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Old Mission, Mich.

Oct. 31st 1932

My dear Miss Taft:-

I waited for a letter from you for quite a while and I should have written just the same. Its so hard to know what to do these days it seems as tho' Mr. Lardie would like to have a few friends & customers left. If he doesn't treat the Christopher's on the square he is simply done there and that means about 7 or 8 thousand crates or more right there also Homer Willobee. I tried to tell Clayton that our contract called for 50% down on our cherries & he never keept his part of it because we got .02[?] down and just $50 over and we didn't borrow that as we never got an advance as they call it. Got that when we settled up with them. Clayton claims that was an old contract but I soon showed him it was not as I've keppt all of our old ones. He felt pretty cheap about the letters he wrote to you when I got through with him. I said in good plain english that it was nothing but a dirty rotten shame the way you have been treated when you worked so hard for their interests I told him that you didn't get your advance because you expected to go to the poor house the next day but supposed you was only getting what was coming to you. And also by selling to Morgan you saved [$].02 per lug on hauling thats more than we did. He is just running a big bluff. I know the way he spoke he intends to wait until you get back & talk things over that is what he told me. He spoke first about Jim Griffin and then mentioned about writing you and thats what made me try to explain your side of the deal as much as I could. I told him also of how loyal you had been to him and his company by not selling your cherries to every one else even tho' you might have gotten a few cents more. We could have sold about 200 more crates for [$].60 per crate too and didn't as we still had a little faith left in the canning factory. You may feel like giving me a good booting but you are too far away just now and by next Summer you will forget. That is the way children usually feel if they get by for a few days without their punishment. We don't know what he will do about us we simply won't take our little savings and hand it over. Joe told me he would serve out time in jail first let Lardie feed him we told him so too. But don't think they will try to do a thing because they can't I believe if the contractors got together and stick they could get more. But so many people don't care about the other fellow. Jim paid just half so why should we pay. That still stings Clayton Some one besides the farmer is making the money.

I felt like sending you a telegram Sat. but was afraid I'd scare you to death a fellow hardly knows what to do. I often wish we could drive down to the little cottage for a chat. But suppose it would be pretty cold & unwelcome there right now.

Roger has been back for about 4 weeks and has been working for Mrs. Ashmore but has finished there now.

Roger intended to send you a greeting from Berrien Springs but couldn't remember your street number. So brought it home I'll give it to you some time. He has always been very fond of you since he was a tiny boy. As for a steady job he could have worked there all winter for a small salary but Joe needs him here too as he still works at the school house.

Lillie was up a while this afternoon and told me about their large party & barn dance they gave about a week ago. We were invited but didn't go Joseph doesn't dance so of couse I never do. Hazel Gillmore took cold and has had a very bad sore throat. Suppose she got warm from dancing and took cold as they danced in the barns and it must have been quite cold out there when standing around.

Mrs. Lardie & Mrs Mills are living together at Ida Lardies home suppose they will stay there for the winter. Mrs. M. has been picking up potatoes or do what ever work she can find to do.

Its much colder today & has snowed or misted all day so a fire feels pretty good. Ive sewed today have made a new house dress Still have another to make yet and lots of sewing for Hazel.

We simply don't like our new mail system at all. Sat. my letter was left so had to take it to O.M. Roger's mouth is much better had to have the doctor clean the wound and pack cotton where the teeth came out. They had been filled & cared for but couldn't save them. Its too bad for one so young to loose teeth

This letter is a crazy mixed up mess about the time I try to write some one keeps talking to me.

I hope all goes' well with you this winter. We all think of you real often and mention your name but will have to be content with an occasional letter now & then until next Summer.

As ever wtih love.

Essie