notes from a letter: Mama to Mamie Feb. 19, 1931

After Papa Atwood died in June, 1929, Mama tried to work for a long time.  She sold books door to door and later on Avon, which took her from town to town in south Texas.  Finally the kids all pledged $5 a month to help her with expenses. Thurston, the youngest child, was still living with Mama and trying to finish high school.

"….I had only enough money to pay for water, lights, gas and butter, and paid a dollar and twenty five cents for the little Turkey I got for Xmas dinner. And one dollar to give Thurston for his dues for agriculture at school. Frank was the only one to give me any money for this month up to the fifteenth.

So far this month butter is the only food bill I have paid for January and knowing that the boys don't get too large a salary it makes me uneasy to be getting in debt."

"(Thurston) works at a creamery every Saturday all day.  Gets only $1.00. He bought a shirt for each day's work. He got down to only one shirt to his name, except those that was rags. One of them had split and been sewed up nine times in the back. Next Saturday he wants to get him a belt."

Thurston, Papa Atwood, Edward and Frank in 1928