Concord, NC

January 14th, 1948

Dear Mavis,

We received your letter yesterday. Glad you were well. We are all well; my cold is gone. It is very cold tonight. The weather report says it is going to be down to 12 degrees tonight. I hope it doesn't stay this cold long. We had a lot of rain yesterday.

Pop and I helped Buren kill his hog Saturday. We ate dinner over there. It was cold Saturday and the children wanted to be outside. I was afraid it would make them sick, for Jewell has been having the croup for several nights. Buren came by today and he said none of them were sick from being out.

I had a letter from Harding today. He was well and said he wasn't coming home this weekend. Dulcie came for me last night to stay with her while Buck went to school. He has to go two nights a week. Ronny was at Sunday School Sunday. Then they brought him over Sunday afternoon. It had been three weeks since I saw him and he had grown some. He is trying to talk and can say "baby". His hair is getting long and he looks more like Howard. Ruth is working at the office this week.

Muriel has invited Pop and myself, Buck and Dulcie and Howard and Ruth to eat dinner with her Sunday. I told her I would fry a chicken and take it. We haven't had any chicken since we killed our hog and I think it will be a change. My hens ae laying more than they had been. I am not milking the cow now so do not have much outside to do. I don't have much cooking to do either.

Jerry was telling me about writing Johnny a letter and was wondering if he received it. He said he got five A's on his last report card. Victoria said the teacher told her he was the best student in her room, the best behaved too. Said she told the children if they were all like Jerry Shinn teaching would be a pleasure.

I think I am going to have to go to bed to keep warm; seems like the fire doesn't make the room warm.

Love,

Mother

Thurs. Morning: Last night was the coldest of the winter. The official report was down to 8 degrees. The sun is shinning and it is warmer at 12 noon.

(also attached to this letter was this note to Johnny):

Dear Johnny:

I was over at Jerry's Saturday and he learned to ride his bicycle. At first he couldn't put on the brakes, but he soon learned how to stop it. He rode it nearly all day. You must answer his letter for he will be looking for a letter from you.

Lots of love,

Mama Shinn