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  • Walter E. Dandy Letter 11/23/1909

    1214 S. Mass. Ave.

    Sedalia, Mo.

    November 23, 1909

    My Dear Son,

    …Received your letter yesterday. Glad to hear of you feeling well and able to beat your professors. I did not consider it hot air but mighty fine news. We are looking forward to the time when we shall see and hear great things of you and we will be well repaid for your long absence away from home.

    Mrs. B. came down. I would have liked to have told her, but I complied with your wishes. Be sure and tell us everything for that is better news to us than railroad news is to you.

    Well Papa just came in, had a fine run as good as when you were on. Last time he came home he deadheaded to Parsons to hear Debs. He was delighted with his talk. I guess he will tell all about it. I don't think he will have much railroad news. If he has any I don't know of it. I do know this. That this is the month he makes 11 trips. But you know as well as me how hard it is to get him to lay off. He is always ready for any extra that comes along.

    Well you will be surprised to hear that Polly's wedding has been declared off for the time being. Foraker is down with Typhoid fever. They took him to Maywood Hospital last Friday, so we can't tell what the outcome will be. Mrs. B. came last Thursday and also came yesterday. She says she has spent $300 for Polly's clothes and things for her house. She paid $27 for one hat, $65 for two suits. She did not say what her white satin cost. The white satin was only to be used when invited to swell occasions. And Foraker was going to order her one of the swellest theatre cloaks he could get so as she could wear it over this white dress. (If Polly doesn't have more occassion than she has had she won't need it very much.) The mother talked as if they had been makeing too much over the wedding and it might have come for a purpose. Polly stays every evening with Foraker.

    It is surprising the way the mother talks about Polly. Sometimes she says Polly has a sharp tongue. She has had more heartache in the past 3 months than ever in her life. She says Foraker came out one night and Polly was not in a very good humor. He said what is the matter with Polly. We will have to lock her in a closet. The mother said not lock her but tie her tongue. I have been getting it with her sharp tongue but soon you will be getting it. She says if Foraker or anybody had said the things Polly said to her she never would forgive them. They have been building big castles in the air. How soon they can crumble, it sometimes takes only a slip. She says there is a great weight of her mind since Foraker has been sick. Polly seems to take it all right.

    Stanley is not doing much. Foraker wanted Stanley to come and see him. He said he believed Stanley would pull him through.

    We went out the other day to visit the east Sedalia folks. We went to the Hospital to see Calkins. You would not know him. His face is so thin and his stomach looked like a big pouch of water. He says he swells up every night. He says the Doctors say he has heart trouble, dropsy, Brights disease, and I don't know what all. He seemed cheerful. He says Mrs. Dandy you don't look a day older than first time I saw you. I felt very sorry for him. I don't see how he could get well.

    We went to Millers. You never saw a dirtier place except in Millers. The company wants to compromise with him. She gave them the lowest dollar she would take, $3000 and Miller he gave them his lowest dollar he would take, $4,500.… Then we came to Kate's. She seemed alright. She has lots of chickens. But you could scarcely walk on the walk for dirt. I was glad we had got out of there.

    Then we went to Mrs. Meyers. Everything nice and clean and the sweetest baby. She gave me its picture. They were asking about you. Hiram Carter is down with typhoid fever and is pretty bad. And Willie Bains in Letts store has just got over it. Miss Lunz called there this morning for me to go to a prayer meeting at Mrs. Weir's but I had gone. She was asking about you and said she had a couple of cards from you. Her Father doesn't gain much strength. Just able to get around. I believe you ought to send the old man another card. It will please him.

    I often go to the meetings with Mrs. Minnier. She…has quit eating breakfast for fear of getting fat.

    I am glad you like your suit. I thought somewhat of getting a suit. But Papa (J.D.-Mama) says I don't go out much. Not much good to do so.

    You get you a nice pair of shoes and not get cold with your summer ones and I think they look out of place with a heavy winter suit.

    …I sent you the Democrat. Do you want us to have them send it to you? It would cost about $5 per year. If you have a sample of your suit send it.…

    Your loving Mother

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