Page 2

Page 2

September 27th

Dear Grant,

     Just received your letter. Was glad you are getting along so well in chemistry. I sure do hope you get good grades. It sounds like you have good meals and I bet you do enjoy your milk.
     I don't see where you got all the money from to get so many things. You only had $35 to start with. You said you gave $20 for registration, $5 for room, $4.50 for board. That's $29.50 besides all your books, laundry bag and other things.
     How are you getting along for pants. Guess your light ones are getting pretty dirty. Will send you enough next month to get a pair like Rex's. (Rex Tolman was Grant's roommate at college). Ask him how much they are. I want you to figure out just how much you will have to have next month and let me know.
     Roe hasn't the cellar finished yet. He has so much to do. Don't know how he's going to get it all done.
     LaVarr's sitting here by me. He says to tell you he's not feeling very fine. He sure does feel miserable. I am just sick about him.
     This isn't much of a letter. I had so many things to say, but can't think of a thing right now. I want to get this and your laundry of f before 6:00. Thora got a letter from Effie. She said you sang Sunday. She likes it fine up there. There was a wreck down by the railroad crossing. It cut one woman right in two and hurt some men. Don't know just all about it yet. They were from Oakley, Martins and Smiths.
     I'm glad you are having a good time at the parties. Write soon.

                                                                         With love
                                                                          Mother

October 1, 1933

Dear Grant,

     Thought I would write a few lines this evening. The boys are out doing their chores and are going to church. LaVarr wanted to go to bed and wanted me to stay with him. He's feeling about the same. His face and feet are swollen, but don't think his stomach is although it's awfully sore.
     We sure had a frost here last night. Froze all the flowers, all the fields were white. We gathered all the squash and carrots yesterday.
     Roe was going to start to dig beets tomorrow but the beet man came and told him the beet dump was closed until Wednesday. The sugar factory had more than they could handle.
     We received your letter yesterday. I won't send this until I get some money to send.   What are you doing for clothes on Saturday? Should I send your old bib overalls and sweater? I washed it and it doesn't look a bit bad.
     You said your pajama pants were too big. If they are too big around, I can take a dart in them, if you want me too. And tell me how many inches too big they are.
     Sorry you and Rex didn't get any work. Have you given your name to Mr. Jones yet?   If not, do so right away so that if anything comes up, you will stand a better chance.
     I am sending you $25, about all I can spare until the 15th. We get our bonus from last year's beets and then you can have your room and some of your board until then. Be sure and get your pants because I don't want you to wear out the pants to that suit. You will need for second best.
                                                                                                                         October 5th

I have been looking for my check every day, but it hasn't come. Am just a little worried about it. Will beat it to Twin Falls as soon as it comes.
They have started in the beets here this morning. Roe and James (Clausen) are hauling, Claus (Clausen) plowing, and six toppers, so they shouldn't be long getting them out.

(Note from Thora included:)

Mother received her check this noon so she left for Twin Falls, so thought I would finish her letter and get it off to you.
Hope you are having a good time and tell everbody hello for me.

Love from all
Mother and Thora and the rest

P.S. I read the letter just now. Good thing I didn't send it. Mother was going to send some money in it after she came from Twin.

(Mother writes) LaVarr is about the same. Took him to Twin today. He's asleep now. I bought me a lawn mower today. We just had to have one if our grass does anything. This is sure a funny letter. I started it Sunday and here it is Thursday. Hope they haven't kicked you out of the dining hall yet.

Love
Mother

P.S. I was just sending to post (office) when Goldie (Tolman) called up and said the bishop was coming up in the morning and that you had sent your laundry, so will try and get it ready to send it back with him if we get it. She said you wanted Rex to help you with your chemistry. Is it hard again this year? Your laundry didn't come so will send this by mail after all.

October 22, 1933

Dear Son;

     Received your letter several days ago but thought I would wait to write until I sent your laundry back but haven't received it yet.
     Ruby and Thora just came back from the post office and I thought sure it would be there but it wasn't.
     Today is Sunday and conference at Twin Falls but no one went from our house. LaVarr hasn't been feeling so good the last few days.   He is so nervious I hardly know what to do with him. (LaVarr died six days after mother wrote this letter. She never mentioned in these letters about what it was like losing him, but in her history she wrote "After Lyman passed away we had a siege of measles in the school and LaVarr, one of the twins, had them and it left his heart in a very bad condition. The Doctor said there wasn't a thing he could do for him. He might live a good many years or go at any time. He lived until the next October but was almost an invalid all that time. He was such a sweet little fellow and we missed him terribly")
     Say but was I glad when you said you had more money than you knew what to do with. I think it rather a good idea you have about your board if it only works. Was also glad to hear you got such a good grade in exam. Keep it up. What was it in? I can hardly wait to hear if you made the quartett. We are surely having some cold nights. They havn't started to dig our potatoes and beets on the other place. They finished Clausen's potatoes today and I think will start on ours tomorrow. Lincoln and Claus put theirs in our new cellar so it looks like a real potatoe cellar now.
     How did your date come out? O.K. I hope she is a nice girl? but then you surely wouldn't make a date with any other kind. Does the Sessions girl go out with boys or is she to young?
     The family all got their report cards last week. LaVell, Forrest and Marks were good, but Arlin's Thora's and Roland's weren't very good.
     Roland has his teeth fixed up at last. The Dr. said his nose was in a bad shape again. I don't know what to do about it but guess there's nothing more to do. Roland bucked sacks of potatoes for Browning yesterday. I expected him to be about sick abed today but he seems just fine.
     Thora also has a job on Saturdays working for Days. She only gets $.50 cents for all day. It seems hardly worth while to let her go only for the experience. I want her to get a job next summer if she can. It will help if she can earn some of her own clothes.
     Did you get your jacket cleaned? I guess you could use a sweater with sleeves in now, and maybe would like your Mackanaw. If so could maybe send it up with Parley sometime.
     They are having a shower on Bill Egbert tomorrow nite but I can't go, so guess I won't bother to get anything.
     How is the play coming? Is it a good one?
     I don't think of any more to write this evening. Thora and Ruby are practicing the mutial operatta for the Era drive. Thora is supposed to play for it but I'm afraid she won't be able to.
    Write soon.

Lots of love from everybody.
Mother.

     Grandma Bates address is:
               Mrs Luvena Bates
               571 Pugsby Ave.
               Salt Lake City, Utah
     Have you seen Mrs Masters yet?

November 1933

Dear Son

     I guess you think I am not going to answer your letter and I don't know just why I havn't only that I have been gadding so much and LaVell has been quite sick the last two days. He has had the croup or something. I thought for a while he was going to choke to death but he is better today. I had Clifford and Judson (Tolman) come down and administer to him.
     We are sure having some nice weather in the day time. Roe finally got one door up (potatoe cellar) and has gone to work on the bridge so guess I will have to get some one else to make the other. The potatoes have already frosted a little so Jim said this morning they are getting ready to sort. In the morning we sold a car load for $.90 cents. I had to hire some men from town to put the lights in the celler, Guess they will do it this afternoon.
     Lincoln brought us a half of a venison. Wish you were here to have some.

(Thora writes)

Hello Grant. Thought I'd say hello. Hope you are doing fine. I am doing better in school this six weeks than last. Ruby got your letter this morning. She asked for it last nite and the old lady (post office) wouldn't give it to her or said she didn't have any but it came on the route this morning. She's sure mad. I surely like our singing teacher this year. A good voice. She's started to plan the Christmas program. I'm in one song, but probably the only thing. Roland wants to write a few words.

Love Sis

(Roland writes)

I thought maybe I would write a few words. We are having quite a time in music. A good many of the boys went on a strike and quit music for a time at least, but not me. I like it quite well.
Hincliff has to lead the singing with his cornet and he wanted all of the school kids to come to cover up his mistakes with loud singing. Today at the fourth period he had us go down to the music room and practice with him.

(Mother writes)

This is as funny letter. but I just couldn't think of a thing to write and I want to get it off tonight so you will get it tomorrow. I washed your laundry Monday and went up to Goldie's in the afternoon. She ironed the shirts and I mended the socks. I enjoyed the afternoon a lot, also my dinner I had up there.
Lincoln gave me the rest on the hay $24.00. I am going to send it all to Paine. (Funeral home that took care of Father)

Write soon
Lots of love mother

December 7,1933

Dear Son;

     Just a few lines this morning. In a hurry. The half hour bell is ringing now (you could hear the school bell from our house) and I want them to post this. They are just eating breakfast. We were sure lazy this morning. I don't know what's going to become of us if we don't come out of it.
     I was surely sorry to hear of your accident but so glad no one was hurt. It certainly is a miracle you weren't if Bion was driving as fast as you said he did coming down.
     Roland was glad to get his money. He did just fine with his talk. I certainly got a lot of compliments for him. Also for your talk in the afternoon. Everybody said you said some wonderful things, especially about your mother and it makes me feel real proud and happy. I get so much praise from everybody about my family and hope they will live up to it always.
     The book I wanted was the Doctrine & Covenents (don't think that's spelled right but can't think now).
     Thursday evening I started this letter this morning with good intentions but didn't get far. They are using all the pens with their studies so am finishing with a pencil.
     I went up to Picketts this morning and stayed all day helping with a quilt. We sure had a good dinner.
     James (Clausen) loaded the last of the potatoes today. We had to resort the #2 potatoes.   James is coming up to Pocatello tomorrow. Wish I could come with him. He is going to bring Doris (Clausen) up and stay until Sunday. I don't think of any more to tell so will close and go to bed. Write soon and be good.

Lots of love Mother

(From Grandma Luvena Bates - she was 77 years old)

December 27,1933

Dear Grant

Merry, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, also to Rex. I got your grand letter Monday. I would have wrote you sooner but as you mentioned, you were sending a Christmas gift. I wanted to see it. I never got it until today. I had moved to another place nearer the Temple. I sure am surprised at your grand and noble ideas about your parents. I am thankful you think of following in their foot steps. I am also glad you think I am worthy to be remembered in connection with them. I am sure the Lord will help you if you ask him to be as good a man as you father was. Judson always spoke so highly of him. I wrote your mother last evening. I told her what a wonderful letter you wrote me. I felt like I would be glad to send it to her. As I had not answered it, I could not. I will keep it until I go there next summer. Thanks a lot for your picture. It is very fine. I am glad you are staying with Brother Session. He has been blessed with good parents. One thing, you are older this year and the influence of the place you are living in will help you a great deal. I am well and comfortable. I have not felt the cold. We only had a few days of cold weather. It is warm again now. There are so many young people coming to the Temple now to be married. I hope you will not ever take any girl out that is not a member of our church. Do not let any one see this scrawlings. My pen is poor. It is the worst writing I have done.

With loads of love
Your Grandma Bates

January 18, 1934

Dear Son;

     You said you guessed you shouldn't be writing when you did, but if you knew how we like to get your letters you would write every chance you get.   I surely hope you get along OK in your semester exams and was so glad you were improving in your lab work. I feel sure you are going to come out O.K. yet, but of course it will be lots of hard work.
     The youngsters have all gone to the show except Thora and Roland. They had to stay home on account of basketball tomorrow nite. The girls play Twin Falls again. They have beat Twin twice you know, but Twin wanted to try them again. The boys play Hollister. The boys and girls played Filer Monday. The M. girls got beat by two points. It was sure some game. The boys got beat pretty bad. They sure have some giants down there. Our boys looked like dwarfs to the side of them. Thora made up some work and got back on the team.
     They all got their six weeks average yeaterday. They all did real well except Thora and Arlin.
     How is your work coming? You never mentioned it. How long do you think it will last?
     Clark Kleindoff, the manager of the town team, keeps asking if you are coming home. They have heard some say that you may not stay the 2nd semester and they are sure anxious to have you on the team. Stapleton has asked several times also if you were coming, but here's hoping you are not. Do the folks know when they will be able to let you have some more money. You will have to remind them that it is almost time for the 2nd semester. I put in my application for a job on the C.W.A. (I don't know the name of this company, I only know about mother working for the telephone company as the town telephone operator) Guess I will get something but don't know what it will be. Do you think I can handle a job and a home to? I think so. We are surely having spring weather. I have begun to think we are not going to have any winter.
     Mrs. Bronson had a new baby at the hospital yesterday and it died this morning. I don't know what was wrong but it wasn't right some way when it was born. It sure seems too bad when a mother has to go through so many months of suffering and then not be able to have her baby. But I guess it was all for the best if it wasn't right. I sent your laundry off today but forgot to put one of your pictures in. If it was any one but Grandma I'd say she should of held on to the one she had if she wanted one, but she seemed to want Emily to have one so bad so guess its O.K.
     Was glad you drew a nice partner at your institute affair or one that showed you a good time. You never said what her name was. maybe I know her parents if she was from Oakley.   Goldie was telling me about Rex's lemon as you called it.
     Oh yes, what in the world have you been wearing you only had two shirts in the laundry in two weeks. Did you forget to put them all in?
     I will close. Write whenever you can. I know you are real busy. Good luck in you exams.

Lots of Love Mother

P.S.
Your theme was just fine I thought and I will take good care of it.