Mama reviews a serial from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

August 23rd, 1928

Mama Atwood only had a third grade education.  She made lots of spelling and grammar mistakes in her letters but it was her own way, and I feel like she should have this voice that is in her letter.  So, here is the original transcript of her letter:

Believe me I have sure been lonesome this week.  But I have kept pretty bussy  and when I was not so bussy I read something to keep from thinking.  There is a Serial by Warwick Deepening in the Star Telegram now.  Title The Three Generations.  So far I like it better than I did Sorrell and Son.  

It seems as though it will be something like Sorrell and Son only the bond of deep Love and respect will be between the Grandfather and Grandson, as much of it as I have read is worth reading.  Get it from the Liberry and read it, as I think you will like it.There is not even tolerance between the Grandfather and Son an Uncle abhorance but tolerance.  And the father is ashamed of the Grandfather and kept the son in ignorance.  But the Son knows and spends a lot of time with him.. 

"I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle"

(Mama Atwood had her grown children living with her from time to time when they were struggling to make a living after the Depression.  One day she tangled with her oldest son Edward who was already married to Laura Fischer.)

****You know for over a week he had been eating on me.  And I didn’t like that and was mad because he grumbeled at what I had to eat Sunday.  So he was fixing to take Bud to Sipe Springs and I got through in the kitchen and went into the room where he was & he was sitting on the side of the (bed) with his feet in Laura’s lap & she pollishing his shoes.  I said Well I’ll be durned & Sat down like I was exasperated to death.  And told him I had never pollished my shoes where Frank Thurston Harrold or Jack Rambo was and here he was having his wife pollish his now I am compairing you to Jack Rambo.  He didn’t say a thing.

Laura is doing Ruth's work including Washing & Ironing with mine thrown in for their board.  And the folering day after I told hiim the above I was down on my knees mopping the dust up under the radio and it was playing.  He was just getting up and told me twice to tell Laura to come there.  She was out in Ruth’s kitchen busy.  

I reached up and turned down the radio so I could hear him.  And said what he said never mind rough like and called her and told her to give him his pants.  and when he did I let out on him.  I said I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle.  The idea of a lazy man calling his wife away from her work to get anything within four steps of him.  and that he wasn’t reared to have anyone get his things for him.  He just looked up at me and said he didn’t know where they was.  

But I told him  he had an Idea where they was.  See he had just told me his old weak mother to get up off her knees and go tell her.  I said nothing about that though.  But if Frank or Thurston had heard him they would have told him to wait on himself.  Well anyway, he helped Laura that day dried dishes etc. and got out and worked in the yard and watered flowers etc . and has worked some every day since even to trying to saw down one of those big mesquite trees with a hand saw.

Alma, Frank and Ruth at school 1924

Frank, Ruth, Alma with her child Cleve B 1928

Dear Mamie,

I got your letter today.  Also one from Alma.  She is practicing up on the typewriter, to get her a job.

Frank started to school this morning :”Wednesday” he is going to specialize on Typewriting, Shorthand and English & Math. I asked him to get them to let him do that, so he can get him an office job. He is so little that he never good make a living any other way.  And he likes to be clean & wear good clothes all the time, too.  

I don't know if I can manage to pay for the course & Ruth’s music too or not.  and keep him in the kind of clothes he wants to wear to school.

Ruth’s music costs me $7.00 per month this year.and Franks course I know will cost $2.00 per month, beside other incidental expences.

Ruth will take domestic science & of course that will be an other expence on me.  Dad will pay Part of Ruths science expenses though.  I may have to make Ruth drop her music but I am not if I can possibly help myself.

She gets a credit for music.  & she is tickled to death about it as she is trying to finish high school in 3 years.

She is a Soph. this year & Frank is still a freshman.  I nearly cry when I think about how my boys has done about high school .  Son is not anything but skin & bones.  and yet I can’t get him to quit work and go to school

Edward quits going to school 1924

(Edward was the eldest child of Manning and Mama Atwood.  He was Mamie's half-brother.  He was a very successful businessman and lived in Comanche most of his life.  His business was the Atwood Hatchery.

Mama wrote her very often about her life with the rest of her brood.)

I can’t for the life of me see why I can’t make or get Son to go back to school.  He got mad because I wouldn’t let him go right that evening & get him a pair of trousers & I can’t get him to go back at all.  I have offered to get him pants and even told him to go & let Gille measure him for a suit & he won’t do it.   

I met one of his teachers yesterday & she said he was passing in every thing & is just simply brilliant in science or chemistry, one or the other I forgot which.  It absolutely is worrying me to death nearly.  Dad seems indifferent about it.  But if I was big & strong enough I wouldn’t worry one bit I would whip him & make him go or put him out to hustle his own grub one or the other.   Well I must close

Lots of love      Mother

a few days later:

I received your letter and check today and am now returning check as I Positively cant get or make him go to school . I dont know what is the matter with him he just gets right bull headed when I speak about it.  so I have about give up if he wants to dig ditches and the like all his life, I can’t help it. he is old enough he ought to realize the value of an education and he is too large for me to whip & make go.

A letter from Mamie at age 11

(Mamie is the tallest child standing in back on this photo.)

Mamie was age 11 when she went to MIssissippi to share holidays with her father's family.  She wrote this letter home:

Dear Family,

I am having the best time.  I got more things Xmas day .  Cousin Fayette gave me a pair of bedroom slippers.  Mattie gave me a chamois skin and three hankercheifs.  Aunt Mattie gave me a hankercheif.

Cousin Hattie gave me a nice book.  Aunt Mary gave me a nice pair stockings.

Uncle George Blair Matties papa gave all of his children cousin Mattie and Couosin Fayette and Aunt Mary and myself a ten dollar bill.  Gordon or Buddy came Xmas morning but he didn’t know I was here.  He said he was going to send me something.

Uncle Will Hover gave me some hankercheifs.   Uncle Morgan Blair Matties Papa’s brother gave me a large nice box of chocolate candy.

Hattie, Mattie, Buddy and myself went to Pickens Monday morning and got back lst night (Tuesday night.)  we had a fine time we went out automobiling and had a fine time.

I have been doing so many nice things I haven’t had time to write.

Uncle George Blair is going to send me a picture of Papa.

I went out to the cemetery while I was at Pickens and saw Grandma. and Grandpa King’s grave,  my two aunts Mamie and Hattie, and aunt Hattie’s children.  I certainly had a nice time.  

Buddy went back to Memphis Monday night.  Mr. Blair went back to Takuloh (?) Sunday night and Hattie is going back to school tonight (Wed. night.)  Me and Mattie will be here by ourselves.

Aunt Mary said if she was able she would write a few lines, but she is in bed.  

One reason I didn’t write sooner, I wanted to tell you all what I got Xmas.  What did you all get?