~AUDIO~---images---comment---transcript---notes---links---site navigation
Sorry, I haven't yet recorded the document.
audio---images---~COMMENT~---transcript---notes---links---site navigation
There are lots of nice little tidbits of information in this letter. And it's fun to learn that Kathleen was the sort of person who just couldn't stay inside when the weather was nice.
audio---images---comment---~TRANSCRIPT~---notes---links---site navigation
334, Eighth St. N.E.
Atlanta, Ga.
Jan. 6 1926
My dear Alma,
There is time for one letter before the children come in from school. I have hoped to start writing letters ever since we came back from Savannah last Sunday.
We had a very good time in Savannah and now we are all prepared to work hard again. The children all went back to school on Monday morning and have settled down to the "daily round" very well. I think they have done it better than I have myself. We are having delightful, springlike weather and I go outdoors as much as possible + leave some of the things which ought to be done.
Thank you very much indeed for your beautiful Christmas box. We were all more than delighted with our gifts. The bag which you sent to me is exquisite and I am so glad to have, especially as I needed a little bag, however I never aspired to one quite as beautiful.
The coral necklaces are lovely. Kathleen's arrived this week. She wore it to a party yesterday and was very pleased to do so. She was wearing a white dress so I bought some ribbons for it that toned with the coral and she looked very nice. "Winnie the Pooh" made quite a hit with the children. Margaret read it aloud to them and they giggled and laughed tremendously. When Billy reads it to himself he just doubles up in his chair.
Roger is delighted to have some silver like the other children. It is an especially pretty pattern. Billy's knive was the subject of admiring remarks from Daddy and Grandfather. Will's handkerchiefs are really too good to use! We are all interested in knowing where you had the initials embroidered. The work is wonderful and the material unusually fine. He was getting low in handkerchiefs so he was especially appreciative, but I shall have to guard these very carefully.
The children all liked their books. The packages of papers I put in their stockings which they were allowed to have before getting dressed.
Ruth + I went out on the Thursday before Christmas + after a good deal of hunting Ruth found a real Christmas tree which had come from Maine. They use pine + other trees so much down in the South but the Northern trees are so much nicer. We took it home + decided to put it up + let the children help decorate it. Billy + I took on Will's job - putting on the lights. We felt quite proud when finally had it fixed so that they would go on. Then we decorated it + it was nice to have it there before Christmas. Will arrived the next day + was quite pleased to see it done. On Christmas Eve we put the packages underneath + opened them as usual after breakfast. It was such a warm day that we really did not need fires. The weather was good all the time we were there but most of the days were like spring. Narcissus was blooming outside. Your snowy Christmas sounds fine. I really hope we shall live in the North again while the children are young so that they can enjoy the snows of winter.
Billy is going on slowly with his violin. I hoping he is getting a good position. He does not have very much time for practising. The towels he embroidered when it was hot last summer. Margaret started on some work too for you but did not finish it. I hope she will do so some day.
Margaret did up all your Christmas packages. The seals came from the 10¢ store for the modest price of 65 pieces for five cents. When Margaret does up packages I know from experiences that she believes in using plenty of seals, so I must confess that when I bought them I was looking out for quantity rather than quality!
Ruth took us out one afternoon to one of the bluffs + we made a fire and roasted wieners + marshmallows. Margaret + Billy had both been to such affairs before, but it was my first experience. We enjoyed it very much.
I am glad you had a good vacation. I hope we shall have Christmas together again when we move nearer.
Our stocking friend came around last night. Owing to the Christmas rush my order has not yet arrived. Mr. Graham has just changed his company + expects to make about $15,000.00 a year at this work. It looks as if we all spent plenty of money on stockings! Love from us all + very many thanks -
Kathleen
Atlanta, Ga.
Jan. 6 1926
My dear Alma,
There is time for one letter before the children come in from school. I have hoped to start writing letters ever since we came back from Savannah last Sunday.
We had a very good time in Savannah and now we are all prepared to work hard again. The children all went back to school on Monday morning and have settled down to the "daily round" very well. I think they have done it better than I have myself. We are having delightful, springlike weather and I go outdoors as much as possible + leave some of the things which ought to be done.
Thank you very much indeed for your beautiful Christmas box. We were all more than delighted with our gifts. The bag which you sent to me is exquisite and I am so glad to have, especially as I needed a little bag, however I never aspired to one quite as beautiful.
The coral necklaces are lovely. Kathleen's arrived this week. She wore it to a party yesterday and was very pleased to do so. She was wearing a white dress so I bought some ribbons for it that toned with the coral and she looked very nice. "Winnie the Pooh" made quite a hit with the children. Margaret read it aloud to them and they giggled and laughed tremendously. When Billy reads it to himself he just doubles up in his chair.
Roger is delighted to have some silver like the other children. It is an especially pretty pattern. Billy's knive was the subject of admiring remarks from Daddy and Grandfather. Will's handkerchiefs are really too good to use! We are all interested in knowing where you had the initials embroidered. The work is wonderful and the material unusually fine. He was getting low in handkerchiefs so he was especially appreciative, but I shall have to guard these very carefully.
The children all liked their books. The packages of papers I put in their stockings which they were allowed to have before getting dressed.
Ruth + I went out on the Thursday before Christmas + after a good deal of hunting Ruth found a real Christmas tree which had come from Maine. They use pine + other trees so much down in the South but the Northern trees are so much nicer. We took it home + decided to put it up + let the children help decorate it. Billy + I took on Will's job - putting on the lights. We felt quite proud when finally had it fixed so that they would go on. Then we decorated it + it was nice to have it there before Christmas. Will arrived the next day + was quite pleased to see it done. On Christmas Eve we put the packages underneath + opened them as usual after breakfast. It was such a warm day that we really did not need fires. The weather was good all the time we were there but most of the days were like spring. Narcissus was blooming outside. Your snowy Christmas sounds fine. I really hope we shall live in the North again while the children are young so that they can enjoy the snows of winter.
Billy is going on slowly with his violin. I hoping he is getting a good position. He does not have very much time for practising. The towels he embroidered when it was hot last summer. Margaret started on some work too for you but did not finish it. I hope she will do so some day.
Margaret did up all your Christmas packages. The seals came from the 10¢ store for the modest price of 65 pieces for five cents. When Margaret does up packages I know from experiences that she believes in using plenty of seals, so I must confess that when I bought them I was looking out for quantity rather than quality!
Ruth took us out one afternoon to one of the bluffs + we made a fire and roasted wieners + marshmallows. Margaret + Billy had both been to such affairs before, but it was my first experience. We enjoyed it very much.
I am glad you had a good vacation. I hope we shall have Christmas together again when we move nearer.
Our stocking friend came around last night. Owing to the Christmas rush my order has not yet arrived. Mr. Graham has just changed his company + expects to make about $15,000.00 a year at this work. It looks as if we all spent plenty of money on stockings! Love from us all + very many thanks -
Kathleen
audio---images---comment---transcript---~NOTES~---links---site navigation
1.
334, Eighth St. N.E.
Atlanta, Ga.25
Jan. 6 1926
As Barbara noted when she scanned this letter, Kathleen must have forgotten that it was 1927 now, because the envelope that the letter was in was postmarked 1927. Kathleen mentions going out on the Thursday before Christmas, which would have been Christmas Eve in 1925. So the letter must be from 1927.
Therefore the children's ages are:
Maggie 14
Billy 9
Kay 8
Roger almost 6 (his birthday was January 27)
2.
I have hoped to start writing letters ever since we came back from Savannah last Sunday.
So Will and Kathleen spent Christmas with Kathleen's parents and her sister Ruth.
3.
"Winnie the Pooh" made quite a hit with the children.
Winnie the Pooh was first published in 1926.
4.
I really hope we shall live in the North again while the children are young so that they can enjoy the snows of winter.
This surprises me. I thought Kathleen always preferred to be nearer to her parents in Savannah. And I didn't know she expected Will to be re-assigned elsewhere in the future. He retired in 1928 - the following year - and Kay's daughter Nancy remembers Kay talking about how Kathleen (Kay's mother) did not want Will to retire.
5.
Ruth took us out one afternoon to one of the bluffs + we made a fire and roasted wieners + marshmallows. Margaret + Billy had both been to such affairs before, but it was my first experience. We enjoyed it very much.
I imagine Alma enjoyed reading about this picnic.
6.
Our stocking friend came around last night.
I don't understand this. Maybe I'll come across more about it in some other letter.
334, Eighth St. N.E.
Atlanta, Ga.25
Jan. 6 1926
As Barbara noted when she scanned this letter, Kathleen must have forgotten that it was 1927 now, because the envelope that the letter was in was postmarked 1927. Kathleen mentions going out on the Thursday before Christmas, which would have been Christmas Eve in 1925. So the letter must be from 1927.
Therefore the children's ages are:
Maggie 14
Billy 9
Kay 8
Roger almost 6 (his birthday was January 27)
2.
I have hoped to start writing letters ever since we came back from Savannah last Sunday.
So Will and Kathleen spent Christmas with Kathleen's parents and her sister Ruth.
3.
"Winnie the Pooh" made quite a hit with the children.
Winnie the Pooh was first published in 1926.
4.
I really hope we shall live in the North again while the children are young so that they can enjoy the snows of winter.
This surprises me. I thought Kathleen always preferred to be nearer to her parents in Savannah. And I didn't know she expected Will to be re-assigned elsewhere in the future. He retired in 1928 - the following year - and Kay's daughter Nancy remembers Kay talking about how Kathleen (Kay's mother) did not want Will to retire.
5.
Ruth took us out one afternoon to one of the bluffs + we made a fire and roasted wieners + marshmallows. Margaret + Billy had both been to such affairs before, but it was my first experience. We enjoyed it very much.
I imagine Alma enjoyed reading about this picnic.
6.
Our stocking friend came around last night.
I don't understand this. Maybe I'll come across more about it in some other letter.
audio---images---comment---transcript---notes---~LINKS~---site navigation
LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT PAGES IN THIS WEBSITE
DOCUMENT LISTS FOR PEOPLE:
- WILL: DOCUMENTS ----- Related
- ALMA: DOCUMENTS ----- Incoming
- KATHLEEN: DOCUMENTS ----- Outgoing
- THE NEXT GENERATION: DOCUMENTS ----- Maggie, Billy, Kay, Roger
- FARMERS & GRAYS: DOCUMENTS ----- WJ, Ruth
RELATED DOCUMENTS/PAGES:
(none at the moment)
(none at the moment)
GENERAL LISTS OF DOCUMENTS:
- DOCUMENTS BY DATE
- DOCUMENTS BY WHERE THEY WERE WRITTEN ----- Georgia
- DOCUMENTS BY SOURCE ----- Barbara
- DOCUMENTS 1920-1929
audio---images---comment---transcript---notes---links---~SITE NAVIGATION~