Ruth has a night-shift job for a terminal cancer patient. She is very homesick and so makes plans to visit home at Adams Center. Despite a recent lay-off, Dave has managed to find some work and says he has a small job in Livingstonville. He is aggravated about life at home.
September 3, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dearest Ruth,
It is raining and someone on the radio is singing stormy weather. Quite appropriate. I just came back from Livingstonville. Had to go down and drag LaVere home. First day of school and he couldn’t stay home long enough to open a book. Yep! This is a great family. If someone should ask me to give this place a name, I would probably call it the House of Discords, or some such appropriate title. That’s a great thing to say about one’s own home, but it’s just the way I feel. If it wasn’t for Mother, you can bet your life I wouldn’t be here. If I’m ever lucky enough to have a home of my own, I think I’ll throw the first person out the door that starts a quarrel. I’ve seen and heard so much of it that when I see one coming my way, I just shut up and say nothing.
LaVere Coffin at home in Livingstonville
This is a great way to start a letter, isn’t it, dear? I’ll try and do better from here out.
I went down to camp this morning and they weren’t getting on so fast with the job so I decided to give them a break and go to work. Pretty good of me, don’t you think? I don’t know how long it will last this time but it should be two or three weeks anyway. I have another small job in Livingstonville when I get done at the camp.
There wasn’t much business at the station after you left last night, probably due to the lack of your charming personality. I stayed until they closed and got home about 9:30. I hope you set Ben’s mind at rest concerning my welfare. He seems to be quite worried about my health. Between both you and he, I’ll begin to believe myself that there is something wrong with me. And since I got called so much for not disclosing my state of ill-health Sunday night, I’m going to tell you once more, don’t ever keep me in the dark like you did Saturday night. I may not be of much use in a case of that kind, but at least I’d like to know what it is all about when you are not feeling right.
Have you decided anything about when you are going home for a visit? I do think it would do you good to go up there for a while, that is if it doesn’t do you so much good you won’t want to come back. If you want to bring the car back, I’ll come up and ride back with you.
As usual, now that I am writing, I can’t think of the things I was going to write about. I’ll have to carry a pad along with me and every time I think of something jot it down. I haven’t even the excuse of being sleepy tonight.
Did the Herlihy’s get home before you did or didn’t they come home at all last night?
Well, dear, guess I’ll sign off. Don’t work too hard and “Stay as sweet as you are.”
Dave
September 3, 1935
45 Brookline Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
How you all is tonight I wonder? I hope you feel better and if you don’t, how’s about going to a doctor and see what can be done to make you feel better. He may put you to bed and order a nurse for twenty-four hour duty. I guess I had better keep still or you will make it your business to order a nurse and it so happens I am a busy woman just now.
Yeah, they called me this afternoon to go on a case at 8 o’clock. They used the same gag about being short of students and asked me to work as a student. I consented but I think this is going to be a long case and I’m not going to stay more than a week or so. I feel tired out all of the time. I guess it is because I don’t get a rest between cases when I am at Herlihy’s. I don’t think I can stand much night duty the way I feel now. This case is an old man with sarcoma (cancer) of the bladder. It may be a few days and it may be weeks. They have one of our nurses on days. She is from a couple classes back.
I did a big washing today while Mrs. Herlihy rested from her vacation. You would think she was the only one who could ever get tired.
The patient has nightmares occasionally. He thinks he is going to swallow a cup or pitcher. Such yells as he lets out.
I am glad you didn’t come up last night. It would have been so late when you got home and we both would have been tired out. I got in at 10:55 and was plenty tired at that.
Right now I think if I ever get home I will sleep for a week. If I feel like this now, I don’t know what I will be like by the end of a week.
I suppose Loretta is having a swell time this week since Ed is in town once again. I don’t know if she is going on her vacation this week or not.
I am working at 9 Ten Eyck Avenue so we aren’t so far from each other. I go to work a half hour after she gets through so we don’t have much of a chance to see each other.
I hope you can read this but I have my doubts about it as the light is so dim I can hardly see to write.
Gee, I sure was glad to see you Saturday and Sunday. I would probably have been crying if I hadn’t. I bet you thought it was silly of me to cry over such a little thing and I guess it was. I don’t know why I always pick on you to tell my troubles to. I guess it is because you seem to understand.
Please don’t ever make the mistake again of not telling me when you don’t feel good.
What do you say to getting the dash light fixed so that the B.F. doesn’t run out of gas in the wee small hours again.
1:05 a.m.
I just went down and had my lunch. The old man called me and then said he didn’t want anything. He was so sorry to disturb me. He calls us dearie or girlie. They told me to think nothing of it if he got cranky as he did quite often lately. I don’t know as I can blame him. He must suffer terribly.
I bet I will get a lot of sleep tomorrow. All the boys are back so now they can play Indians and pirates.
Will you give Lydia the quarter for my uniform and I will give you an I.O.U. until Sunday. There is no hurry. You can add the $.25 to the $98 I already owe you. You forgot to collect your half of what I earned last week or do we call it square since I paid for the gas and made Tex clean the windshield.
I am anxious to know how Florence likes her new place. She said they might come over Wednesday night.
Good night, Davie, and take care of yourself.
Ruth
September 5, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
My dear Ruth,
This ought to be Wednesday night since I am writing a letter, but the calendar tells me no, it is Thursday. Something is screwy. What is it?
Everything is going the same out here in the sticks, as Loretta calls it. Only worked three hours yesterday on account of the rain so with Monday out, the grand total won’t be very much this week.
Grrrrr, if you know what that means. I’m just grating my teeth to keep from saying something worse. I’ve only been called three times to do something since I started this letter. Whata life. I’ve got to go down to P.H. yet tonight after feed so I started this letter just in case I got delayed down there. You know my failing.
So you are on another case. What a combination, night duty and student pay, but I suppose even that is better than nothing. However, if I were you, I wouldn’t do a bit more than is necessary at that pay and if it is too hard, don’t try it at all.
If you are going to stay on it any length of time, I suppose Mrs. Herlihy will be wanting to get someone else in your place, and I don’t know but what it would be just as well. It seems to me that with colder weather coming on, there should be enough work so that you don’t have to stay there. What do think? It would be better to tell her you are going than to wait and have her tell you to go. Whatever you do, don’t try to do any work there thru the day just to hold your place there. It isn’t worth it. That sounds as though I’m giving orders, doesn’t it, but I guess you know me well enough to know how I mean it.
No, I didn’t and don’t think you were a baby for crying. Being homesick isn’t any fun. As for your picking on me to tell your troubles to, I’m darn glad you do. It pleases me to know that you think enough of me to confide in me, dear, so don’t ever try to hide anything that is bothering you. Your troubles are mine all the while.
Just got back from the big town and everything is running smoothly down there. Business is a little slower after the holiday. Macbeth is putting in his time down at the station now.
Brownie wasn’t so good at hiding her kittens this time. I found them on top of the hay mow, so now she has one instead of five. I suppose I’ll get bawled out for that, but it can’t be helped.
Well, my sweet, I’ll be seeing you Sunday about what time? Unless you say something different in your letter, I’ll try and be there between three and four your time and until then,
Bye, Bye.
“Me”
September 5, 1935
45 Brookline Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
I guess I had better answer your letter while all is quiet as I have no way of knowing how long it will last. I am still working nights. Believe me, this old guy keeps me stepping all night. It is 10 p.m. and the doctor just came.
I sure do have the luck pulling the swell cases and to top it all off, I have to get night duty.
Looks like I might be working Sunday, so if you want to and can, come up about 1:30 your time and we can go out. If it is hot, I won’t be able to sleep there anyway so don’t think you are depriving me of my rest. If I’m not working, I’ll tell Mrs. Herlihy you are coming so I won’t be able to change my plans.
Holy cats, I don’t know what ails me. I’m so tired and sleepy all of the time. I don’t think if I do night duty for the rest of my life I will ever get used to it. Some nurses refuse to take night duty. I’m not sure if I will stay here more than a week if the old gent lives. He takes very little nourishment and yesterday Mrs. Wallace (day nurse) said she thought he was going to die 3 or 4 times. All that kept him alive was whiskey. One minute he is cussing us out and the next minute he is blessing us. He sure knows how to be crabby.
Now I know why we always get along so famously, it is because you refuse to argue with me. I knew it couldn’t be my fault. You deserve a great big credit mark because I guess I am sort of crabby at times. I’m sorry your home life isn’t pleasant. It certainly can make a person feel darned awful uncomfortable just to listen to someone else argue. It sure was plenty embarrassing for me when the Myers family went into their dances.
I’m glad you are working again but you had better take it easy or you will get sick again.
I haven’t decided just when I am going home, but I think sometime in the very near future. I haven’t wanted to go home so bad since I have been in the city. Maybe if I go home for a while, I will have a little pep when I do get back. I certainly haven’t any now.
I just thought of a plan. Let’s do like the woodchucks do and hibernate this winter. Wouldn’t it be swell to go to sleep in October and not wake up until April. Just think of all those cold Middleburg to Albany trips you would miss or aren’t you going to make any this winter? I wouldn’t blame you much if you didn’t. It must be terrible. Anyhow I suppose since I have to pay for half the car, I’ll have to have a heater installed since it will be on my side.
Don’t forget to bring my uniform up Sunday. I guess you have already had your gum for last week. Don’t you remember I bought it and you paid for it? Unless you have taken it out, it is still in your blue coat pocket.
How do you like my pencil? My pen just went dry and there isn’t any ink in sight.
These people are Catholic and so is the other nurse. The priest was in yesterday to give Mr. Convery communion. It’s a wonder they keep me since I’m not Catholic. They told Miss Wallace I was a nice little thing. They always hand me a line, but it doesn’t mean anything.
I stopped to see Loretta this morning. I guess she won’t be on her case more than this week. She is about tired out and has a head cold. She wants me to go home when she goes on her vacation, and when we get back find some place where we can live together. As it is, we hardly ever see each other. I think that is one reason why I get so darned lonesome.
If Ben and Florence don’t come over before Sunday, I guess we are supposed to go over and get your clothes if they are finished.
The Herlihys had just got home from their trip when I got there. They had supper and left the dishes for me to do Tuesday morning.
Well, sweet, if you will pardon me, I think I’ll take a cat nap while the old gent is resting.
See you Sunday at 1:30 p.m. your time.
Ruth
September 8, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
What happened to the Sunday letter? Here it is Wednesday and it hasn’t arrived yet. It’s a good thing I got two Monday.
All that I’m going to say in this letter probably could have been put on a post card just as well. The idea is this, I got laid off last night and I can’t stand the thought of hanging around here doing nothing so I’m leaving for Adams tomorrow morning, Thursday. I’ll arrive there on the 4:16 bus so if I’m lucky and you get this letter, I’ll expect to see you there. Probably you won’t even get it until after I arrive, but I’ll get to the house some way if you aren’t there.
So long, dear, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.
Dave