Each letter is transcribed below:
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Dear Sister and all,
Ed (Trixie's brother Edgar Jones) just brought up all of your letters and the electric iron. Hope you are all well there. You take Geo at his word and come right on over. I don't think it is as hot here as it is there. I am so worried about the babies. Juanita was so tickled that she just ran around like a chicken with her head cut off. You need the rest and the change. Lucile will soon be home. Papa says every few days something about you all coming. He said several times that if he had the money, he would send for you. You could get someone to look after the chickens. They wouldn't need much looking after. Hope Byron is all right. DIdn't he give you his letter? I told him to. I told in it that I think I got the package. J was so tickled over her things. She thinks the little doll is grand. I wrote you yesterday and also sent a package. Guess you will get them today. I hope Martha's baby is alright. (I think this is Martha Ann Gideon-Hiatt- Trixie's sister-in-law whom she loved dearly) Suppose they took it to a chiropractor. I guess I will quit and get to ironing. The power doesn't come on until about three. Just get your things together and come on. Hope you are feeling alright by now.
Lots of love,
Mother (Annie 'Mama' Jones)
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June 15, 1917
Dear Sister and all,
Well as the rush is over, will write a few lines so will be sure to get it mailed this evening.
Suppose Lucile wrote you that she as going to get married maybe the last of this week. I don't know why she didn't come home. She wrote me first of the week to send some things for her and to finish the blue things. I was just about sick for several days and didn't get much done. So when I did get it started, it did take me longer than for I just got them off this evening. I heard C (Clarence McDonald) left here yesterday eve to enlist. So I guess he went to W. too don't know where he has to go to enlist. I don't see why they would want to marry and then him enlist. If he passed, he would have to go right away. She might have wanted her things last night. Guess they can wait. She said they were going to Okla City and then maybe by your house and then she was going back to school. We got the Rabbits off too. Give one to Martha's baby. There are only 3 left. They are awfully tame. I had to crochet some more lace for L. All of it had to be out on by hand. I also made L a pink crepe night dress. If I had enough time, I would have made her a little one piece blue slip or something like that and put a collar of the yellow crepe on it. Doesn't seem like she has any suitable clothes but guess she knows what she wants to do- Tell Byron we received his letter and his money order and will write him soon. Just wrote him a few days ago. I also enclosed for you a picture of some of those dresses if he doesn't forget it. Dad is about ready to depart. Don't know what place he will be going. Edgar left for Okeen for the harvest fields. I look for him to land in Avant before long. He didn't say anything about going tho'. Has Stanley came up yet?
I am having to watch the incubator pretty close now as it is about time for it to hatch. I have only 148 little chicks now. They all seem to be doing just fine. I want to try to get a little sewing done next week. Haven't made J anything yet. I may want to go to Colorado with Stanley. I mean go out there after he has been there awhile. I am afraid he would be called. So not sure what to do. I must quit and get busy. Had to let things go this morn to get those things ready. Write soon and kiss the babies. Gladys came yesterday at noon. Mr. Scott came came up after Geart last night and brought the babies. Couldn't see them as it was about dark and they didn't come in. They are about the size of yours. Juanita went to the lake with Carrie yesterday evening about 7 and stayed all night as they were going about this morning early and cook breakfast, She hasn't come home yet. I never can find a stopping place but must quit. Lots of love to all- Mother |
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Dear Trixie and all,
I will write a few lines this beautiful morning. The wind will be blowing hard before I get through. It is almost 10 o'clock. Juanita went home with Leta. They will bring her the first of this eve. Edgar went to Okeen for a few days ago. I believe I told you I haven't heard from him. Well the expected has happened. Suppose you heard that Lucile and Clarence were married Thursday the 15th. They wrote me to keep it a secret. They can't keep it a secret so no use to act so silly. I certainly hopes she finds in "C" what she expects. He is a good boy but so young. She may be at your house now but didn't say anything about going when she wrote. I expect their means are limited. I know what L would like to do. I am waiting for the dentist to come up and pull my teeth. I decided if I had to get it all done, I might as well go ahead and let Dr. A. do the work and get it done before your papa left (for the army). He talked of going today but will wait until about Tuesday. That will give me more time to get his clothes washed and in order. I suppose you got the little rabbits. I aim for you to give Martha's baby one of them. I forgot to tell you, when I get my new teeth I am going to make some kind of arrangement about the care of the chickens and then I am going to visit somewhere. I might go to Texas to grave houses. Maybe L and C can keep house by that time that is if he doesn't join . He was going to take the exam. I don't see what he means to marry and then leave right away. Well, I will quit. It is about time for Dr. A to come. Did I tell you that Gladys came? Write. Lots of love- Mother |
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Dear Sister, Your letter of 19 was received this morn. We were glad to hear from you but sorry you are having such a time with your tonsils. Say, it is a capital idea for you to bring those babies up here. It is hot . Has registered 106 last wednesday but cooler now. I am sure that the heat here is not so oppressive as it is there and the change would be of benefit to all of you. If the babies were to get sick, we can care for them here better than if you were at home. Talk it over with Geo and act as you both think is best. My business is picking up but it is not the best season of the year for collecting. Let us hear from you at once. Lovingly, Dad
ps- the electric iron came today. |
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| Dear Sister, Mom had all of her teeth extracted this a.m. Is still on the bed from the effects of gas. She is now the toothless wonder. We have not had anyone rain here yet. I am expecting to start for that part of the world in a short time. I sent the babies Friday one each for Geo Lou and Geraldine and one for Martha's boy. Love to all- Dad- |
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| Dear Sister and Geo- as mama is writing I will not write much. Many thanks for the candy, cigars, etc. which I found on returning from our dinner of turkey at the officers mess. Mama and Juanita came Monday about one. Did Geo Lou and Geraldine get their xmas presents from Papa J? Love to all- Dad |
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| Dear Trixie and all- Juanita wrote your card thus am. We came out here about 11:30 and your papa has been on duty all day and will be until 9 am tomorrow so we haven't got to be with him all the time. This is the third time he has been on since he came back Thanksgiving when he returned from home. Thanksgiving he was on that day and night after getting in at about 12:30 pm. We have had a very pleasant visit but it does not seem like Christmas for we have all been home on xmas with the exception of Stanley and Shelley. We are all certainly scattered now. I hope you all had a nice time. I know the babies did. The doll heads I sent may have not fit and you may have not needed them. I thought they were so hard to get that I would get them while I could. I know you wanted some last summer. You sell them if you don't need them and get them something else. I intended to have written you the day I sent them but was so busy and had to go to dentist every day that just didn't. The bag was not an xmas present. I just sent it to you. I couldn't give (rest of letter is missing) |
