I have one more out-of-sequence letter before we get back on track. This one was written in January 1919 by Rae Johnson, Melven’s wife (Melven was the author of the letter in the previous post).
Melven (or is it Melvin? I’ve seen it spelled both ways) mentioned in his previous letter that Clara might remember his new wife Rae. Certainly Rae writes to Clara as though they are close friends. Rae is thanking Clara for a baby bonnet that Clara sent to Rae’s new baby daughter, Betty.
The letter doesn’t contain much of genealogical value but it’s interesting to read about the real-life impacts of the post-WWI economy and the influenza epidemic.
A couple of the people mentioned in the letter are Tillie (Melven’s older half-sister) and Elwood (Melven’s younger brother, apparently serving in the military in some capacity).
Jan. 31, 1919
Dear Clara:
I certainly must apologize to you for not having written sooner to thank you for that lovely little bonnet you sent the babay but it seems like I just couldn’t get to it.
We have moved twice since the first of the year and you know how that upsets everything. We were renting a furnished house from a lady whose husband had gone to war. He came home about Dec. 1 but they said there was no hurry about us moving until we found something desirable so of course we put it off because houses are very scarce here.
Well Jan. 16 she called us and said her husband had the “Flu” and they would have to have their house that afternoon. It looked for a while as though the street would be our next abode but some kind friends invited us to live with them until we could find something. After about a week of searching we found an apartment but it was not furnished so we had to buy furniture for it. Everything is so high that we just got what we had to have.
We have excaped the Flu so far and as it has nearly died out here we may be lucky enough to not have it. They have had so much of it here and Melvin has been worked to death in the store.
The baby is three months old tonight and of course is getting cuter every day now. We haven’t any pictures of her yet but I will send you one when we do. This town is out of baby carriages so Betty hasn’t been out yet but we are expecting to get one any day now. We are having such lovely weather that it is a shame to keep her in. If it were cold and stormy I wouldn’t be so impatient for them to come.
Elwood was expecting to get home this month but now he is being held about a month longer. He is seeing lots of sights that he never would see any other way. he went to Chicago to spend Christmas and I guess had a glorious time.
We had a lovely letter from Tillie the other day. They are all well again.
I can’t tell you how I appreciate that little bonnet. It is sure sweet.
Write to us some time if you find the time but I never blame anyone for not writing because I am so neglectful about such things.
Love,
RaeBox 95 – Idaho Falls – Idaho
