7/21/1923 and now the mirror has reflected

My Darling Florence;

Hurray – Today I received the most wonderful letter from a little girl in Houston what I think the world of. It was so nice the way you wrote to me, so kindly and the letter I wrote to you the other day, sure made me think. I don’t know why I wrote like that. Florence Dear even if I did think that I misunderstood it I shouldn’t have written back to sarcastic and impudent. I am sure sorry it came about that way. Let’s not say any more about it, what do you say. The old devil must have been in me. Florence you say that maybe I don’t care anymore. Maybe I don’t look forward to your letters like I used to. Florence my Dearest you cannot realize how good those letters are to me. Johnson is always kidding me about it. He can always tell, when he comes home, whether I have gotten a letter or not. He says that I the longest face on me when I don’t get one. I was surely disappointed yesterday, when I did not get a letter from you. Florence maybe my letters have been rambling, but listen Dear don’t you realize I went through some misery since July 5. Don’t you think that may have something to do with things. Florence I care just as much as I ever did, can’t you realize it and believe me. I don’t see why you can’t. I did hurt you the way I talked but I really did not mean to and now the mirror has reflected and made me feel a little uncomfortable. But we are going to forget all that foolish stuff, don’t you think our little sarcasism is foolish. I do. Florence I think that I know what is wrong. I am just jealous. But I am going to cut it out. It doesn’t pay. I am foolish too. very foolish at that. Florence if you could just have a wireless and hear some conversations some time you would see who cared and how much.

I must tell you how my leg is getting along. Wed nite I went to work and about 3 am it started swelling so I had them bring me home. It was not use those. They say that is customary after laying up so long. Just as soon as I went to bed it all left. My leg doesn’t hurt anymore and doesn’t swell, so I will go to work tonite. Of course I don’t do much. But I am going to sit down, C?

Florence it sure seems years since I have seen you. Every day I count one day off my list. Just how many more days will it be. You can’t realize how you run through my daily thoughts. I have been gone six weeks and it seems like six years. But let’s try to let time take it’s course dear and it won’t be so long.

Lots & Lots of Love

Fred

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7/21/1923 all the other youthful attractions

Caguntown

July 21, 1923

My Great Big little girl; By the time you get this you will have passed out of your sixteenth  into your seventeenth. You are having the most wonderful year of your life. Is that not what you said. I expect you will have a glorious time at your dance at Sylvan, will you not. Who all are going, do I know em? It’s so unfortunate that you had to have your birthday on the same day as Marjorie Lewis has her wedding. So many more would be in the bunch. I have just written you a letter and I suppose you will get up in the morning. Writing again today I can’t find much to say but I will try to. As I haven’t much to do and I want to wish you a very happy time July 24 and I hope you will have many more. Gee I wish I could be there to help you celebrate as you surely did have me celebrate mine and I never will forget that day as long as I live. The day I passed from a boy to a child and the one I cared for so much had me such a good time and made things so wonderful. Florence, My Dear only if we could have the same bunch together at your birthday and have the same good time. I don’t think that I have had such a good time in all my life and it was such a surprise. Oh Gee, for the time again.

In your last two letters you have asked me why I have said changed hands so many times. Florence I really said that before I thought and suppose I should not have. I’ll tell you why if you promise you will not get angry. You said it hurt you awfully much. Maybe you think it didn’t hurt me. I’ll tell you why and I don’t want you to pay any attention to it if I am wrong. Now I may be guessing, but I think I am right. In your letters you have met boys from time to time. You have told me about it, you have had good times, you have told me about it. Now that is it. It’s not that you told me, it’s how you told it. Several years ago I swore that I would not have anything to do with a girl who continually raved about the good times she had with some other boy, or how handsome another boy was. Nobody cares for such things as they bore them to death. They get the impression that that is what a person’s life consists of, that is the channel their mind runs in. Now test yourself and see if these things that I say are not right, if they are wrong I deserve you an apology and a very big one. You will be furiously mad and maybe think I am a very impudent person. But Florence my Dear there is something that is wrong somewhere and I must straighten it out. I think so much of you and I just can’t let you get away. That’s the reason I must see this straight. Another thing too, you are real young and are just beginning to see a new side of life, you are at the age where a person changes from one view to another. That is a child’s things are laid aside and others taken up. When you meet a boy that looks good to you, do you rave about him to others, and continuously let him run through your mind,  and at the same time let others know about it. If you do I think you are a little wrong in doing so and this is what I meant when I said you are going to lose friends. Nothing is so boring to me, and I think to others, as to have some girl tell of such a handsome, magnificent, wonderful boy or time. I have studied your letters from the last few weeks and really Florence I do believe this is what is going to happen. I may be wrong, I hope I am. You have said in several of your letters that you wondered if I were in Houston whether I would care as much for you as I did when I left. Won’t you tell me what it is you mean. So many things you say you will tell me when I get back. These previously mentioned things are worrying me and I want to get them straight. If you want to write on the subject all right, but if you do not, let it pass over, but my Dear if these things fit you, watch out, because I have known lots of girls who are very very unpopular on this account. They have a very attractive personality and all the other youthful attractions but as soon as you know them and hear their line, boys are off them like a dirty shirt.

I have talked to boys about girls at school whom I did not know very well and I asked them why boys did not care for them. Various things along the path of which I have been writing is the trouble. Maybe you know these things and maybe you do not. Maybe I have hit the nail on the head and maybe not. Florence you have many good qualities and pray you do not let them be ruined by the source of conversation. Some people also try to push themselves instead of letting themselves be attracted. A magnet never pushes it generally attracts and holds the things it gets. You are probably going to be angry and maybe not. I had this in my system for several days and it must get out. If you are mad, read this again and think to yourself in a very quiet place. But don’t write about this until you have carefully thought things over.

Lots of Love

Fred

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7/18/1923 oceans of love

Caguntown

July 18, 1923

My Dearest Florence;

I just received your letter a few minutes ago and Dear I don’t blame you a bit for feeling the way you did about getting that most unwelcome, sarcastic (and above all) impudent letter of mine. You see it’s just as I told you this morning in that letter. I just wanted you to realize that I couldn’t quite feature a few things you said in that letter. Most of all you laughing about my leg. Florence, my Dear it was serious, I had to be very careful of it. An infection of the bone, that’s an awful thing.

Let’s let that proposition about that letter drop, won’t you? I didn’t mean a thing by it, I wasn’t even mad. Florence Dearest of ’em all, how could I get mad or furious with you. You  have been a real true friend. One that a person really appreciates. One that you will never forget. Florence, you ask if you letters are not interesting. If you could see and realize how I look forward to them you could decide for yourself. When I see the postman go by I always know there is a letter from my Florence and sure enough about every day since I have been in bed I have gotten a letter from you. One day I got two. Florence, really, you cannot realize how I do feel about you and your dear letters. It has been quite a sacrifice to you to spend so much time writing buy you should see me when Mrs Daly comes in and tells me that I have a letter. Florence I think the world of you and don’t let anything change your mind.

I went out to see the doctor this morning, he looked at it, tested a few things and said, you can go to work Monday. He thought it was Thursday. I said “Look here Doc, I only have 3 months each year to work each year and this stating off is quite a sacrifice to me.” Then he says, says he, maybe day after tomorrow. ish huh says I. So I goes over to shop and talks to the shop foreman, Hi there, stranger, he says. HI back says I. I told him all and he said to come on and go to work and said he would see that I didn’t have to do much. Just as much as to say, you can punch the clock at 11 and then again at 7 can’t you. So I am going to work tonite and gold-brick I get 60% of my salary after the first eight days. But that doesn’t mean much. Then it cannot exceed 15.00 per wk. That’s only expenses.

You say, says you, that you can’t write so often. Ike gets a letter daily, I don’t see why I can’t get one real often. ___?

It’s time for me to go to dinner now. So I don’t forget now Florence that I think just lots of you. I don’t blame you for feeling blue about that awful letter cheer up ole Dear.

Oceans of Love

Fred

My legs are quite a bit weak and I have a place without any skin over it about like this

FJS

(see drawing)

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7/17/23 don’t you know I’m crazy to see you?

Tuesday 4:15

Hip – Hip – Hooray!! Tomorrow I get up to go see the Doctor and he will tell me that I am OK and can go to work. I feel good over the fact. I am so glad to think I can leave that ole bed anyway. A bed is sure good when you’re tired but when you have to stay in it, it’s different. But “shure nuff” I think I will be able to go to my previous duties. Sure was hard luck when I only have three months out of 12 to work. But everything was easy wouldn’t this be some world. I suppose you got that letter this morning that I wrote Sunday. It sure was rotten of me to write it like that wasn’t it. But I’ll tell you why. First I didn’t much like the way you sneered at my being in bed. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way, but it surely read that way to me. It made me so mad that I could have made a face at you for it. Florence let me tell you that it was more then inconvenient. I wanted to call your attention to the fact that I didn’t like a few expressions in it. it is past and let it be gone. I will hear from you about it, probably before you get this and I don’t blame you a bit for coming back at me for it. But my Dear, regardless of the fact I like you heaps just the same. I don’t either of us meant anything by it.

Florence, next door they have a piece on the Victrola that we always played at 2204 when the gang was out there and I can hardly keep from bawling. So many memories. Gee, how I long for a white man’s town. Some day you will hear loud yells and wonder what it’s all about.

Ike is going to Houston first part of Aug and I was coming until this happened. I didn’t say anything about it, but I wanted to go with him so bad. If I hadn’t missed so much work I sure would be there 8-5-23. I think I’ll have to hold off now. You see, I’ll get to see you so much when school is on. I will be so happy when school starts and I get back to it. But I do like Caguntown a lot better since we moved. It is so cool we sleep under blankets part of the time and the people are cultured here, too. i.e. the ones whose apt we are in.

That was Alfred Johnson you met. This is Fred Johnson his older Bro that is here with us. I don’t think you know him. Last nite 4 boys were here to see me. 3 boys from El Campop and Roy Chambers a Rice foot-ball star from P.A. We had a great time for a while. Something to amuse us to get a Big Bull Pen together.

When are you going to take that trip to the farm and then over here. Soon? Hurry up, don’t you know I’m crazy to see you? Isn’t it awful, such life?

Your letters surely do make me feel good, Florence ole Dear. I sure hope you keep the good work up and not let anything get in your

With Bushels & Oceans of love

Freddie.

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Courtships and Guest Blogging

I thought I would share with you all a guest post I was asked to contribute to the wonderful  WTF is Up with My Love Life blog. The gals over there are exploring love, dating and relationships. Check it out and join in the discussion.

Read the lovely intro and the post here, titled “The Loss of Courtship”

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7/15/23 How are the dances and Jelly Beans coming

Caguntown

July 15, 1923

My Dearest Florence;

Today I am sitting up at the table to write you. Whose orders? My own. I felt so good and so tired staying in bed that I just got up to write to you. You see I didn’t want to lie down and try it as I have been doing. I haven’t much pain and I am going to try to go to work tomorrow nite if the Doctor will let me, but I think he will not as he has said a couple of days more. You startle my by your expression about my leg. Not serious, no it’s not serious, just inconvenient. Ha! Ha! Ain’t that funny. I was almost at the state of having my leg cut open from my knee to foot. NO not serious, just inconvenient. Ain’t that funny. Ha! Ha! Now laugh, it’s time to laugh and I sure think that’s funny too. Real comical isn’t it. Just to think I have kept you in suspense and you thought my leg was hurt. I am so sorry for that. Excuse me, won’t you. I think that’s an awful thing to do. Just keep a little girl is suspense over a small thing. So, sorry. Yes laugh all you like. It’s just a mere scratch.

How are the dances and Jelly Beans coming. Hope OK. Sure having a good time, aren’t you? Isn’t it just wonderful to be a girl, go to all the dances, parties everywhere, any time, etc. and lose all the friends a person has

4:45 PM

Say, don’t let me keep you from going to Sullins, Columbia or any of those schools. I want you to go to Rice very much indeed but I think you would do yourself an injustice by going if you don’t want to. But if you are only going to Rice for fun, I am afraid it will last only until Xmas. But I do want you to go, really I do.

Just wait a minute I’ll be back.

5:00 PM

Say little girl you had better wake up. You say nobody ever heard of twin double beds. Ha Ha. That’s a good one on you. Sure there are twin double beds, lots of them here. (For four in the room tee hee)

6:20 PM

Who’s the latest these days? How many times have you changed hands since I’ve left?

7:30

Listen Florence, I’ve asked you if you wouldn’t cut out that dancing till your ankles get well. You haven’t ptomised – ? Don’t you think there is more in this wide world than these little frivolous J.B. Dances. Think it over. If you won’t do that for me, all right, hop to you.

Good bye with oodles of love

Fred

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7/13/23 I can lay here and read and that’s about all

Caguntown

Friday 13

My Dear Florence.

I am getting along about the same. Not much better, only Doc says it will be a week or 10 days before I can go back. I will do my best to get along. I can lay here and read and that’s about all. I do not have much pain, only a little. I keep a hot water bottle on it all the time. I don’t think it will be long before I get OK. I am sorry i cannot write any better, but I am in such an awful position to write. I would like to get many letters while I am laying here thinking of you. Don’t expect me to write much, Florence because I can hardly do it right now. Say don’t you write to El Campo and tell them that I am in bed, because mama will be worried to death. Don’t mention it please, Florence. I will have to let the post man take this now.

Lots & Lots of love

Fred

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7/11/23 Just like a little boy with a new tin horn

Port Arthur

July 11, 1923

My Dearest Florence;

Today things are a little better concerning the invalid. I feel just a thousand percent better. Only I have not the permission to get out of bed yet. I hope soon. The Dr was to come to see me today but he is not here yet and it is 3 o’clock. Did I tell you what happened to my leg? If I did not, I will proceed. I came back from the cafeteria with four bottles of coffee in my hand riding a bicycle. I rode right into the machine shop and when I went to turn a corner I lost my balance. The centrifugal force threw me outward and I threw my whole weight on my shin against a sharp piece of faced iron on a piece of machinery. The result was that I cut my leg about 1 1/4 inches long and clear to the bone. Then I bruised the ligaments and muscles next to this. I immediately went to the first aid room and called the Doctor to come out. This was 6:00 pm Thursday 7/5/23. Well, he dressed it and I felt pretty goof so I went back to work. It did not hurt me much until Sunday. Altho’ it did hurt some. It began to swell and pain. I went out Monday morning and he said that I probably hurt the bone. I thot so at first, but he confidently said no. Well I immediately came home and went to bed and have been here ever since. But my leg is so much better. The muscles hurt clear to my hip, but do not give me trouble now. So you see Florence my Dearest I am getting along pretty good; within a few days I will be able to get around all right. I have not been able to write with much thought the last week, as the conditions did not allow.

I surely was glad to get your letter yesterday. Just at the right time I needed one the most. Florence, you can’t imagine how good it did make me feel when Ike came in and said I had a letter from my “fair one.” I had been thinking of you so much as I laid here and it sure was great to get a letter on top of all the good thoughts. But sure enough, I did. Florence today my heart almost melted. I was dreaming that you and I, (others too) were at a dance just having a wonderful time. I awoke about half conscious and a Victrola  next door had on it play a very beautiful violin piece. Then I could see you so plain, playing for me, then night before I left. It was so real. I could hardly believe myself when I awakened. Then things were so unreal. Then I just thought of you a long-long time. Maybe my letters do not show the feeling I have in my heart for you, but dear one it surely is there. I can’t tell you how much time I do spend with you running through my mind, but it’s a great deal, nevertheless.

But that is no news you already know that don’t you?

The oil tank is on fire. Lightening struck an earthen oil tank at Texas Co, containing over 80,000 barrells of crude oil. It is burning and has been for about 30 hours. The sky is covered with smoke just as if a heavy rain were going to happen right quick. Drops of oil go up with the smoke and everything in town is black as charcoal. Ike went to breakfast this morning and ruined a good white shirt. It is a stickly soot. The shell roads are black, the roofs of houses are black and if anyone should stay out in it, they would surely acquire the same color.

Ike came home about 2:30 pm and said the conditions were such that they were forced to cease work for the day. You know he is working on the pipe line and that is a man’s job. He sure has the grit and spirits to stay with it. I would like to see come of those jellies in Houston, that I know, so some work like that. I have been trying to get him to go and try to get transferred but he hasn’t yet. You said in your letter that I was going out, having a good time with girls. Where did you get that, or were you only kiddin’? Sometimes I don’t know how to take your statements. I really don’t care much about running around here. I haven’t seen any good looking girls here, yet. I haven’t met but, about 15 or so and none appeal to me, so you see I am not interested.

Listen, Florence do you mind if I ask you a question. If you don’t or do you can answer it if you so desire, if you do not it’s all right. What is wrong that you are not able to sleep? You told me that your father was in a storm and was nervous and I thought that was the reason for him, but I did not think you were nervous. Don’t think I am too curious. Another thing I want to ask of you. Please cut out these dances until your ankles get well. Florence you will do this for me, won’t you? If you really care for me you will, you know the feelin’ I have for you, so please Florence think the situation over seriously and do as you think best. Maybe you can sacrifice a few good times now for some later.

Hurrah!

In the midst of all this your letter just arrived. Glad? Just like a little boy with a new tin horn. I was surely glad to get it. Gee, Florence if I only had you here. Oh boy, how I do appreciate that. Sure made me feel good. I think I have already told enough in the fore part of the letter to explain why I am an invalid (temporarily) But the Doctor says I will be all right in a few days and my leg will not be damaged at all. The lady in the apartment is a Graduate Nurse with 8 yrs experience and so you see I am fortunate. My leg will be weak for a week or so. But I will be all right soon, so don’t worry dear.

I wish I had known you were going to Heights to a dance I would have given you the names of some people whom you might have been pleased to know. Yes, I know Homer Smith. He’s a Jew I think, or at least he picks them for company.

I thought I would get to finish this page and write on other side but Doctor came, put on some antiseptic stuff. Sure did burn. I am not comfortable so will have to quit.

Good bye Dear

Fred

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7/10/1923 I am a fine hunk-o-cheese am I not

Tuesday

My Dearest Little Girl;

I am a fine hunk-o-cheese am I not. Getting such a long sweet letter and not answering it. But just wait, I will as soon as I get able. My leg is much better today. It is not so painful. I can stand on it with much more ease. But nevertheless I have to stay in bed, keep my foot elevated. Also have to keep the bandage damp with an antiseptic solution and a hot water bottle over it. I will be able to get up and go back to work in a few days. When I wrote that last note, by leg was paining my so bad that I could not see straight. I suppose you could tell that by the way I stuck my words together.

We have a much better room now. Jesse moved with his brother. Ike and I moved here. After we moved, Fred Johnson wanted to move with us also, so we finally got the people to let him in. 3 of us. I will have to tell you about it. We have 2 rooms. A living room about 16′ x 16′ and a sleeping porch 8′ x 16′. We have twin single beds on the porch. It is open on 2 sides with a window and door on the other. Then in other room we have two rockers, to straight chairs and a writing table, dresser with 3 mirrors. 2 are moveable on hinges.

Have to sit down just like a girl, C?

We have a davenport & 2 large closets. Also a bath with hot & cold water, adjoining. Surely are nice people here, too. The man and lady who own the apartment house line in the other part of this apartment. Things are so much more convenient. We pay 40.00 per month rent. That is very reasonable for this town.

Gee I wish I would get a long letter from you today. Ike will go by the other place when he comes from work. I have not written because I have not been able but when I get OK I am going to try to make up for lost time. I wish I was in Houston so you could come and cheer me up. Wouldn’t that be great, Florence. You are so dear to me. I wouldn’t trade your faithful friendship for the world. Gee Florence, but I can’t help it. I am just that way. All the good times we have had together, the dear precious letters you have written. Florence I just can’t help but think so much of you. I have had lots of time to think of you since I have been in bed and I surely have done so when I get to feelin sorta, (you know). I get out that long masterpiece of yours and read & read. Then that darling picture of yours. It surely is good. Thanks so much. Were any of those pictures we took that Sunday any good?

Florence, my Dear I don’t know if you can make this out or not, but when you are liing down it is very hard to put out a good style of penmanship. So let me hear from you real, real soon.

Your Fred

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7/9/1923 as soon as I get eased

7/9/23

Darling Florence,

Will write as soon as I get eased. I am going to bed now. I have injured my leg. Probably the bone. Anyway it is very Painful.

I will write soon.

With Love

Fred

I have moved to 1021 – 9th

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