Ruth has a night-shift nursing job working with a patient, Miss Brice. Dave finishes “working on the ice” (likely ice-chopping for filling ice houses) and expects he will get paid, but is worried about getting more work. They both refer to another recent visit.
February 4, 1935
73 Brookline Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
I just got home from the case and I am finished for a time at least. She is so much better that they think they can get along ok.
Didn’t I tell you before that I was so good, I cured my patients in two days, or should I say two nights. If they ever need a nurse again, they will call me, the same old line. I’m back on register so I don’t know where I will be next.
Monday night
I have to go to work tonight down on New Scotland Avenue. Duty from nine p.m. to a.m.
Ruth
Monday 2:00 a.m.
Dear Dave,
I found this paper in my kit so I might as well use it. It looks like paper a Scotsman might use, but I suppose it is better than nothing.
Everything was ok when I got back. They had commenced to think I was sick or something.
Miss Brice is much better tonight. She looks brighter, talks a little and has a little strength. She says she feels better. Her temperature is sub-normal tonight. Maybe this (yesterday) morning was sort of a crisis. I hope she does get better. I don’t believe they will keep me long after she starts to improve (if she does). Me thinks they are also victims of the depression.
I just had to give her some milk. Occasionally she decides she is too warm and proceeds to remove the covers so I have to dash over and cover her up. I am more sleepy than I was last night, but don’t tell Lydia or she’ll say I should have spent the rest of my day sleeping. I hope Fran doesn’t think I was peeved about not getting back. I was anxious to get here but everything turned out ok. I don’t blame him for staying with his brother. It was too bad he couldn’t stay longer. I should have known better than to go when it was so late anyway.
Night life and Albany just don’t seem to coincide as far as I am concerned. I guess I’ll go back to Adams Center!
The night is just half gone and believe me the worst is yet to come. Looks like I have to use a little word power. What did your mother say when you showed her Ruth Distell’s picture? She probably said one was as bad as the other. She must have a swell impression of me after all the stuff you say you have told her. I bet she won’t believe Lydia put lipstick on your collar.
When you have your fight I hope you don’t get banged up too badly.
They have a cat here and his name is Peter. He is even bigger than Ike. Miss Brice heard me talking to him and she came to enough to tell me his name.
Waterman’s Ink ad, 1937
This darned ink is Waterman’s and it is 99% Atlantic Ocean. The pen is a mess and so is the paper. Aside from that, if it wasn’t for the writing and contents, this would be a good letter.
My eyes are so heavy that I almost have to fight to keep them open. I have eaten part of my lunch and guess I had better drink some more coffee before I fall asleep.
I just looked outdoors and it has been snowing. I hope it doesn’t snow any more until I get home.
Did you really want to know what I did after the banquet? Now, let me see, my memory fails to function. Ask me another.
In two more hours you no doubt will be getting up after a long night’s sleep. In four and a half hours, I hope to be going to bed. It is now 4 a.m. and all is well. I’ll be glad when someone gets up and starts talking.
The fog is terrible, if you know which one I mean. Since I have to sleep day times, I’ll know what it must be like to hibernate.
If this letter is queer, don’t blame me. It only expresses the way I feel.
Now who owes who?
R.J.P.
February 4, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
Monday evening and very quiet out here in the sticks so I’ll liven things up a bit for myself by starting a letter to you. I probably won’t mail it until I hear from you but if I don’t write when the spirit moves me, I never can think of anything to write when I have to.
Of course I’m anxious to hear how you came out with your excuse for being so late Sunday night. I certainly hope they didn’t call up the school. The next time anything like that happens I’ll have to use my head and think about your position rather than be so selfish as to want to keep you with me until the very last minute.
I suppose Lydia has told you we went to the show and how early she got in. About 12:30 I think it was. However, I told her not to take too much credit upon herself for getting in so early as I did the driving. We had to wait about an hour for Joe and Schucks so we didn’t get home any earlier than usual.
Well, Stubby, I did as you requested and showed the picture of Ruth D. to Mother. It didn’t get so much of raise out of her as I expected. Probably she was being considerate of my feelings. She merely said, “My, she is big isn’t she.” I told her, “Yes, quite large” and she replied that she was glad of that so she could take me down and sit on me. I don’t know what I have done to deserve such a fate. After she made that bright statement I had to save my own face and show her the right picture. Now wouldn’t you like to know what she said about that? I suppose I shouldn’t tell you but inasmuch as I think the same thing I will if you promise not to swell up and bust. She merely expressed my exact sentiment with the words, “She is lovely.” If she thinks that from only looking at your picture, what would she think if she really knew you as I do?
I wonder, Ruth, if you would mind my telling you that you were awfully sweet last night. I don’t know why you should seem any more so last night than any other but the fact remains so anyway. Probably I am just waking up from a long sleep. Now don’t write back and tell me I am laying it on too thick because I don’t mean it that way. For once I’m really serious. Now I think I have written enough for one night so I’ll sign off and retire to my dreams.
Wednesday, February 6
Just received your letter so I’ll finish this one and get it in the mail.
You most certainly must be too good a nurse the way your patients get well so quick. You also seem to have all the hard luck in pulling night cases. I don’t imagine it is much fun sitting up all night.
I finished working on the ice yesterday and am now on what will probably be a prolonged vacation. The fellow I have been working for said he would stop here today and leave me some money to get my license with but I haven’t seen him yet and if my guess is right, I probably won’t see him.
Had a touch of winter here again last night. Twelve degrees below this morning. Probably just an overflow of cold from the Black River Country. What do you think?
The shirt went thru the wash without a remark. I guess she didn’t look at it very close before she put it in the washer and I didn’t point it out to her.
I guess it is a good thing I wrote half of this letter before. Otherwise, it might have been rather short. My mind seems to be blank just now, and that doesn’t call for any bright remarks from you, Stubby. I can imagine what you would like to say.
Dinner is ready so I’ll bring this to a close and say Bye, Bye.
See you Sunday.
Dave