This is the last of the correspondence! Unfortunately, this ends on a sad note, as Percy passed away shortly after the last letter. Some further notes about what happened after this will be detailed in a separate post.
(No Date)
Hello Hon,
Haven’t much time but thought you would like to know that Grace stopped to see Percy yesterday. She says his voice is stronger and he talked more. He had taken a little nourishment. He had about three ounces of milk.
Oodles of love,
Ruth
November 17, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
My Darling Wife,
Received your letter today, also your card yesterday. It is nice to hear from you so much.
I suppose by this time Billy is minus his tonsils and feeling rather miserable. I hope he doesn’t have too bad a time with his throat. Do you think it would be alright for you to come down this weekend? If it would, you know how glad I would be to have you. I’m getting pretty darn lonesome already for the sight of my honey. If you do come, I think it would be best for us to stay here for a short time if it is agreeable to you. I would like to see a few more things done around here before we go to P.H., especially some wood in the woodshed. I am going to try and get the pigs butchered this Saturday but of course I can’t tell for sure if it will be done until I see them dead. Even if we do butcher, it wouldn’t take all day and I could get up there fairly early Saturday night.
Work isn’t progressing very good down here. The only work we have to do at present is outside and the weather has been so rotten we couldn’t even do that. We worked Monday morning and then came home. Went up again this morning and had to wait until noon until it was decent enough to go up in the air. Unless they get some more stuff to work with, I don’t think we can get in all day tomorrow.
I got home Monday about 1:30 and went up to the garage. Took the radiator off and had to wait until after 8 o’clock before I could get any work done on it. Consequently, it was 10:30 before I got home. However, I did get my supper out of it and a nice piece of venison. We had venison steak for supper tonight and was it good. I wish you could have had some.
Yep, the pajamas are OK. I thought I told you. Boy, they sure feel good these cold nights, but they will be even better when my wife can go to bed with me. Itch and all, I’ll be glad to have you, honey.
My cold is still hanging on a little but not bad at all.
Well, darling, it is 8 P.M., my bedtime, and I am running out of words and ink. You do just what you think is best about coming down, hon. I want you all the time and anytime and can come up just as well one time or another.
Goodnight, darling. I love you.
Dave
November 24, 1936
Adams Center, N.Y.
Dear Ruth and David,
Percy has been taken to the hospital this morning by Dr. Alden. The bloat went from his legs into his abdomen. I had Joyce come up to stay with Billie last evening while Bill took me down there. His breath was very short because the bloat was so bad. He certainly looked bad and suffered with the pains across him. Janie said she put a clear mustard plaster across him and he said it was his only relief.
Billie is coming good and gargles salt and soda good.
This isn’t much of a letter, but I think the Parker children should know about Percy. I hope you got home all right.
Love,
Mom
[Note from Janie included]:
Dear Mother,
Dr. Alden came last night at 10 P.M. and is returning this morning at 8 or 8:30 to take Percy to the hospital.
It’s all I can do. He wants to go, he has suffered so.
Pray that he gets well.
Janie
November 30, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dearest Ruth,
I am sitting in my usual position in front of the stove trying to keep warm. It is going to be very cold tonight I think. Only ten above now at 6 P.M.
I suppose Lydia has told you of the troubles I had getting home. Just before I reached Barnes Corners I was congratulating myself on the condition of the roads and thinking I would reach home by seven at least. I guess I went nearly a quarter of a mile on that road that wasn’t plowed out before the car stopped and I realized I couldn’t make it. I had to back all the way up and maybe that wasn’t fun. I had one of those grab chains with me and by changing from one wheel to another and going a foot or so at a time I finally made it. I was just four o’clock when I got back in A.C. and started again. There was plenty of snow all the way to Little Falls but this side of there it was good going. Even the ice that was on the road when we went up is gone now.1
The same old story greeted me when I went to work this morning. The trim or at least some of it is there and they started putting oil filler on it this morning and promised we could use it tomorrow. If I don’t start work tomorrow, I don’t know what I will do. It wouldn’t surprise me any if I didn’t get in more than a day at it anyway. I don’t know much more about putting on trim than you do.
Your pen hasn’t arrived here yet. Better find out for sure if Mother sent it. It might have been overlooked.
I went to P.H. this afternoon to look at the potatoes. They were alright. I dumped them out in the bin and covered them well with sacks so I don’t think they will freeze. I also brought a bushel up here.
Mrs. White came over today to find out about Percy. She was glad she went to the effort of getting over to tell us when she found out about it. If you want me for anything, don’t be afraid to call there only if it is convenient to do so. Call some time during the morning rather than late at night.
It was awfully lonesome trying to go to sleep alone last night but I finally made it. I don’t know what to say in my letters now, sweetheart. I know just how things are up there and there isn’t much I can say that would be of comfort. Don’t be afraid to call me for anything you may want me for, and if you think you will have to stay a long time and want some of your things, let me know and I’ll get them to you somehow.
Take care of yourself, dearest, please and give both Mom’s and my regards to Mother. I love you, dear, and always will. Let’s be thankful we have our love and health even if we aren’t together all the time.
Yours forever,
Dave
December 2, 1936
Adams Center, N.Y.
Hello Honey,
Once again I am writing to you in the morning. Last night Lynn and June were here and by the time they left I was too tired to write. They have been staying over to Glenn’s for the last two nights.
Bill and Grace took Eva and family home yesterday and aren’t home yet. No doubt Bill couldn’t get the work done on his car.
We had quite a snow storm yesterday. We must have gotten over a foot of snow yesterday but fortunately the wind hasn’t been blowing. Have you had any snow yet?
I went up to see Percy Tuesday afternoon. He was glad to see me and asked for you. Yesterday he seemed to be growing weaker and I think he wasn’t very comfortable but he says he isn’t in pain. He is taking very little nourishment only a little fruit juice which he objects to. To the surprise of everyone yesterday he asked for some good beer. He said he wanted something awful sour and bitter to drink.
Percy in his garden, 1918
Lynn talked with Dr. Calkins (the surgeon) yesterday and asked him whether or not there was any immediate danger. He said no but that Percy is failing much faster than he had expected. He had thought he would live several months but now it might possibly be two weeks.
However, Percy did get mad and called the nurse on to the carpet yesterday because she didn’t get him some beer. That looks sort of like he is getting to be himself. I don’t believe his mind was quite so keen yesterday as it has been. They say he isn’t getting as many hypos.
Mom says Bill sent the pen and if it hasn’t come by now to go to the P.O. and inquire about it.
Fran says if you come up this way to bring his tools along. I hope you have had more luck working this week.
My hives are still with me and I am sure they are caused from nervousness.
Mom has spells of feeling bad. She feels awfully bad because she can’t see Percy and he keeps asking for her. She says to tell you and your mother that she appreciates all expressions of sympathy. She tells me every day how much she thinks of you and how lucky I am to have you.
I think Lynn is going to try and get home today if he finds Percy the same.
It sure seems good to have Lydia and Fran here but I sure do miss my husband. How is the cold, honey? I hope you do take care of yourself.
They tell me it is almost time for the mail man so maybe I had better close. I’ll try and let you know how Percy is and if anything happens, I’ll call and tell you.
Lots of love and kisses,
Ruth
December 2, 1936
Hello Hon,
Received your letter tonight and I’ll get busy at some kind of an answer. What a time you must have had up there Sunday night. It will be a wonder if you don’t get sick yourself. Don’t try to write letters when you are so tired, dear. Just a few words on a card will let me know you are alright. I appreciate the letters of course but I feel so sorry for you I don’t want you to use one ounce of energy that you don’t have to.
I can’t help but think that it would be more merciful if the end would come quickly. I think Mother would be able to get over it more easily and certainly poor Percy can’t be enjoying the time that he is allowed on this earth. However, we are only mere humans after all and can’t be expected to fully understand the workings of God’s mind. We must just believe that what He wills is best.2
I’m glad to hear that Mother is bearing it so bravely. She has the will to do it I know, if only her physical being can stand the strain. Give her my love and sympathy. Mom says she wishes she could say or do something to comfort both of you.
Just in case you should call me to come up, dear, I want to remind you that the weather is very changeable and if I shouldn’t arrive when you think I should, don’t worry. For instance, today has been and still is a terrible day. If you had called today, I wouldn’t have dared to start out tonight and the way it is snowing now the roads might still be blocked in the morning. All this is just to impress on you, dear, how uncertain it is that I could get up there as quickly as we did Friday night. I was even worried if I would get home tonight. It snowed all day in Jefferson but down here it turned to rain this afternoon. Now, however, it is snowing again and if it keeps up all night, I may not get to work in the morning.
Oh yes, I am working for a change. Went to work Tuesday noon and got in a full day today. I have the huge amount of $10.50 coming Friday night.
You can tell Fran I think he may find a couple of butts under the floor in the toilet. I seem to remember putting a couple down thru the crack.
Well, darling, I can’t seem to think of much more to say. Remember, honey, if I can do any little thing, don’t be afraid to ask me. I love you, dear. Please get all the rest you can and take care of you for me.
Your hubby,
Dave
Percy and Janie Parker, 1917
Footnotes
- Barnes Corners is only about 16 miles from the starting point in Adams Center. For a full interactive map of the route that Dave drove from A.C. to Middleburg, click here, and scroll down.
- Percy Parker died on December 5, 1936. He was the eldest child of Jennie Sedgemore and Carlton Parker, born in Henderson on September 11, 1893. He was a machine operator at New York Air Brake in Watertown and married Janie Shaw in 1917. Janie was a school teacher, as detailed in this post here (with photo). They had a huge garden from which they sold vegetables (see photo). He is buried with Janie in the Union Cemetery, Adams Center, NY.