413 12/23/1941 Sadie Erwin to Helen Carlson

Sadie Erwin 1120 Cole St., Enumclaw, Washington Tuesday, December 23, 1941

Helen Carlson 605 Nichols, Waycross, Georgia

My dear Helen, It is now 9:30 but will write some anyway. Jimmie has gone to bed. He is going to guard at the waterworks tomorrow for Harold. Harold has a chance to work at the mill and makes more money there, and it also holds his job for him. We have the Arkansas Traveler on the radio. It is a very lovely Christmas story. It must seem good to be able to cook the things you like. I am sure your apple pie was good, although you did have to make it in a cake pan. I am glad the doctor found you in perfect health. I have felt all along you were. I have had a number of treatments for my cold. It is really yielding now. I read Sunday and got through nicely. Jimmie got a tree yesterday, put it on a stand, and today he trimmed it. He really knows how to work now, and is very willing to do whatever he can to help. I think it grand you have found there is a Science Society there. Everyone seems so willing to help in anyway they can. Having people call on new-comers must be another Southern friendliness. In the North everyone is too much for themselves. Jimmie will be going back to school in January. He plans to have a talk with the coach, and rather thinks now if he can have the same help he will try to finish the year out. Next summer will work, then if world conditions are better, he can go on to school. If not, will stay out. No, we did not go to the lecture at Renton. It seemed best to stay home and keep warm. I am glad you like the pillow I sent last year. It helps to have a few of your own things around. You can make a place seem home-like as soon as you get your personal things put out. We have bought a new battery since you left. I believe that is all we have done to the car. Jimmie thinks it runs swell. Everything looks better to him now than it did before he went away to school. It is hard to see those men so poor, but suppose they are happy to have the work and the $3.50 may seem good pay to them. Hope they do not have to wait too long for their money. I do not blame Elmer for wanting his hot coffee. People that are poor are used to seeing other people have things they cannot have. Nevertheless, it may not make them feel any the better for it. Our planer wood has come. Before it did, we bought two sacks of coal. It helped out nicely, but I think the wood is cheaper and cleaner. Harold is all out of wood so came over today and got some of ours. They expect to get theirs next week. The mill has been down so much and that cuts down on the planer ends. I sent Betty and Andy a greeting. Is this the right address, 1101-17th Ave.? After church tomorrow night we are going over to Stella’s to have our Christmas gift. Christmas day they will be here. It is wise to have some air when you burn gas. Can you lower a window? Do hope you both have a nice Christmas. More later. Much love, Mother.