Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - December 6, 1929

Old Mission, Mich. Dec. 6th 1929

My dear Miss Taft:-

Received your letter also order for grain. Joseph may not have the opportunity to go in T. C. himself but would be just as cheap to have Mr. Lardie bring it out for us.

All is going well on the farm our cold spell has let up for the present at least We nearly froze for over a week the wind blew so hard that you couldn't keep the house warm at all. We still have a nice blanket of snow all over the fields.

Miss Taft I know how you have to stretch every dollar and make it go as far as it will we are in the same boat. It always keeps us with our nose to the grindstone too. Some of our busy neighbors would like to see us get a nice car leave your farm and swing high with the rest. We don't want to tie up all our money in a car. I would rather have my home more comfortable. If you live up there another Summer I hope the mice won't steal your muffins again. There is still a lot more to have done but Jos. is going to complete the cellar after we move up there. Also have a screened porch the full length on the back for Summer and glass windows for winter The toilet and bath will have to wait for a few years yet. Altho we are going to move the toilet from its present place and have it out by the barn then it won't smell so badly. We have only had the place 3 years. so can't expect to do it all yet. It takes both time and lots of money we had to pay our men $10 a day for their labor besides dinner. The only reason we kept Bob and Edd here was the board money helped pay for our own groceries.

Why don't you go to Florida it would help you a lot and shorten up the winter. You need the change the same as I did a year ago when I went home I was a nervous wreck but came back fresh and ready to start the new year in right.

You said you saw Hurley news in the Chicago paper. That is nothing new My sisters husband rented his place last Spring and moved out to their Summer home at Mercer then went South for the winter. There isn't any more evil there than in our own neighborhood only that place is watched and the Pratts are not. I think they make booze over there during the Fall months. Well no one cares as they don't molest us any with their drunken brawls.

Mrs. Lardie, Kittie Bartlett and Mrs. Mills took their trip to Niagra Falls as they had planned. Mrs. Edd Emory was brought back here from Detroit for burial last Wed. George Christopher is to be buried Sat morning. Mrs Ayers is very sick and will never get well again. Pluma Kitchen that Henrys wife has another baby a boy this time. Mrs cook who was primary teacher last year lost her little baby son last week. I guess this is all the local news for this time Oh we expect lots of new babies this Fall hope I'm not on the list too.

I was very glad to hear about the Clearys Its too bad he is so miserable and still has to drag along. I don't think Jos. will ever be as well as he used to be his side gets sore now and it never used to. Unless you go to good Doctors outside of here its hard to get to the bottom of ones ailments. I feel fine so far this winter. Hazel's eczema has been a lot better so far.

Joseph repaired the porch we had to buy new sheeting for it as the other was spoiled clear through and fell to pieces. If ever you intend to do much repairing I suggest to wreck the building and put up new. its nearly as cheap in the end and then its the way you want it. We have gone thru the mill and know what the expenses are. I got the cheapest material for the porch I could so hope you don't think we have caused you unnecessary expense.

If you get a reasonable price for your farm I would say let it go because in a few more years it will take a lot to repair the house. Its your home and I know you love it but along with your teaching its a burden to you some of the time. Can't you squeeze out of going to Summer school? Altho' the teachers here had to go or loose out. Mr. Hamilton didn't have the money to go on with so had to give up a good salary [???] he 6.00 and some [???] has lost the last part [???] it over again. Well winter [???] started in all over again I guess it won't break up until Spring if it keeps going at this rate.

You will think I'm rather cheap to use such poor paper but am out and using some of Hazel's. It will answer the purpose so suppose it all O.K.

Hope you are well by now

Lovingly Essie

$6.25 To your credit Oct. 15th 1929

3.62

$2.66 To your credit Dec. 8th 19-29

$0.10 poke root

3.52 for porch Lumber

$3.62 expenses