To Bertha from Cora Hendricks – January 7th, 1927
Dear Bertha,
Your letter of December 16th came yesterday, was so glad to have it just then.
I am sorry. I conveyed to you the idea of being depressed, guess I have been some of the time, but I am all night. I did not feel a bit well two or three weeks ago and kept thinking I would have to take a few days off, but always when I said to myself, “I’ll just stay in bed tomorrow.”
I woke the next morning feeling better. Papa left last night for San Francisco and now, if I feel like it, I’ll just go to bed and rest, since he will not be worried by it. I did stay in bed very late today and barely got down to eat my breakfast at 9:30. I intended to do quite a number of little jobs today, but the morning mail brought the announcement of Elenor Powers’ marriage and Sally and I felt that it was up to us to send her a little gift.
So it being that rare thing at this season, a bright day we went shopping, got a pretty piece of glass, American made, I think, but something like Venetian. Then we did several other little errands and finished off by going to a movie, which Sally has been wanting to see. So we really put in a day and it was nearly dark in the house when we got home.
We have had our dinner and I have written a little to Papa. He is due to Oakland at about eleven A.M. tomorrow. Said he should look up Mr. and Mrs. Hyde before going across to San Francisco. His address is The Letterman Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco. I expect he will be there nearly or quite two months.
He sent you a check for $77.00 on Monday. Please let us know if you get it and also $100.00 sent early in December. You say you expect to come home not later than April. I presume you mean to start not later than April, for you doubtless intend to spend some time in the east and I don’t expect to see you here before June.
How much money above what is being sent might along, will you need to get back to friends on this side? Be sure to let us know on time for us to get it to you, allowing for any delay in mail, which might happen. Yes, I wish it were not so far from Spokane to Italy. I loved it there although I did see it in winter. Would like to see it again, but I am glad to have seen it once. Pretty well content to be here now. The winter has been so mild, only about three really cold days, and most of the time just between 29° and 36°. We had a real snowy day Wednesday, but more than half of the snow melted as it came.
Downtown, the streets are bare and dry, here slushy.
I am glad you have such a pleasant and comfortable suite of rooms that the weather is fine for you. It is nice of you to see _____ now and then, but I wish she were up on your hill too.
Don’t you get influenza. I don’t want you to be sick so far away. I must tell you, we have had two radio messages from Senn within a week. Isn’t it wonderful? It makes them seem quite near. The last was to say that he was a 1st Lieut. December 24th to date from December 2nd. It makes very little different in pay, just an increase of allowances. But he has always drawn a 1st Lieutenant’s pay because he was one for a while before, and, of course, he had one _____ now.
Sally don’t get the job teaching which she rather hoped for. A Latin teacher resigned and her place had to be filled and they were able to get an experienced teacher who could take both the Latin and the French, so, naturally, it was done that way.
I can’t write much more now, but don’t worry about me, I am all right. I do think having this hospital business always hanging in the air, and Papa sometimes pretty gloomy over it. Had more to do with my being worn out than anything else.
Take care of yourself and keep happy over your work and come home when you get ready!
Your loving Mamma.
