. There will be no trouble getting her used to the bottle when we leave here. I really think now she prefers it to the other variety.
You ought to have seen her tonight laughing at me when I tried to sing Hush my dear still and slumber with her. My voice did sound queer even to myself. I think she just wanted to laugh but it did seem as though she were laughing at me.
Before I forget it I will answer your questions. I have always thought about telling you how much I enjoyed St. Jude but would never think at the time of writing. I think there are some very beautiful stories in it. I did not read it until after I came to Cal. I did very little reading in the train. The route was too interesting. I sat and looked out of the windows most of the time. I wanted to see everything that was to be seen.
I wonder some one of you three don’t write to me, I was disappointed not to get a letter from any one today, I suppose Will has gone by this time. Do write and tell me everything, how he enjoyed South Hadley, Mt view +c. Of course I know he would enjoy visiting you and Alma but I would like to know what he thought of the place +c.
I almost forgot to answer the other question about the preserved pine apple. It was a delusion and a snare. If it had not looked like pine apple I would have doubted it. Had no taste of pine apple at all that I could notice.
Don’t worry about my not getting a variety. I am living well, much better than at the Italian boarding house where we paid six dollars a week. I had fresh peas yesterday and today. They were fine. The vegetable pedlar comes around three times a week and I shall get some more on Monday. I have had fresh lettuce and radishes from the Bengood garden. Another lady down the street said I could have all the radishes I want from her garden, I bought a mince pie from the bakery wagon today. It is splendid, was only ten cents and I think there is that much fruit in it. It was the first I bought. We used to get pie occasionally at Mrs. Vilettis but were too tough. This pastry was good. Am sorry I did not know about it when Will was here as he likes mince pie or used to like it. Has the fruit and nuts been received yet? What are the plans for the summer? Or is it too early to decide about anything.
Two weeks tonight since Will left here. It does not seem possible and I have had only one card and one short letter.
I hope you are getting real strong again. I am afraid you went to teaching before you were able - that going up and down stairs at Miss Halls was too hard on you.
It is cold tonight and I will get my hot water bottle and go to bed to get warm. It rained hard last night but was nice all day and Margaret was out in the yard most all day.
I wish you could see the Calla lilies in front of my window. I said in one of my letters there were twelve lilies out. Now I would not want to take time to count them. They are lovely.
Wishing you many happy returns and much love to all,
Mother
San Jose April 5
Dear Eva,
It is rather late for a birth day letter, but time goes so fast here that I didn’t think of it in time to get a letter there for the day. So then I thought I might as well wait until I had plenty of time for writing.
The Allarios are out tonight and I have just given Margaret her nourishment from the bottle at 8:00 and she is sound asleep. She sleeps so well at night, when she wakens for her refreshment she never cries but her teetering [???] hands or her fists wakens me then I get up and call Mrs. Allario.
Then she goes to sleep again and goes through the same thing toward morning. The last two mornings it was almost six so I stayed up. I never call Mrs. A but once during the night. Margaret likes the bottle for her early morning feed. There will be no trouble getting her used to the bottle when we leave here. I really think now she prefers it to the other variety.
You ought to have seen her tonight laughing at me when I tried to sing Hush my dear still and slumber with her. My voice did sound queer even to myself. I think she just wanted to laugh but it did seem as though she were laughing at me.
Before I forget it I will answer your questions. I have always thought about telling you how much I enjoyed St. Jude but would never think at the time of writing. I think there are some very beautiful stories in it. I did not read it until after I came to Cal. I did very little reading in the train. The route was too interesting. I sat and looked out of the windows most of the time. I wanted to see everything that was to be seen.
I wonder some one of you three don’t write to me, I was disappointed not to get a letter from any one today, I suppose Will has gone by this time. Do write and tell me everything, how he enjoyed South Hadley, Mt view +c. Of course I know he would enjoy visiting you and Alma but I would like to know what he thought of the place +c.
I almost forgot to answer the other question about the preserved pine apple. It was a delusion and a snare. If it had not looked like pine apple I would have doubted it. Had no taste of pine apple at all that I could notice.
Don’t worry about my not getting a variety. I am living well, much better than at the Italian boarding house where we paid six dollars a week. I had fresh peas yesterday and today. They were fine. The vegetable pedlar comes around three times a week and I shall get some more on Monday. I have had fresh lettuce and radishes from the Bengood garden. Another lady down the street said I could have all the radishes I want from her garden, I bought a mince pie from the bakery wagon today. It is splendid, was only ten cents and I think there is that much fruit in it. It was the first I bought. We used to get pie occasionally at Mrs. Vilettis but were too tough. This pastry was good. Am sorry I did not know about it when Will was here as he likes mince pie or used to like it. Has the fruit and nuts been received yet? What are the plans for the summer? Or is it too early to decide about anything.
Two weeks tonight since Will left here. It does not seem possible and I have had only one card and one short letter.
I hope you are getting real strong again. I am afraid you went to teaching before you were able - that going up and down stairs at Miss Halls was too hard on you.
It is cold tonight and I will get my hot water bottle and go to bed to get warm. It rained hard last night but was nice all day and Margaret was out in the yard most all day.
I wish you could see the Calla lilies in front of my window. I said in one of my letters there were twelve lilies out. Now I would not want to take time to count them. They are lovely.
Wishing you many happy returns and much love to all,
Mother
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1.
Mama Margaret had mentioned in a letter to Will earlier in the day that she was going to write to Eva:
2.
It is rather late for a birth day letter, but time goes so fast here that I didn’t think of it in time to get a letter there for the day.
Eva turned 28 on April 3, 1913.
3.
The Allarios are out tonight
Clearly Mrs. Allario is baby Margaret's wet nurse.
4.
There will be no trouble getting her used to the bottle when we leave here. I really think now she prefers it to the other variety.
Typical Mama Margaret, saying "the other variety" rather than "breast milk".
5.
You ought to have seen her tonight laughing at me when I tried to sing Hush my dear still and slumber with her.
Hush my dear lie still and slumber seems to be a Christmas lullaby. Mama Margaret was writing in April, but never mind.
6.
I have always thought about telling you how much I enjoyed St. Jude but would never think at the time of writing. I think there are some very beautiful stories in it. I did not read it until after I came to Cal.
St. Jude is apparently a book, but there wasn't enough information for me to pin it down. This was probably around the time that Eva was converting to Christian Science and becoming anti-Catholic, but perhaps at this time of stress in her life, when her marriage was either dying or recently dead, she was looking for answers in religion and hadn't chosen Christian Science yet, although Will had recommended it.
7.
I did very little reading in the train. The route was too interesting. I sat and looked out of the windows most of the time. I wanted to see everything that was to be seen.
That's nice. Mama Margaret the traveler.
8.
I wonder some one of you three don’t write to me, I was disappointed not to get a letter from any one today, I suppose Will has gone by this time. Do write and tell me everything, how he enjoyed South Hadley, Mt view +c. Of course I know he would enjoy visiting you and Alma but I would like to know what he thought of the place +c.
So apparently Will was ordered east, and got some leave time, some of which he spent visiting South Hadley, and probably Eva was there during her school’s vacation. Mama Margaret and baby Maggie would have stayed behind until Maggie was weaned.
9,
I almost forgot to answer the other question about the preserved pine apple. It was a delusion and a snare.
It seems to me that this is not the first time I have read "a delusion and a snare" in a letter from Mama Margaret, but it may be that it's just that I haven't re-read this letter in a while. I'll keep an eye out for it.
10.
I am living well, much better than at the Italian boarding house where we paid six dollars a week.
I looked at previous letters to see if I could confirm a change of address, but couldn't find any San Jose street address in Mama Margaret's previous letters.
11.
Two weeks tonight since Will left here.
Since Mama Margaret wrote the letter on April 5, Will headed east on March 22, which would have been his second wedding anniversary, if his wife Margaret were still alive.
12.
I hope you are getting real strong again. I am afraid you went to teaching before you were able - that going up and down stairs at Miss Halls was too hard on you.
This must be a reference to Eva having erysipelas, which was mentioned in Mama Margaret's March 6 letter to her:
Mama Margaret had mentioned in a letter to Will earlier in the day that she was going to write to Eva:
2.
It is rather late for a birth day letter, but time goes so fast here that I didn’t think of it in time to get a letter there for the day.
Eva turned 28 on April 3, 1913.
3.
The Allarios are out tonight
Clearly Mrs. Allario is baby Margaret's wet nurse.
4.
There will be no trouble getting her used to the bottle when we leave here. I really think now she prefers it to the other variety.
Typical Mama Margaret, saying "the other variety" rather than "breast milk".
5.
You ought to have seen her tonight laughing at me when I tried to sing Hush my dear still and slumber with her.
Hush my dear lie still and slumber seems to be a Christmas lullaby. Mama Margaret was writing in April, but never mind.
6.
I have always thought about telling you how much I enjoyed St. Jude but would never think at the time of writing. I think there are some very beautiful stories in it. I did not read it until after I came to Cal.
St. Jude is apparently a book, but there wasn't enough information for me to pin it down. This was probably around the time that Eva was converting to Christian Science and becoming anti-Catholic, but perhaps at this time of stress in her life, when her marriage was either dying or recently dead, she was looking for answers in religion and hadn't chosen Christian Science yet, although Will had recommended it.
7.
I did very little reading in the train. The route was too interesting. I sat and looked out of the windows most of the time. I wanted to see everything that was to be seen.
That's nice. Mama Margaret the traveler.
8.
I wonder some one of you three don’t write to me, I was disappointed not to get a letter from any one today, I suppose Will has gone by this time. Do write and tell me everything, how he enjoyed South Hadley, Mt view +c. Of course I know he would enjoy visiting you and Alma but I would like to know what he thought of the place +c.
So apparently Will was ordered east, and got some leave time, some of which he spent visiting South Hadley, and probably Eva was there during her school’s vacation. Mama Margaret and baby Maggie would have stayed behind until Maggie was weaned.
9,
I almost forgot to answer the other question about the preserved pine apple. It was a delusion and a snare.
It seems to me that this is not the first time I have read "a delusion and a snare" in a letter from Mama Margaret, but it may be that it's just that I haven't re-read this letter in a while. I'll keep an eye out for it.
10.
I am living well, much better than at the Italian boarding house where we paid six dollars a week.
I looked at previous letters to see if I could confirm a change of address, but couldn't find any San Jose street address in Mama Margaret's previous letters.
11.
Two weeks tonight since Will left here.
Since Mama Margaret wrote the letter on April 5, Will headed east on March 22, which would have been his second wedding anniversary, if his wife Margaret were still alive.
12.
I hope you are getting real strong again. I am afraid you went to teaching before you were able - that going up and down stairs at Miss Halls was too hard on you.
This must be a reference to Eva having erysipelas, which was mentioned in Mama Margaret's March 6 letter to her:
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