Jaunuary 1921

Up untill Jan. first the weather was fine except some snow on the ground. In the P.O. there is nothing to do but work. I am writing away over the middle of March. We have had a wonderful weather all the time hardly cold enough to wear mits. In Jan. was the same weather but after writing from back in January I do not think I can remember what took place back there. I know we paid Geo. A. Morgan the rest of the debt on our place home. It is not a very well kept up house but I can tell you I am mighty glad that I do not have to pay the high rents that Land Lords ask for their houses. And I know Bennett had a birthday on the 16th and we rented a typewriter for him for a month for $3.00. They brought it up to the house and came with it to the house. Bennett is studying typewriting and short hand and he hated to have it taken away but money is scarcer than it was 6 months ago. And I know that the ground hog came out but did not see but a streak of sun light. I think all the boys are doing better than they did thru last term. Howard did not [have] much interest last term. I dont know what the matter was, I guess it was partly his companions who were just in putting in time and having a good time. Howard is very much interested in wireless and spends all his money for something new and seems to be quite well up in the study and this term he is taking more interest than ever and wants to take a course at the Y.M.C.A. school but he does not earn anything from the Post Office because they do not have the work and cannot give the subs. the work. Things are not as they were back for 2 or 3 years, shops and business houses are mostly shut down and thousands of work men are out of work.

March 1921

Tuesday March 1 - Tuesday March 15     [No entry]

Wednesday March 16     Beautiful day. Louise was sick all day but at night she was broken out with a rash and Anna thought maybe it was scarlet fever so we sent for Dr. McPhail who lives in my district up on Claremound and he came and said it was scarlet fever all right. And there we were face to face with the Quarantine and we were dumb struck. The Dr. tried to help us up some way. Louise was not very sick, she was laying down on the couch but she did not like to [go] to the hospital and the tears ran when it we mentioned and Mama was frantic and would not hear to going but the neighbor and the Dr. but I did not do and could not figure it out how they could stay upstairs and the family down stairs but there was no way that it could be. Well I lay all night in my bed and thought but I got up the next morning I could hardly hold my head up but I was a [little] lucky because I had a 1/2 day that the P.O. owed but I came home only to be quarantined and I am trying to write this and signs on the house.

Thursday March 17     Bad, nasty, rainy day. We are every one Quarantined so we can not go out and here we are with out very big supply of eatables. Louise is not very sick but I suppose it has to run its course. The Dr. McPhail, 158 Claremount Ave., he told us that she was doing fine and that an ambulance [would come] and take Louise to the hospital. Louise has given up and says she just as soon go as not. Well that relieves the rest of the family but it seems too bad that a girl 11 years old has to go to the hospital when she is sick and wants her Mama and she and June are love so well. And then you hear rumors of ill treatment but I guess they are over drawn, the Dr. says there was nothing that he ever saw there that would be called abuse. We miss a telephone, we have been going to see about [getting] in a telephone but kept putting it [off] and now when we could need it no worse we have not got one. The ambulance came after Louise and it was 10 P.M. when he came and dark and just at the last minute the ambulance in such a hurry that Anna had to make arrainge things to take to the hospital and she did not see her taken out and I happened to be down in the basement and I did not see her either to bid her good by. The man grabbed Louise and rolled her up in a blanket and ran down to the auto ambulance. And in a minute she was in the auto and they were away.

Friday March 18     And this is the next day at 4 oclock and we have not heard since. It is awful to send a child away so late in the evening and this morning [I] got up and came down, Anna was crying and June so I a man of 53 set up howl just as well as the rest. I presume Louise was as safe as we were. We felt fearful about it and I guess if we could have went after her we would have done it but Anna pitched into the work there was piled up. The Board of health sent an agent up and he told us what we would have to do to get the Quarantine cards off that were nailed to the house. We all took a disenfected bath so we were set free again. We were under Quarantine about 24 hours. I went to the P.O. to get my pay and then I went to the Telephone office and ordered a telephone. The clerk said he would have one in for [us] because I had [a] sick child at the Herman Kiefer Hospital and wanted to call up often. They had orders for 6 months ahead but I may get mine in four days. If we had had a telephone the last few days we could have saved us a good many steps and anxiety. We would like to know just now what Louise is doing and how she feels. It seems awful but this world is full of trouble and I wish things would calm down a little bit. The boys all had to stay at home on account of the Quarantine and they had a very [bum] time to say the least. Laurence could not go and get his papers and peddle them because he was under quarantine. But I guess Mich Hart came over here to see what was the matter. We showed him the cards and he turned around and beat it, said he [didnt] want a paper if we had the scarlet fever. June goes around looking disconsolate, she does not know what to do and wants to do something for Louise. We are so anxious that June will not catch it, her being so near Louise in thier play. I guess if she catched it we would feel the fates were against us. Howard took his wireless instruments upstairs when he though we were all to make arrainge to stay away from the home, that was thursday night but now tonight he and Laurence are getting them back and installing them again. Mama has worked so hard today that she just informed us that we could get the supper. I try a little bit to help when I see she is so tired but I am so awkward I do about as much damage as help.

Saturday March 19     The day is like a July day it is so warm. Anna washed and ironed all day. Our reports of Louise are all doing nicely. The Dr. said that it probably would be a very light case. I went with Laurence on Bennetts bicycle and took some flowers the Simpson children sent, the hospital is about a mile north of us. We take the Grand Belt to Hamilton and the Hamilton takes you right there. I ordered a telephone put in but it was to put right off. It usually takes several weeks and some times months but because of sick they are to put it in, I ordered it friday.

Sunday March 20     Beautiful day, as warm as July and as bright as spring. Bennett rushed out and telephoned at a pay station and telephoned the Keifer hospital, same old answer came back, doing nicely. Bennett and Laurence and I went to Plymouth to call on my 84 year old Mother but she is very poorly and suffered awfully at times. We came home about 7 oclock. Anna & June went to the hospital to take some ice cream and by rare good luck caught a glimpse of Louise through a window. She was not to be seen for 2 weeks then on visit days they could see her through a glass partition and now they will be looking for that window. Louise is in a ward with 16 or 18 other girls about the same age and size. I suppose there seems to be lots of sickness especially scarlet fever.

Monday March 21     Not a very nice day, rainy and turning cold. I put on a shirt and took off a flannel one but I guess I will have to put it back. Bennett went out to the hospital and got a sight of Louise and she waived her hand but they were too far apart to talk to each other.

Tuesday March 22     Cold disagreeable weather, cold and damp. Laurence went to the hospital today, they take some thing to her that she would like to have. It is no use to take expensive things because everything she has cannot be taken away when she comes home.

Wednesday March 23     Well not a bad day but is better than yesterday. The report is Louise doing nicely but now that we know where to find her where we can see her we know that she looks fine. Anna & June went today and took her some ice cream. Louise was awfully glad to see them. Anna asked her if she wanted anything that we could get for her. Well see if I can some things. She would like some toys and a balloon and a pair of slippers so she can get up and walk around for a while and a bottle of grape juice. We thought that was funny and wondered if she could have such things but they said it was alright, others have it and it makes a taste to the d...k. The telephone man came today and put our telephone up in and so we have a telephone and like children want to be working it all the time. I believe we are entitled to 70 60 calls a month and all calls over that is I guess 5¢ a call. Howard has a birthday today, he is pretty near a man now 19 years. He got a box of chocolates, a 5 dollar William from his Papa and Mama and some other things. And tonight he and Laurence have gone to a show. He goes to college yet but he wants to take a course in wireless.

Thursday March 24     Rained nearly all day, miserable day. Louise has been in the hospital one week about 10 P.M. this evening. Anna washed but had to hang them in the basement. Laurence went up to the hospital and took slippers, grape juice and things that Louise wants to keep her busy and not lonesome. Howard went to the hospital to see Louise.

Friday March 25     Beautiful day, very warm. mattresses came today, 3 mattresses from Elliots. One was damaged a little and asked them to exchange it and they said they would but we have not seen them yet. Anna went to church with Inez Hart and rode home in a beautiful Limousine.

Saturday March 26     Beautiful day, very hot winter underwear is not very [comfortable ]it gives anyone the spring fever. Bennett & Laurence went to hospital. We want someone to go every day.

Sunday March 27     Not a very nice Easter day, it rained. All of us went to see Louise except Howard. Anna, June, Bennett, Laurence and myself went to see her. You have to talk through a window and we cannot hear very well. We make motions and write on paper and hold it so she can see it but she seems cheerful and resigned. Some children were crying for their Mama and the Mother is out side and the poor kid on the inside but they get good care and I think it is better way but Louise must stay for 5 weeks and after she cannot go to school for 10 days. She gets lots of Easter things, flowers and candy but she cannot eat candy yet. She got a special delivery package today from the Amblers at Northville but we did not say anything, the candy to Louise she can have that by and by.

Monday March 28     This is my birthday and I am 53 years. It does not seem as tho I was that old. I feel a little old and sometimes I feel as tho I could not keep up with the young men anymore and I suppose it is time I will soon have to take a back seat. I had a sick spell a while ago and I know it is only rest I need but how can I rest I must keep up bringing in the dough to keep my family of 5 children and wife. Our salary scarse makes ends meet now.

Tuesday March 29 - Thursday March 31     [No entry]