(1951 October 22)
Last night we went to the Halloween Party as "Ghosts of the Past" - LL with grin at being comfortable in your Ripon sweat shirt, and I in Helen Tucker's pleated skirt, sweater decorated with frat pins and rolled stockings. Everybody whooping around and had a great time. Very peppy entertainment committee - never an idle moment. DW [baby]sat, asleep when I got here and wouldn't believe it.
June 7, 2009
June 6, 2009
Just as well forgotten
(1952 October 9)
Guess what KE is teaching Maggie in Music! "The poor old slave has gone to rest"! I try to sing it with her but neither of us can remember all the words let alone the iggledy wiggeldys. [A scout camp song that proceeds by variations, e.g. "The pigglty-poor old sliggity slave...." ]
Guess what KE is teaching Maggie in Music! "The poor old slave has gone to rest"! I try to sing it with her but neither of us can remember all the words let alone the iggledy wiggeldys. [A scout camp song that proceeds by variations, e.g. "The pigglty-poor old sliggity slave...." ]
June 5, 2009
Playhouse
(1951 July 20)
The old Shack [Skip's "clubhouse," built in 1940] faded away as of 10:06 on Tuesday when it opened its door to ten eager youngsters anxious for a Playhouse. Ken carried out the mattresses, JC and MM<6> and her gang gave it a good scrubbing, and towards evening it was dry. So Billy brushed the cot and carried it in before it rained, and all the little girls began keeping house. Now it is nothing to see small misses tripping about in high heels with mammouth purses and funny hats, coming and going to tea parties. Ah, the old days when the Army made its quarters there [for Skip's games]! Tempus fugit.
On the playhouse - one girl, R, couldn't get it through her head it hadn't once been used for husbandry - I should say poultry - "What used to be in there, chickens?" - MM: "Chickens didn't used to be in there - Skippy was."
The old Shack [Skip's "clubhouse," built in 1940] faded away as of 10:06 on Tuesday when it opened its door to ten eager youngsters anxious for a Playhouse. Ken carried out the mattresses, JC and MM<6> and her gang gave it a good scrubbing, and towards evening it was dry. So Billy brushed the cot and carried it in before it rained, and all the little girls began keeping house. Now it is nothing to see small misses tripping about in high heels with mammouth purses and funny hats, coming and going to tea parties. Ah, the old days when the Army made its quarters there [for Skip's games]! Tempus fugit.
On the playhouse - one girl, R, couldn't get it through her head it hadn't once been used for husbandry - I should say poultry - "What used to be in there, chickens?" - MM: "Chickens didn't used to be in there - Skippy was."
June 4, 2009
Dolly
(1994 October)
I called a maid to bring me a drink and fold up a blanket I crocheted, and she said, "Be quick. the boss said I should be out of here by ten." I said, "Hurry up and go. It's that now." So she went. She must be the oldest maid, Dolly. People say when this place opened she was the first one to apply. She says she has a husband lame from a car accident, she works here and does housework for other people not able to do their own. She did what I asked and tickled me under a protruding foot and took off.
I called a maid to bring me a drink and fold up a blanket I crocheted, and she said, "Be quick. the boss said I should be out of here by ten." I said, "Hurry up and go. It's that now." So she went. She must be the oldest maid, Dolly. People say when this place opened she was the first one to apply. She says she has a husband lame from a car accident, she works here and does housework for other people not able to do their own. She did what I asked and tickled me under a protruding foot and took off.
June 3, 2009
City lights
(1951 October 4)
Of course you may [leave the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and] go back to Ripon [College] if that's your dish. If you do, don't you ever dare open your mouth to your father or to me on how it is dull there or here or in any other small town - not ever. We don't want to hear how there isn't anything to do. But change if you like.
Of course you may [leave the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and] go back to Ripon [College] if that's your dish. If you do, don't you ever dare open your mouth to your father or to me on how it is dull there or here or in any other small town - not ever. We don't want to hear how there isn't anything to do. But change if you like.
June 2, 2009
Compartmentalized
(1952 September 23, after travelling by rail from Boston to Chicago)
Our compartment was a scream, especially the bathroom. Ask me at Thanksgiving. When your father arose in the morning, he found the vacuum jug had leaked orange juice over everything in his black grip, and from his language one would never guess he had been at a Christian Convention. Every time he'd turn around, he'd knock his head when the train jerked, or a dixie cup would collaspse on him. It was a rare sight, and I lay on the upper berth shushing him and inwardly laughing and shuddering by turns.
Our compartment was a scream, especially the bathroom. Ask me at Thanksgiving. When your father arose in the morning, he found the vacuum jug had leaked orange juice over everything in his black grip, and from his language one would never guess he had been at a Christian Convention. Every time he'd turn around, he'd knock his head when the train jerked, or a dixie cup would collaspse on him. It was a rare sight, and I lay on the upper berth shushing him and inwardly laughing and shuddering by turns.
June 1, 2009
Stamp storm
(1951 September 20)
Last night I went in the study after I wrote you to see how things were coming and immediately stamps of 200 countries in alphabetical order leaped into the air and hurled themselves about. Vexed, LL stooped to pick them up. I started for the door but not soon enough - accidently LL hit 2 boxes (in order) he'd worked months on and they fell into the big box, all mixed up. You can imagine the state of your father's feelings! Feeling much like a black cat, I slunk up to bed before anything else happened.
Last night I went in the study after I wrote you to see how things were coming and immediately stamps of 200 countries in alphabetical order leaped into the air and hurled themselves about. Vexed, LL stooped to pick them up. I started for the door but not soon enough - accidently LL hit 2 boxes (in order) he'd worked months on and they fell into the big box, all mixed up. You can imagine the state of your father's feelings! Feeling much like a black cat, I slunk up to bed before anything else happened.
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