[page 1 is missing from this but here's the rest, apparently Pop Shinn had just made a trip to Miss. by himself on the bus, since Johnny was born in Nov 1942 I would guess this was written in the summer of 42. I'm not sure what the pick-poke was unless it was one of the 9 foot long sacks used to pick cotton]-jlt

...giblet grave, had cooked corn and corn on the cob, creamed potatoes, fried okra, apple pie, grape custard, pickles, tomatoes and fresh light bread. I made a loaf last night and one tonight. Pop ate so much dinner, said he couldn't get filled up. He didn't eat anything much on the trip back. I didn't have to cook while he was away. Jo and Doug do not eat much and I thought it a good time for me to reduce. I think I surely should loses some weight the way I was always on the go. I had to get up at six o'clock and milk five cows, first go to the back side of the pasture for them, get through and get back in time to get Jo and Doug's breakfast and get them ready to go with Quintine and Evelyn at 7:30 as that was the only way they had to catch a ride to Bible School. They went every day and on Friday I fixed lunch for them to take for they all put out together. The preacher made lemonade and they had a good time. Miss Boger from Rocky Ridge (She is Supt. Boger's daughter, of the Jackson training school). Though her father has resigned as superintendant and H.G. Hawfield has taken his place.

Well, I started out to tell you she helped in the Bible School. The preacher's wife and A.B. Cook's wife helped too. Several days they had 40 children in attendance. A good many from Gilead attended. Miss Boger was with the preacher and his wife at services Sunday. They had their suitcases packed and were all going from the church to Washington DC. Mrs Scott's brother who is in the Army was getting married and they were going for that. Mr. Scott was to perform the ceremony. Miss Boger was going to visit a friend. She is very nice, I liked her. They were coming back the last of the week. Mrs Scott said as soon as they got back she was coming to see us and check up on Pop's visit to Mississippi. Quintine and Evelyn were here this evening and were amazed at the pick-poke and the ratlers.

Aunt Missouri, Lottie, Edna Lee, Sonny and Bruce Barnhardt's daughter came right after dinner and stayed about an hour. So Pop has been showing the pick-poke and the ratlers and telling about the wonders of Mississippi all day. Yes he showed the onions too. I ate some of one onion for supper. It is good. We gave Buren one. They certainly are large. You better sell them for they will rot before you know it. I think you can get a good price for them and I know you and Ruel won't eat many.

There were so many things I wanted to send you when Pop went but I couldn't get anything more in the suitcase and I knew it would be useless to ask him to carry a package. I thought sure I would be able to send one of the light weight quilts I made last winter. Could you use some of the cloth that was used in the aisle of the church to make little sheets? If you can I will send some of it. I have not made any of it up yet. Our family wants to send you either a basinet or baby bed. We can have it shipped from the store. Which would you rather have?

It is raining here tonight and the ground has been wet for almost a week. I had a card from Harding saying they were going to be moved but he didn't know where. He said another boy went to chruch Sunday and a doctor and his wife invited them for dinner and drove them around the city afterwards. They enjoyed it.

Dulcie has accepted a job at Prisslars Jewelry store where Ruby Suther worked. She is leaving for school at Brevard. Did I tell you about receiving a letter from Ruby L? She likes her work better than ever and is having a wonderful time. Vernon has a job with a construction company and is making more money than she is, so at last their financial worries shoud be over. I wonder?

Salisbury and Kannapolis were honored with a visit from Mrs. Roosevelt. Ruth Shinn saw her. She came in the office where she works. Ruth says she is not as homely as her pictures though she is a very large woman. Lottie said Lottie Virginia shook hands with her. Rev Clark escorted her down to Kannapolis from Salisbury. Her lecture to the negro boy scouts has had unfavorable comments. Several white organizations had invited her on a number of occasions to lecture and of course they felt peeved when she accepted the colored folks invitation after having turned theirs down.

Ruth is having the preacher and his wife to dinner Sunday and she is all excited. She has had the menu made out for weeks. She wants us to come over for supper. We are having our club picnic Saturday night.

I must close this rambling and go to bed. Pop went to bed before dark and he had already slept all evening. He said he didn't sleep any on the bus. He enjoyed his trip and liked all the people he met. Tell Ruel that he thought Mrs Dorrah good looking and very intelligent. Said she could make a good talk. I wish he could have met Ruel's sisters. The negroes amused him. Said they could tell some wonderful stories.

Love to you both,

Mother