Malvina, Mississippi

Sunday Afternoon

[May 30, 1943]

Dear Mavis:

Another Sunday afternoon has come around and I have plenty of time to write to you, if only I had something to write about.  The little news that I know is bad and I don't think a sick person would appreciate it.

Mama has been sick all day.  She had another one of her spells this morning.  She had seven or eight convulsions.  I went up to Mrs. Logan's and called Dr. Cockerham and he came down here and gave her some medicine.  She has been unconscious or asleep all day.  Mary Emma called up yesterday afternoon wanting me to meet her in Cleveland this afternoon on the one o'clock train.  I am glad she did come. I think she wanted to come to see how Snip is getting along.  He is just about dead.  I hate to say it, but I will be glad when he dies and gets through with his suffering.  I don't think there is a chance of him getting well.  I suppose Ruthel will stay longer now than she intended to when she came here.  I hope she will stay longer.

We are getting too much rain now.  It stayed dry for so long and now it is making up for the dry weather.  The middles [of the cotton rows] are full of water and have been most of the week.  It is going to rain again from the looks of the clouds.

I went to Sunday School this afternoon.  The crowd was very small.  Dalton Moore and myself were the only ones in the Adult Class.  Mrs. Moore was sick and Miss Glenn taught the class.  I talked to Mrs. Moore yesterday afternoon in Lewis's Drug Store.  She asked about you.

Dr. Patterson was asking about you the other day.  Someone had told him about you having the operation and he wanted to know all about it.  He said it would be a month before you would be able to travel.  He went on to say that when he was operated on they wouldn't let him drive a car or lift anything for several weeks.  You know him without telling anymore about what he said.  After using a few curse words, he said you should have come on back here and let Dr. Noble operate on you. I don't think I would want him cutting on me.

Leon and Ella are having a time.  They still have Tommie in the hospital.  Ella is also in there.  I suppose his condition and worry is what is wrong with her.

This page is about Johnnie.  I was writing and thinking that I had written two pages and hadn't mentioned his name. I wonder what he is doing this afternoon.  I imagine you are home from the Hospital by now and if so you are seeing plenty of him. I think all the family is anxious to see him.  They are always talking about him and wondering what he is like now.  I can't imagine what he will be like myself.  I know that two months couldn't possibly make so much difference in him. I suppose there is a greater change in babies than anything else.

I could go on writing some nonsense but I will stop and go do something to get my mind off of you and Johnnie.  Believe it or not.

Lots of love, Ruel