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Martha transcribed all the letters with their unique spelling, punctuation, and grammar — or lack thereof — so they are immortalized here as originally written...
Dear Daddy,
This morning we went to find the moose tracks but we couldn't seem to find them, but we found some fresh deer tracks instead. I sawed some wood for Mother. I painted one window sill. I found a new path in the woods. I went over to Darold's house and had lots of fun playing tag in the hay manger and I saw their little blak calf to.....we fixed the holes in the ceiling. i'm sorry that this is the end well goodby but i have to go to bed and heres a few kisses****++++.
- John, letter to James on June 20, 1932
Dear Daddy,
... After that when I saw that the kitty was asleep I put on a doll dress. I was surprized at the way he acted. Then we went for grocreys but the men had not come home from town yet so I went home and built a fire with Mother.... well I guess this is all for today so goodnight....
- Ruth, letter to James on June 21, 1932
Dear Daddy
I sure wish that I would here from you this morning Ruth and I went out and played in the woods then we made forts out of little tiny oak trees I made a bow that was taller than I am. and made six arros Mr. Shaw came over and gave us two big, northern pike Well Im sorry I have to go to bed here a nice kiss good by.
- John, letter to James on June 23, 1932
Sunday June 26th 1932
... We had a dandy rain Friday afternoon, although we almost drowned in the house. We had pans sitting around all over, but the beds, clothing and cupboard didn't get wet.... I have curtains at all of the windows except the one by the stove ... and it really looks quite cozy ... I like it more here every day and I think we'll get along with everybody as soon as they get used to our being here....
- Martha, letter to James on June 26, 1932
Dear Daddy,
How are you I am fine gee but we fixed up the shelter keen. to bild the roof bigger we Put 4 new boardes on then we took two big logs each about six inches round and about two yards an twelv inches tall and put the poles on top and nailed them there After that we played hunter and trapper gee but its fun to play it. well goodby I have to saw some wood now heres some kisses and don't forget the last one is a hug.
- John, letter to James on June 29, 1932
Dear Daddy,
We got the mail box put up yesterday. John and I had a tea party. I put Betty June at one end of the table and Mother at the other end. John and I sat on the bench. We had cake and fried eggs and Mother made some biscuits and we read stories the rest of the evening. Im sending my money to you to buy things for the 4th of July. I will write a list of things for you to get for me. I would like you to get the book called "Robbenson Cruso". Here are a few things you can get. 1 box sparklers, 1 gun.2 caps, 10 paper sacks for noise. Well this is all so goodby.
- Ruth, letter to James on July 1, 1932
Dear Daddy,
The old tomcat hasent gone away yet. Ruth put a tam and a belt on the little kitty, but the tam fell off and he must of thought the belt was too tight for he started in gnawing it. well good night I cant think of any more. heres a few kisses.
- John, letter to James on July 1, 1932
... As for farming up here it can never be done unless you make every cent you can. There is the interest on the mortgage the 1st. of August and all of the taxes should be paid up this fall. We'll never make a go of it if we start out loaded with such debts. You had better not take any more time off until fall and then come prepared to build us a suitable house for the winter.... We want some chairs badly....
- Martha, letter to James on July 6, 1932
... Now James, you had better forget other people's troubles and try to find a way out of ours. In the first place you've said nothing about our having the car. Before we moved up here you promised us the car and you also promised to work with us and do anything you could to make us happy and comfortable. We need the car to get supplies. What you pay in postage would more than keep up the car for the little we would use it.
Now James, you must face this. We want to stay here and after thinking things over very carefully we will be much farther ahead by spring if we do. It costs us very little to live here and ... if you are willing to work hard for the family welfare even if it isn't so pleasant for you and me as individuals, we'll earn independence sooner....
- Martha, letter to James on July 13, 1932
... We sawed down three trees and the biggest one we had the most fun with. John and I sat on each end of it and Mother sawed, and when the log cracked each of us sat down on the ground. and you can imagine how funny we looked....
- Ruth, letter to James on July 16, 1932
Dear Daddy,
... Daddy please tell me when you are coming I won't tell Mother nor John and it will be a serprize to them. Yesterday the little kitten caught a mouse and it was still alive and the mouse bit my hand then the little kitten ate the mouse. well this is all the news for today so goodby.
- Ruth, letter to James on July 16, 1932
... We walked over to Mrs. Shaw's Friday evening and brought home a young rooster. There being no one else to do it I chopped its head off with the new ax, plucked it and cut it up ready for the kettle. We all wished you were here to help eat him....
- Martha, letter to James on August 28, 1932
... Jenson's have cut and shocked most of their corn and hauled the rest home. We dug some more potatoes. Mr. Jenson Sr. helped us and we got some fair sized ones. He told John to use the sharp edge of the hoe but John told him his Daddy had showed him the right way to do it....
- Martha, letter to James on September 9, 1932
... Daddy made himself a rice pudding yesterday. Wish you could have been here to help me eat it, as the rice swelled so much that I had to have two dishes to bake it in....
- James, letter to Ruth on September 18, 1932
Dear Daddy,
... the little kittens look so funny! we've got names for them all. one is chief long claws, and another is heap big sqwack, the reason we named him that is because one night he fell out of bed and sqwacked as loud as Tomas himself. Another is heap big gent and the last one is chief eyes open because he was the one who had his eyes open first....
- Ruth, letter to James on September 18, 1932
Dear James,
... The package came and everything was good. Mr. Vokes, one of the neighbors, butchered a beef and peddled it around. I bought enough for soup, barbequed beef and a roast. It was 8 cents a lb. and what I bought cost 68 cents....
- Martha, letter to James on October 14, 1932
... It is nice and cozy in here this morning and thru each window I can see pictures as pretty as any painting. We let the cat stay in at night now. She caught a mouse last night. I have the car covered and it is close by the north window. With the snow it is easy to tell if any one comes around the house and where they come from....
- Martha, letter to James on October 31, 1932
Dear John,
... I hope you help Mama get in wood every day because that is a boy's chore and seeing as how Daddy's away you will help for me....
- James, letter to John on October 31, 1932
...
... We are sorry you can't get up for Thanksgiving. It will be a lonesome day for all of us. Still we have a great deal to be thankful for....
- Martha, letter to James on November 18, 1932
My dear John,
I wish I could have been with you today. It is so lonesome here without Mamma and you kiddies. Today is going to be a long one. I got up at 4:30 this morning and thought I could get a day run along with my night run but so few laid off that I only made about a dollar extra taking cars over to the Snelling shops where they are repaired. Today is nice here, the sun is nice and warm and there is no wind, just a fine day to be outdoors. I want you to write and tell me how you spent Thanksgiving....
- James, letter to John on November 24, 1932
... We must be as saving as we can I guess. Tho I don't think anyone could make the money go further than we do. Come up as soon as you can....
- Martha, letter to James on November 28, 1932
... Just a few lines to keep you posted. I got a copy of the Schools Laws from the County Supt. yesterday. We would be subject to a fine of $50.00 if we don't send the children to school without getting an excuse, so I wrote to him that I would bring the children to school. Mr. Shaw changed the oil in the car for me this morning and started it by cranking and it runs just fine...
- Martha, letter to James on November 28, 1932
... About 2 weeks ago Mother and me gave Betty June a oparation and we glued Betty June's teeth in and glued the top of her head on and Mother combed out her hair and put vasolin on it and curled it. I made Betty a pair of new white stockings and a pritty new white dress....
- Ruth, letter to James on November 29, 1932
... The ends of my fingers and nose were frostbitten last week, and I have had a time trying to sew or knit or do anything. I am knitting a little outfit for Ruth's doll and we can give her the cloth and ribbon and she can make the doll dress herself, and if you want to make a little boy happy give him that ax. He'd rather have that than skates or anything else and I don't believe he'll get hurt....
- Martha, letter to James on December 11, 1932
Dear Daddy,
... I told the cat that she wasent going to see You for a long time and she meowed and stared at me for a long time and then went back to sleep again. Well this is about all so by-by.
- Ruth, letter to James on January 1, 1933
Dear Daddy,
My ax sure has been busy splitting kindling.... I made a little farm out of colored paper. It has sorrel horses and guernsey cows and shropshire sheep and a round roofed barn and a chicken coop. and I have a house with shutters and a brown door and a truck and a team and a wagon and a granary. and a hedge.... Well I have to stop because Mother has to scrub the floors....
- John, letter to James on January 15, 1933
... These people are hard to understand, they always make so many wise cracks about city folks a good deal like you do. It seems so silly. Each one knows best about their own way of living and working, why run the other fellow down because he doesn't know someone else's job as well as his own? I don't pretend to know much about farming but I do hope the garden and chickens etc. turn out well and that will speak louder than words....
- Martha, letter to James on January 24, 1933
Dear Daddy,
What do you think we could do for lice. The cat has it. today we gave her a bath with lysol in it, and used soap on her and then rinsed her good and wrapped her up in my pink baby blanket and dried her. I made some book ends a day ago and they turned out swell. Gee but we sure have a heap of snow it's clear up to the window sill by the table....
- Ruth, letter to James on January 29, 1933
... It was 8 below zero just before sundown so I'll have to keep the fire again.... It gets more lonesome all the time. The children have fallen asleep at last. They had a giggly streak tonight. We all send big hugs and kisses to our dearest Daddy.
- Martha, letter to James on February 5, 1933
Dear Daddy,
How are you? I am fine. I made a little rag man he is stuffed with wool from the lamb skin Ruth made a lady thay both got married then I made a airplane out of the matchbox you sent the candy in. thank you for the candy. I am writing with one of the pen pointes you sent. I made a parachute for my little man well the mailman will be coming any minute now so good by....
- John, letter to James on February 7, 1933
... We are reading "Silversheen" over again together and just finished the race tonight. We looked up the places in Ruth's geography book. They each made an airplane out of match boxes and played they delivered airmail. We really appreciate all the good things you send us....
- Martha, letter to James on February 7, 1933
... We are reading the Bible quite regularly.... I wish you would think of such things and pray once in a while for we surely need a higher wisdom to give us courage to carry on now. I know it means a lot to me and when we get together again I hope we will all be closer together in spirit and be able to build a happy home, for that is the biggest thing in life....
- Martha, letter to James on February 7, 1933
... The children made out an order for seeds. Ruth wants to try to raise peanuts and John is going in for peas. It won't be long until garden planting time is here. If we keep busy the days pass by quickly. And you are doing the most important thing of all, earning money so we can keep this farm....
- Martha, letter to James on February 7, 1933
... We're all feeling well and looking forward to the time when we'll see you. There always seems to be something lacking. As John says, everything would be all right if only Daddy was here too....
- Martha, letter to James on February 12, 1933
... Yesterday the teacher sent home a note asking me to keep John home until he can behave himself. She picks on him all the time and of course he teases her when he can. It's amusing after getting a copy of the school laws saying I have to send the children to school....
- Martha, letter to James on February 17, 1933
... We had a breakfast of cakes again and last night we had fried ham for supper. Living up here has taught us the value of food--believe me we don't waste one speck or drop of anything. I guess we can learn something of value from every experience if we try....
- Martha, letter to James on February 28, 1933
... I have a Dr. and Dentist living at our house now, Ruth is the Dentist and John is the Dr. I had one tooth pulled today and tomorrow I have an appointment to have my teeth cleaned and I had to take Betty June to the Dr. for stomach ache and then I had a finger that needed to be wrapped up, and I am suffering from heart trouble and need to see the Dr. at 10 AM about that. I invited them to supper tonight and asked them if they would like to room and board here and they said they'd like to so that's that....
- Martha, letter to James on March 1, 1933
