Here’s an interesting letter. I’ll tell you why after you read it.
My Dear Husband,
We arrived here about 12:15 yesterday. Didn’t have a bit of trouble on road. Traveled about 30 and 35 miles per hour.
Bethel got beat by 2 votes (by John Bell) in the election. But Bethel knows of at least three that he can throw out. He is considering contesting. So he may get it yet. Esther Davis (Bethel’s step sister) is here hoeing for him.
LaRue made the journey pretty well. She got tired though. She was mighty glad to get to lay on the bed when we got here.
Newell Wayne still talks about Daddy going to walk out here.
Gary and Berwyn are having the time of their lives. Gary rides the donkey nearly all the time. Then they have a little tin tank of water out here to go bathing in.
Ernestine and I are planning on going to Edna and Barneys this afternoon.
We’re still intending going to Francis’ tomorrow. Ernestine says they sure are in a hard fix. Said Mr. Francis told Papa they were going to have to go to bed if they didn’t get some clothes some way. Said they had only 2 sheets on the place. Mr. Francis sent his last dollar by Papa for some oil to be sent out. I kinda hate to go over there but am anyway and think I will go by the store at Courtney and get some light bread and stuff for dinner. Maybe they won’t take offence.
I’m anxious to get on to Coahoma and the farm and see all the folks.
You can send me a letter to Coahoma tomorrow night and I will get it Thurs. morn. Then write me at the farm.
I’d give a dollar for a good old sweet kiss this morning and to hear you say you love me. You’re too sweet.
I hope you don’t get too lonesome and don’t forget your family that loves you so much. Very much love
Your wife, boys and girl
The letter is written from Jessie to Alvah and mailed from Midland, Texas, July 26, 1932. The envelope is to A.H. Tate. Gary Tate and LaRue Shanks, who were mentioned in the letter, gave it to me. They are old friends of mine from Big Spring and good supporters of CRF.
Here is what is interesting to me. “Francis” is my family name. It is a last name not a first name. The family that was down to one single dollar was my family. Mr. Francis was my grandfather whom I have never met. He had a family of thirteen and died shortly after the last one was born. My family sharecropped on the Tate’s farm near Tarzan, Texas. It was the depression. It was so nice of the Tate family to let them farm. But it was even nicer to help give them food when they were desperate and down to their last dollar.
I am very concerned about poverty. And I try so hard to get people food all over the world through CRF. But this story set me back. It was my family. We usually define poverty as existing on a dollar a day in our present world. I know that this story was in the depression. But they were down to their very last dollar. And then they spent it. I guess it is good to know your roots. It was helpful to me to know that not very long ago my family came from poverty. I’m so glad that the Tates fed us. Indeed, it makes me want to pay it forward. It seems like we have so much in our country and age today. But just a generation ago, it was very different. We have it good today because people gave to our families—and indeed, things changed. And they will continue to do so for the people in other places whom we help today.
