Council Grove
November 19, 1942
Dear Brother—
We aren’t very busy this morning so will try and get a letter written to you. It surely is a pretty day but it feels more like spring than fall. The weather is so warm and it is rather windy. It has been quite foggy some mornings but was nice and clear this morning. Yesterday the fog was quite bad. Gloyd brought me to work and we could hardly see to drive. Leo Dike ran into a bridge on his way to Delavan and smashed a rear fender, broke a spring and broke the door handles off the car but no one was hurt any. Gloyd went down home yesterday and today to shuck corn. He said they should get the west field done this week. The corn is pretty good although he said it was rather thin and really should have been replanted. He said it would be nice shucking in the big field.
Paul Robert has the chicken pox but he isn’t sick at all. Gloyd said he was running in and out all day yesterday. I guess he didn’t feel very good Saturday but Sunday he felt better so got ready and went to Sunday School.
They had a party for Sam Edmiston’s Tuesday evening. They have sold their farm to Miles Sheaffer and are going to move to Texas.
Gloyd’s folks, Aunt Della and Helen came over last evening for awhile.
I have borrowed Mrs. Pickett’s sewing machine so she came over to use it. Her iron has played out too so she wanted to use my iron. We sewed and ironed and Helen took a bath so she could use the bathtub. I discovered I had sewed part of my dress together backwards so Aunt Della ripped for me. 
I have been trying for a week to get it made but haven’t met with much success yet.
We got up about 5:15 this morning and Gloyd left shortly after six. I stayed up so I got the house cleaned and the dishes washed before I came to work this morning. It will be nice to go home at noon and not find a table full of dirty dishes. When Gloyd isn’t working he gets dinner and washes the dishes and one day last week he cleaned the house and made the bed and did a good job of it, too.
We went out to Harry’s for dinner Sunday and took the folks and Aunt Della. Gloyd had to work that evening so we came home about six. Gloyd went to the selectee party that night. I didn’t feel like going so stayed home alone. There were 29 left Monday morning. I am getting to be the worst kind of a fraidy cat but I just can hardly stay alone anymore. I was alone again Monday evening while Gloyd went to drill but he wasn’t so late then. I guess I will get Helen to stay with me after this when Gloyd is going to be gone. They said awhile back that a hump backed boy here in town who isn’t too bright was around peeking in windows. Helen was just sure he was over there one evening. I always keep my doors locked when I am alone and here lately I pull the shades at dark. We girls don’t get together anymore on Monday evenings since Dale left. Nellie’s husband never did go to drill and Maurice hasn’t gone since he came back from Leavenworth. Gloyd is the only one that is still in. The State Guards are finding it impossible to keep their enlistment up to what it should be. The army has taken so many of the younger men there isn’t much to recruit from any more. This training is doing the boys some good though. Dale has already been put in charge of one squad and I wouldn’t be surprised but before long he will have some stripes.
Benny Linn was home last week and got married while he was here. He married Irma Scott.
Gloyd is going to try and get back in time this evening so he can register for our four gallons of gasoline. I couldn’t do it. Seems it has to be the same one who signed the registration certificate.
We had a fight over on the east side the other night. One fellow got his arm cut quite bad. The paper said he lost a gallon of blood but I imagine they over estimated the amount a little.
We went to the show Tuesday night and saw “The Big Shot.” It was better than we had expected it to be but not too good at that. I haven’t heard whose name was drawn last night.
The senior play was at Dunlap last night but I don’t believe Wallace was in it. He and Mother went though. Dad stayed home with Paul.
Gloyd and I have just gotten over some terrible colds. We just took them all at once and they left about the same way. Gloyd went to the doctor but I kept on going. Seems to be a lot of them around.
We are going to have a blackout here sometime next month. Guess we will just have to sit in the dark a few minutes.
Seems like I have about run out of anything to say. It is noon anyway. Maybe I will think of something before I come back after lunch.
Later–
When I went home at noon your letter was in the mailbox so I will answer it, too. I tried to call Mother but the Dunlap line was busy so I will try again this evening. If I don’t get through I will send your letter down with Gloyd. I imagine he will go back tomorrow.
It would be nice if Irma and Howard were close enough so you could go see them but I don’t suppose you have much time. It is better to be busy. I have found from experience there isn’t anything harder to do than do nothing. There is always plenty I could be doing now. I have also found that everything doesn’t have to be done at once. Work is one thing that will wait and I have learned that I can’t keep my housework all done like I used to do and work here all day too. So the housework usually has to wait until Sat. night after work or Sunday morning. I still work at the store Saturday night. I believe I will enjoy living more if I take things a little easier.
No, I haven’t gotten my glasses changed yet but I am getting along all right. We got our grocery bill paid and Sims. It won’t be long till we have our debts all taken care of.
Aunt Cora is planning a Thanksgiving dinner at George’s if nothing happens. She has been home a couple weeks and was gone for five. She had a nice trip and a good visit with Charley’s.
The Bridge 