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Westwood, California during the lumber season. But Fallon was hot and uncomfortable, even for James. He found work in the CCC camp there.
Maud became the family repository, as many of her sons through the years, seldom had a permanent residence, she was the connecting link between them and the city. She was their bank, their loan officer, their errand runner, their bulletin board and their confidant.
At the Nevada State Fair, in 1931, Maud took a first place ribbon and several second place ribbons for her quality chickens.
Julie Visits
Sept. 18, 1934, Maud's sister, Julie, passed through on a visit. Apparently Maud was still home in Fallon, or had arranged to be home then, because that was the same year she took up residence in Oakland.
Going it Alone
By around 1934, Maud, apparently unable to stand the high altitude, had to leave James in Fallon, where he was awaiting a pension, and she moved to Oakland, California, where her two youngest children, Ervie and Leona, attended school. Some of her oldest children were not living the gospel, and Aunt Mabel (Leah), living nearby, had reported such to James Uriah.
On Dec. 26, 1935, the day after Christmas, Maud wrote her husband in Fallon, and assured him they would be together next Christmas, thanked him for the 15 dollars he sent over with George, (10 for rent, and 5 to divide between them). Ervie had sent his father a box of chocolates. Leah sent thanks for the dollar he had sent her. Maud told him, "Don't worry, dear one, what anyone tells you, all we can do is to suit ourselves and do the things we feel is right, under all circumstances and as you say, trust in the Lord."
James Begs Her to Return
On Jan. 4, 1935, from Oakland, California, she wrote to her husband in Fallon, Nevada:
"I received your letter of the 2nd, also of the 3rd, addressed to Darral, in which you said you was feeling pretty well, with the exception of a cold, but that you had not received any letters from us since Christmas. Now that is very strange, dear. We sent one the 30th and one just before that, telling you that we had received the different parcels you had sent, and how much we appreciated them and thanking you for the $1.00 each that you send us all for Christmas, and then I sent you a card on the 3rd and you felt so bad because you think I am not writing to you dear. I can't imagine what goes with my letters.
"I try to write so you won't worry and then you don't get my letters dear, and it worries you up so you get sick. I do hope you felt comforted when you got my telegram. I am sorry you are so lonely dear, and if you think best I will come back, but will have to have time to arrange things, which will take a few weeks, but if you decide for me to come, I'll explain everything, and tell you how long it will take me to get things arranged, so I can, but I thought you could come over pretty often, and in that way you would not get so lonely and could manage till school is out, but your health must be considered before everything else, so I'm willing to come, if you'll give me time to get ready, but the children do dread so to leave school here, but if you can't come often enough so you can manage to content yourself till school is out I had better come and see if we can be happier, of course if it should be necessary for me to get there in a hurry I would leave everything and come if I could get the far over there.
"Now, dear, I want you to understand me right, you know I told you when you were over here that I would go back for your sake and put all else aside and you said, No, you did not want me to go back, till school was out any way, but you'd try to come over, quite often. Now, dear, if you decide for us to come let me know and I'll begin to arrange things. I know it is hard for you and I sympathize with you and want to do the best I know how. We also sent you new years cards, did Y.L (Lyle?) receive the letter Leona sent him on the 30th and we sent him New Year greetings.
"Now, dear, don't worry about that letter Leah sent you. She really did not mean any harm or to hurt your feelings, and she can't say anything to influence me to do anything wrong. I've got a mind of my own, when it is necessary, even if I am easy lead. I did not read the letter she sent you, but I don't think she meant to hurt you so bad. She probably wasn't quite herself when she wrote it. I know she wasn't feeling well. I do hope you are feeling better by now. You should do, for of course, have received my wire long ago, dear when you fail to get a letter for so long, you should know my letters have been delayed for some cause or other as has happened so many times and not worry so. We received the nice parcel you sent today and all join in thanking you so much for same. Now dear think things over carefully and decide
"What you think is best for me to do. When could you come over again? Darral wants to get on over there in the CCC Camp if he can. I guess he'll write some. Ervie and Leona join in love and in thanking you for the candy and nuts and all. Tell George Hello for us. Accept true and best wishes from you true wife. Louie, XXXXOOOO
Reluctant to Return
By Jan. 8th, she had heard her husband was seriously ill and agreed to come home Maud was getting ready as fast as she could, still not believing James wanted her to come home and "leave everything here because if I did I have to come back and take care of things later."
She told him to send the tickets right away if he wanted and she might be "about ready by that time. I'll come, soon as possible, if you are still seriously sick, but you may be better. I do hope so, but if you feel better, and can content yourself for a few days longer, we'd like to stay till the children get promoted. It will be about 2 weeks. Then they could have a better chance there if they had their promotion cards. But if you're no better, dear, when you get this letter, let me know- I will not wait for school or anything else. Send the money and I'll come.
"Let me know at once, or if you are not able to write, have George wire us to come and wire tickets and we'll come without delay. you know me. I'll come dear, if it is important for your good. Don't lose courage, cheer up."
Tattletale Leah
But Leah had really started a fire in James Uriah, telling him his children were not good Christians and that he should straighten them out. Missing his family, and thinking of what Leah had said, he wrote an angry letter to Maud. This is her response:
Pleading for Mercy for Her Wayward Sons
"Dear Husband,
"I know you have done all you could for us and did without what you needed yourself to do it.. I also know the boys haven't done as they should, which has made it hard for us. But at the same time not one of us has done right. Haven't you ever done anything wrong? When you go to your Father in Heaven
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