Everyone seems to have pre-wedding jitters. Dave wasn’t even going to go, but seems to have changed his mind. Ruth is worried about finding work again after she takes time off for Lydia and Francis’ wedding.
May 6, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
Arrived home O.K. at four o’clock which left me with one more hour to waste. It was still dark and the bed looked good so I tumbled in and believe it or not it was at least a half hour before I went to sleep and I awoke at 5 o’clock just before the alarm went off. And did I work today. I didn’t dare stop for fear I wouldn’t get going again so tonight I feel like an old man. Believe me I’m not going around visiting and talking about cancer, convulsions, etc. at any rate. I suppose you will be stepping out with the A&P clerk tonight or someone. You surely won’t feel like going to bed because you got in earlier than last Sunday.
How did you make out with Lydia today or tonight, whichever it was, is, or will be or what have you. I hope you were able to get her in a little better frame of mind before she left for home. I don’t think she was to blame or Fran either for that matter. Each of them happened to be in a different mood and it just didn’t work out so good. It is only natural that she should worry a little more as the time draws nearer, but I think as soon as she gets down in P.H. and actually working towards a goal, things will look better to her. I hope so anyway. Personally I think they have good dispositions and a swell chance to make good. They both deserve it anyway. Fran has worked awfully hard down there. Maybe it doesn’t look so because it has taken so long but it wasn’t his fault. I talked to him all the way home and I guess he was feeling better when we got here.
Gee, was I surprised when she gave me that dig because I had decided not to be there for the wedding. I suppose it did look as if I didn’t care anything about coming but I do really. It wasn’t only the question of money that held me back and I’m not afraid either, Miss Smarty.
Skip it. I was going to tell you the other reason but decided not to. Anyway I have changed my mind about going and if Fran can get someone for the station, I’ll be with you on the trip to Adams Center. Now what is your reaction to that?
I suppose I could write more but if you will excuse me, I think I’ll retire.
Good night.
Dave
May 6, 1935
70 Jay Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Being as how this is a comparatively nice day, I suppose you are hard at work, so am I, or rather, I have been. I don’t know what it is all about yet, but I seem to have an ambitious streak on, which is very unusual for me on Monday. Maybe it is because I got that two hour rest in the early part of the evening. I think I’ll try it again, you wouldn’t mind waiting, would you? If you had been just about five minutes later last night, you would have found me fast asleep. I didn’t expect you at all. That is why I had on that old brown sweater suit. When I got home, my uniform was sort of dampish so I fell into that. I was all settled down for a nice snooze when you two night hawks came and disturbed me. I sez, there oughta be a law against such outrageous carrying on. When I was a girl that was never done.
Poor Fran, he sure was in a bad way. I’ll do my best to bring Lydia around, but I can see how they both feel. It does look rather discouraging now, but I think when Lydia sees the house fixed up, she will feel differently. As far as Fran laughing last night, I think she was putting on a big bluff about being disgusted. Every time she came in when he wasn’t around, I would laugh and she had a terrible time controlling her mirth. She just has to snap out of it. When she is married, she will need a sense of humor more than ever. I hope your influence works as well on Fran now as it did before.
On my way to work I saw the kid who works in the A&P washing windows, and I was so late I didn’t even have time to tell him what a snap he had. The next time I see him he’ll probably tell me how sophisticated I am.
So you don’t think you’ll go to Adams Center? You show very good judgment. It is an awfully rough place. However, I would like to have you meet Joe, Ike and Pat. I don’t think Billy would hurt you much ‘cause he is sort of bashful like me. You have to admit that aside from a few scratches, black eyes and wallops on the back, I haven’t treated you so bad. I wouldn’t mind seeing you get treated a little rough because you pestered me so much last night. I’m still feeling bad about the sleep you wouldn’t let me get down at Jo’s. You know how essential it is for me to get my rest on Sunday because Monday night is always a large night for me.
If I don’t forget to take my scissors home tonight, “Lyd” is going to cut my hair. If I act as silly as I did last night, she is apt to trim my ears in the bargain. I wouldn’t dare go home with my hair like this or my mother will disown me. I don’t think I ever looked so bad in my life. Maybe if I am home long enough, I’ll have me a permanent.
It is now 9 p.m. and I am just beginning to feel tired, or rather, sleepy. Gee, I don’t see how you can stand it not to get any sleep and work all day. You must be awfully tired when night comes. Oh well, you should go home earlier, as I said before. When you come up alone, you will have to make your departure earlier because we won’t have “Lyd“ and Fran to blame for keeping us out. Your mother will think there is something wrong every night because you get in so early.
Don’t forget to get the kittens domesticated so I can pick one out for Preston Hollow.
I sure do get my share of kidding around here. Last week even Julius asked me if I had a nice time on the dog roast. You can’t imagine how surprised I was. He can be civil if he wants to.
I guess I’m going to have company in a big way tonight. I imagine if I don’t pay my rent, she will tell the whole bunch of us to scram. She won’t get it until Miss Salisbury dashes around and collects my pay. So what!
I bet you can’t guess what I said when I just made that blot! Yeah, I said shell with the S off. Wouldn’t that burn you up?
So your generator is no good. Once the generator on the Ford went “hay wire” and we thought it needed a new one, but all it needed was new brushes. I can’t understand how your battery happens to be run down when you have had a person with a magnetic personality in the car. You know everything I have is charged.
If Fran doesn’t keep mum about me making a good thermometer, I’ll have you huff and puff and blow his front door in or sompin’. I don’t eat strawberry sundaes anyhow.
If I don’t stop writing, before long this letter will be so fat you’ll have to pay extra postage on it. I might as well make this a long one as it will be the last you get this week. You can consider this the answer to the letter you haven’t written yet. During these times of depression, one has to be conservative so I can’t squander money on only one stamp a week.
I do hope LaVere doesn’t annoy you this week so you are compelled to leave off in the middle of your letters as you did last week. Oh yes, and I am still mourning about that letter you tore up. Don’t ever do it again ‘cause if there is anything I like better than letters, it is more letters.
I seem to be run down and besides if I don’t quit I won’t have enough ink left in this so-called pen to finish my chart.
Ruth
P.S. All the blots and errors represent places where my eyes went shut on me.
May 8, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
Received your letter yesterday but didn’t get around to answer until tonight. Mostly laziness I guess.
When we have a decent day again don’t ever make any remarks about it as you did Monday. You see what happened. Rain all day Tuesday.
I suppose by now Lydia is up in the big city. Did she take her snowshoes with her or do the authorities equip everyone with them when they cross from civilization into the North Woods? Will you take me sliding downhill and skiing when we go up for the wedding? No doubt you will take me for a sleigh ride, if you get what I mean.
I haven’t seen Fran yet this week so I know he hasn’t got the car yet. In fact I don’t look for him to get it until the last minute which means I probably won’t be up Sunday. He has to depend on Frank to take him to the city and I know him well enough (Frank, I mean) so that it would be a surprise to me if he should go before next Wednesday or Thursday. If such is the case you will be able to continue your snooze from which you were so rudely awakened.
I think when I go to A.C. I’ll take along a shotgun for protection against all those vicious animals of yours. I hope they come up to all my expectations after all I have heard about them. Probably this Joe Cuffy is so docile he wouldn’t even scratch a mouse. And as for Billy, well if he gets tough with me, I’ll handle him the same as I would you, take him down across my knee and apply the hairbrush. That is a very effective remedy for a lot of things. Me thinks I’ll try it on you and I won’t need an army to help me either.
I think you are out of luck for a kitten. Monday we heard them crying in another part of the house and since then we haven’t heard a thing. We have come to the conclusion they must have crawled somewhere where the mother cat couldn’t get them. I hope that isn’t the case, but it looks like it. I hate to think of having to tear half the house down if they should begin to smell.
So you think I’ll have to go home early when I come up alone. I’m not so sure about that. I’m afraid your company will be just as enjoyable to me so how am I to tear myself away. Anyway all we have to do is say that Lydia and Fran got us in the habit and we can’t seem to break it. How’s that for an alibi, or can you think up a better one? If so, you had better memorize it because you will have the opportunity to use it. And while you’re thinking up that one, it would also be wise for you to think up something to tell your Mother when I tell her how much you swear. Maybe the hairbrush would be a remedy for that, too.
By the way, I’ve just been doing a little figuring and I discover that with this letter we are once more on even terms. How come? Well this is the way I’ve got it doped out. Previous to last Sunday I was two behind, but Sunday I wrote an extra one that you didn’t receive and I’ve just decided to call this a two for one letter as you did once. Therefore, we are even.
It’s Town Hall tonight. Are you listening? I’m trying to but not making out so well, and since I’m pretty well run down I’ll stop writing and give Fred Allen my full attention.
Dave
P.S. Have you heard any more about your Mother? I hope she is better. Lydia will be able to help a lot while she is home so don’t worry too much.
May 8, 1935
70 Jay Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Here it is Wednesday again and there should be a letter for me to answer down at the house. In case there isn’t, I’ll have to send this just the same as you did last week.
Lydia came up with Jo and Ralph Monday night and left for home yesterday morning on the 8:15 bus. Here’s hoping she had a more enjoyable trip than I did. The day was nearly as bad, all that it lacked was snow, ice and cold weather.
I’m sorry to say that Lydia was as hard to handle as she was Sunday night. Monday night I was tired and just as crabby as she was or worse. I think the reason she acted so crabby is because she is tired out. Since she finished work she has been doing something all the time and before she was tired from housecleaning. Maybe she will get rested while she is at home. We were both so tired Monday night that we didn’t even bother to visit. Ben and Florence were up for a few minutes and I nearly fell asleep on the bed. Ben said he bet it wouldn’t take much rocking to put me to sleep.
I have resolved to be in bed not later than 10 p.m. every night this week. So far I have been successful.
Has Fran found a car yet? If he doesn’t hurry up, I won’t be the only one who walks home.
Gee, I’m in a bad way and can’t decide what to do. How about loaning me a little of your superior wisdom so I can make a decision. You see it is just like this. When I go home, I will still have about nine days of practice work to get in besides my hospital time. They have already asked Miss Salisbury to get a nurse to relieve me. There is a chance that in six weeks they won’t need a nurse anymore and there is another chance that they will need one for a long time yet. Personally I think she will need a nurse as long as she lives, which might be a few days or a year. I don’t know if I should tell them I will come back and finish my time the first of July and continue to work for sixteen a week or not. I hate to give this case up and do nothing all summer. This really isn’t so difficult and I like it here. I am certain they will get a student nurse rather than pay any more. Work is always hard to get in the summer and there are a lot of nurses who have no work. In fact I have heard of several Registered Nurses who are doing house work. This work isn’t easy but it is a lot better than doing housework, at least you are your own boss. I think that since I have been fortunate enough to get my practice in here, I could afford to work for less as long as I am sure it is steady and the pay is always waiting when the week is up. One minute I think I’ll tell them I’ll come back and the next minute I am at sea again. What do you think? Lydia wouldn’t even make a suggestion. I guess I’ll see what they say about letting me come back down to school. I sort of hope they get a pink nurse here. Not that she could be any worse than the one already here.
8:30 p.m.
Just got home and read your letter, also one from Eva. She says she wishes I could make her a week’s visit as she would enjoy a good fight. I fight with her just like I do Lydia, but it would be just too bad if anyone ventured to say anything against either one of them. As far as arguing goes, we are as good sisters as if we really were.
As I said before, I guess you will have to forgive Lydia for anything she said Sunday night. You know she isn’t usually like that and I lay it to the fact that she was tired out. I knew that remark she made must have hurt you, but it wasn’t meant for you alone. She has told me a dozen times in a grieved tone that I needn’t go home if I didn’t want to. I don’t think I was the one who made the crack about you being afraid. I think Lydia made that remark also. If I said it, I didn’t mean it the way you think it was meant.
Herman Tryon (1915-1997). He married Lilian Sherman in 1937; they had nine children. He was a machinist until he retired in 1978.
You don’t have to tell me the other reason you held back. I already know or think I know. Maybe I’m wrong but I sort of think it is because of the other flame. How about it, am I right? As far as he goes, the situation is cleared up. I have long since explained things to him, so I’m not keeping either one of you in the dark. You should know me well enough by this time to know that I am frank. I don’t do anything I’m ashamed of, so, therefore, why try to keep anything back. I told Herman a long time ago you were coming home when Lydia was married. I don’t even expect to see him and told him so. He said anything I said was o.k. with him. Maybe that wasn’t your other reason, but whether it was or not, I have told you and I hope I make myself clear.
Let me see, what is my reaction to your decision? I’m glad you have decided to go to Adams Center. I think since you and Fran are best friends you should be his best man. The four of us have been around together so much, why shouldn’t we be the ones to stand up with them. I don’t imagine it will be a very elaborate affair as the family is so large it couldn’t be. Lydia said since my mother isn’t so well, she was going to have it as simple as possible. Just counting the adult members of the family and the in-laws, there will be over twenty. They aren’t such a bad bunch. We gave you sort of an exaggerated description of them. I guess I’m about the worst one, so if you have stood me, you can stand the rest of them.
Ruth Parker and Herman Tryon (1932?). June Sedgemore is in the foreground.
Gee whiz, I just took a look at Macbeth and he says it is just one half hour to bed time, so I guess I’ll have to cut this short. By the time I get my bath and my uniform fixed for the morning it will be time to retire. Oh darn gosh the luck! Somebody just went in the bathroom, so I suppose my turn will come in about two hours. The men in this house think they have an option on that place. Someday I’ll get so darned mad, I’ll find another room. When I get my diploma I think I’ll make reservations at the Kenmore. No, I guess I can starve here as well as I could down there.
Gee, I can hardly wait until I get home. I’m trying to get my sleep caught up so my mother won’t see the dark circles under my eyes.
Pardon me while I take my turn at the bathroom.
10:20 p.m.
There, that’s over with, now all I have to do is jump into bed and it won’t be long now. I’m already twenty minutes late but maybe I can overlook the violation this once. However, if I lose any time in the morning because I overslept, I’ll charge it up to you. How is that?
I’m off to slumber land so I’ll be saying, Toodles or Sompin’.
Just “Me”
[Addressed to: Darling Mr. David W. Coffin]
May 9, 1935
70 Jay Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
I should write this to Francis instead of you, but I’m afraid he wouldn’t go to the post office after it. I thought there might be a chance that you would see him and you could get the required information. I would like to know when they plan to return to Albany from their wedding trip. I have to have a definite answer as they are putting me to work in the hospital the day after I return. I am supposed to let Mrs. Best know so she can make plans accordingly. I saw her this morning and I told her I was going home for a few days and wondered if I could start work there when I come back. She said I sure could as they need me right now. I am the last one left to go in and she said they would have taken me off the case long ago, only my patient needed me.
Oh yeah, on my way to work I stopped in front of the A&P store to mail your letter and the curly-headed clerk says, “What do you do, write to the boyfriend every day?” I says “sure, why not?” Every time he sees me he asks if I am still on New Scotland Avenue.
3:15 p.m. at the dentist again.
Who should I run into but Zelma. She happens to be the only one I have to wait for. If he makes me come back again, I’ll have a cataleptic fit or sompin’.
I just received a card from the girlfriend and she seems in better spirits. Ike is off on a tour, Pat has a sore foot and Joe seems to be in tune.
My Mom feels a bit better and hasn’t any pain. If that isn’t gospel, she will settle with me.
She says she is wearing my white dress to be married in. She also said I must have weighed a ton when I wore it. I guess she isn’t as large as she thinks, as I was smaller when I graduated than I am now. Oh yes, she hasn’t spilled all the news yet ‘cause she is waiting for Fran to help. What is left for him to tell in two weeks won’t be worth mentioning.
Zelma appears to be having a bad time. Tomlinson wants to use Novocain on her tooth while he fills it and she objects. This is going to be good.
Friday 3:30 p.m.
Gee, am I tickled! At last the work on my teeth is completed and I’ll never, never neglect them again.
The mail service from Albany to Middleburg is swell, but from Middleburg to Albany it is lousy. I have had one letter this week and it was so thin I could hardly find it. From now on me thinks I’ll go on a strike and won’t even make an attempt to write. Do I hear a sigh of relief?
After watching nurses go and come from the hospital for fourteen weeks, I have come to the conclusion that they all have big feet, even the nurses in pink uniforms.
Mrs. Finklestien is asleep so I have lots of time and I might be able to think of something to say, but I think I’ll spend the time reading a magazine.
Ruth
P.S. Pul-ease either let me know when they plan to be back in the city or tell Fran to. It is very important that I let Mrs. Best know.