[May 7, 1943-jlt]

Friday noon

Dear Mavis,

I have only one sheet of paper, so I will try to write smaller than usual and also less. Received you letter this morning and am glad you and Johnnie are alright. Two weeks have passed and I suppose I am getting used to this "way of life". Don't go and get homesick before you get your visit out.

No rain yet, but there has been a very strong wind blowing out of the southwest for two days and it is partly cloudy, so maybe it will not be long now. I am going to start them to chopping cotton, vines and grass Monday. Will get all the fertilizer out this week.

After Mama wrote Mary Emma about Snip being sick, here she comes in to see about him. She came Wednesday afternoon. I think she is going back this afternoon. The dog may be a little better now. She is in there talking to him now, as if he was a human.

I got certificates for a tractor and two truck tires yesterday and I went to Cleveland after them and who do you suppose I saw? They made me promise to come to see them Sunday. I promised to go Sunday after church. The Mrs promised to have a big supper. They asked about Johnnie. I am going to carry two or three of his pictures for them to see for I am very proud of that little fellow.

When you get ready to come home please get a Pullman for the very best mode of travel is very tiresome. Forget about the price. Go ahead and see the doctor about yourself. If you need an operation and want to have it done up there it will be OK with me. It would be a good excuse to stay much longer, for I expect it would be a long time before you would be able to travel again. Johnnie, be a good little boy for your Dad.

Love,

Ruel