Concord, NC

October 23, 1941

Dear Mavis,

I should have written you last week but seems like it is so hard to settle down to writing. Buren and family just left. I had planned to write tonight so when they came I thought, "Well I won't get to write again". So if I should mention something which I have already written don't think I am losing my mind.

The Indian summer continues. We had a light frost one night but it didn't hurt anything much. I had already gathered most of my tomatoes and what I left in the field I covered with hay. Dulcie gathered most of the beans Saturday evening while I went to town. I hadn't been in town for so long, I just had to go. I got a new hat. I wanted a dark blue but couldn't find one in the shape that was most becoming. It is blue but I don't know what shade you call it. I like it and think it looks well on me and Pop thinks it is pretty. Dulcie likes it but thinks it is too young for me. You can ell the lady you stay with that I certainly don't feel as old as I look in the picture, and not so stern as I look either. I think it is such a pity we can't look like we feel.

How is cotton picking progressing out there? We don't have much more. Robert Dowmum has been staying here and picking the past week. We had a couple hands from town today. I think we will get over it by Saturday.

Aunt Missouri fell in the bathroom and broke her left arm near the wrist. She is able to be in the kitchen. Jean is improving steadily. Sunday before last Ruth and Howard and Muriel and children were here for dinner. We had finished eating and were all sitting at the table dreading to wash the dishes when Harding came to the door and said "Lets go to Boone's Cave". We jumped up from the table and was ready in a few minutes. Muriel said she would wash the dishes when we got back. We all went in Harding's car. The NYA has fixed up around the cave and it is so different from when we were there. You can go a short way into the cave. The original cabin burned down and a stone marks the place. There are steps and railings leading down to the cave and it is clean and a nice place to go. Douglas enjoyed it.