Ruth considers going to Preston Hollow and possibly home because she can’t get work, but one case does come up for her to fill in for Loretta. With that one shift and some money from home, she says she can get by for at least another week. Dave is OK with his job for the time being, but says it’s almost finished.
July 23, 1935
349-A Madison Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Now for my usual task, only I am one night late this week. How did you get home? I hope you weren’t too sleepy. I guess I’ll have to go home so you will get more sleep. I was sorry I didn’t come back Sunday afternoon so you wouldn’t have lost so much rest. You know me, I always manage to think of things after it is too late.
If you don’t eat more, stop working so hard and don’t get more rest, people are going to buy you flowers only you won’t know it.
I wrote to Florence and asked her to let me know whether or not they are going down this weekend. I hope she lets me know so I can let you know. I fear though if she happens to think about Budd and her mumps, she might not go as she has never had them. I also told her to try and get me a job in the shop.
Pardon the intermission, but Sosville called and I just had to talk to her (not that I wanted to). I just turned down a perfectly good chance to go out with Arthur.
How’m I doin? That was Sosville’s writing. She said it wasn’t but I know she was guilty by the tone of her voice. I told her she could be arrested for forgery. She is just bubbling over with news that she couldn’t tell me over the telephone. I wouldn’t go up because I had to write to you and she can’t come down.
When I called up this morning to be put on register, Mrs. Best said they tried to get me Friday for a case. I suppose they thought I was out somewhere. I said it was funny, I was in all day Friday. The only time I was out was when I ate and then Mrs. Mack was in. I said why didn’t you get Sosville and they told her this afternoon that they didn’t even know she was supposed to be on register until I told them.
I have finally made up my mind what I am going to do. I am going to stay on register this week and someday I’m going to stop at school and find out if I stand a chance of any work. If they say there isn’t much work, I’ll give up my room Saturday night and stay in Preston Hollow for a week. By then I should know if I can get work in the shop. If there is nothing to do, I will go home until the nursing profession picks up.
This afternoon I was looking out the back window and I saw the dog have something that looked like a young woodchuck. I watched and I saw the darned thing crawl under the fence and it was a big rat. I told Mrs. Mack and a little while later she went out in the woodshed and the rat was sitting in the dog’s dish. She called Ed and with the dog’s help they killed him. I think it was the biggest rat I ever saw. It gives me the creeps to think about it.
This forenoon I stopped to see Hickey1 and one of the other girls was there with her tale of woe. I guess we are all waiting for a call we won’t get. There are about six nurses for every case.
Hickey has a room on Lark Street and believe me, it is hot. I nearly melted and the cars make so much noise you can’t hear anything. When I got home, I decided my room wasn’t so bad. I was down there all the afternoon. She stays in all the time waiting for a call.
I guess I’m all caught up on the events of the day, so there isn’t much left to do but sign off until I get a letter to answer.
Be a good boy, don’t work too hard, keep your nose clean, don’t let your finger have a relapse, eat your spinach and above all, don’t let the girlfriend next door vamp you. Nuff sed!
“Me”
P.S. It was a good thing you departed when you did ‘cause Grace and her escort returned from the circus just after you left.
P.S. No. II. Did you notice on the card Loretta sent you that she had star route in the corner? I forgot to mention it before.
July 24, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
My dear Ruth,
Received your letter tonight and I’ll attempt to answer before I get a bawling out from you even though I might deserve it. I should have written last night but I was too tired to attempt so I thought I would wait until tonight and I might have a letter from you.
Last night when I got home from work I had to go out with berries and I never got home to supper until 8 o’clock. I didn’t expect to have to go out again tonight but what should I find when I got here but 80 quarts staring me in the face. When I got back I had to take LaVere and a couple of other kids down to Middleburg for their music lesson so it is now 10 o’clock and all is well.
I saw Lydia tonight and she told me she had written to you so you won’t have to wait all the week for some mail anyway.
The work is still hanging on down at the camp. Tuesday night some more men were laid off so that makes it just that much longer for the eight of us that are left. We will probably be there part of next week yet. When we do finish I am going to Gallupville and try to get on there. That camp should start in a week or so and it is only about twenty miles so I can drive back and forth providing I am lucky enough to get work.
Lydia covered the back of my neck with “red ink” tonight. That sore seems to be about like the one on my finger so now we will see if that darn stuff is any good.
So you turned poor Arthur down. Better be careful. He might get back at you when he becomes a cop. And on top of that you refrained from going up to Loretta’s just to write me a letter. I don’t deserve such kindness I’m sure but thanks a lot anyway. Also thanks for promising not to go home this Saturday. I suppose it wouldn’t be any harder to say good bye then than it will be when you go but it seemed that way anyhow.
If Ben and Florence are coming out, I’ll be in after you some time Saturday but I can’t say what time. It will either be early or quite late.
I don’t know if I will be able to follow all the instructions you gave in that letter but I’ll try. Anyway I’m sure the girl next door won’t succeed in vamping me, as you put it.
Good night, dear, until I see you.
Dave
July 26, 1935
349-A Madison Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Lydia’s letter was the only one I had received this week since Mom’s Monday night until this morning, when I got a special delivery from home, a letter from you, Grace, Eva and a card from Florence. Just like Christmas time.
Last night I went up to see Loretta. Mrs. Schermerhorn was going out and while she was getting ready to go out Loretta got a call. I stayed in so Mrs. Schermerhorn could go and this morning she gave me $1.50.
Loretta called just a little while ago and asked if I would work tonight. She is out in Bethlelem Center, if you know where that is, somewhere beyond Delmar. It is a heart case so I imagine the patient needs someone most of the time.
I sort of think it will be only for tonight but it might be more. I have decided to stay in the city for another week so don’t bother to come up Saturday. What I earn tonight should more than pay room rent for another week and I got more money from home this morning. I hardly know what to tell you about Sunday, your guess is as good as mine. If I am working, you can’t see me only in the afternoon and if I’m not working any time would be o.k. If you can come, I will be glad to see you. If your better judgment tells you not to come, do as you think best. If I am working, I could probably arrange with Loretta so I could get a few hours. Spend all the time you can with your sister regardless of anything else. Goodness knows when you will see her again.
I hope you can make sense of this letter. I bet you think I am crazy and I am not sure but what you are right.
Ed is coming after me to take me out when he goes after Loretta so I think I had better see if I can get a little rest before he comes. It is a darned long time between now and morning (when I am working).
I am sorry I can’t be more specific about Sunday. If you don’t like it, the only thing you can do is cross nurses off your list. You probably realize by this time how undependable they are. I have gotten where I will take anything and like it. The chances are I won’t be busy but one never knows, does one?
I hope your neck is better. I suppose if that stuff doesn’t cure it you will laugh at me the rest of your life.
If you don’t come up Sunday, may I take the liberty to demand a nice long letter from you?
So long,
Ruth
P.S. At last I have a chance to initiate a uniform!
Tell Lydia about me, also tell her I have plenty of money for the week.
Footnote
- Ms. Hickey was one of Ruth’s classmates. Her photo was posted here (April 30, 1935).