Spitball Army

April 30, 1943

Dear Babe,

Am anxiously waiting to hear more from you.  I hope you are fine.  I know that wherever you are you find it most interesting.

I stayed here over our week of vacation and on the second day received the disheartening news that Peter had fallen and broken his right arm above the elbow.  Just heard from Ted tonight and I guess they are managing all right even though alone.  Mary Berger comes over morning and evening and helps with Aunt.  Neither Christine nor Bertha could come down to help them.  I can’t quite understand that – and here I felt guilty because I had not spent the R.R. fare and gone home for the week.

Wednesday morning, Miss Hotchkiss and I drove to Fargo and I stayed at Les’s until about eleven that night.  Then they took me in to Fargo where I stayed with Miss H. at the hotel.  Thurs. we shopped a little and then drove to Detroit Lakes where we visited with some former Staples people before coming on home.

We gave our Easter cantata “Seven Last Words of Christ” on Good Friday eve. There were four church choirs and the men’s chorus. It went off fine. It was nice to be here for the Easter services for a change instead of traveling. We had Easter dinner with the Atwoods and Miss Hotchkiss. Each of us prepared part of it. Our bond drive went way over the top. Our quota was $60,000 and a week ago it was over 99,000. Haven’t the last figures. Carl has been out spearing suckers (the only thing you can take this early) and we’ve had two swell fish dinners. Took two jars all steaked up to Les’ with me.

Have signed my contract for another year. Got a very nice raise although I expect there are much higher paid jobs. Hope you are well and happy.

Lots of love,
Judy

Write  [note: written sideways in the margin]

[audio:Haydn___The_Seven_Last_Words_of_Christ_(IV_Mein_gott).mp3]
“IV. Mein Gott, mein Gott”
from Franz Joseph Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ (composed in 1795-1796)
performed by Arnold Schoenberg Chorus; Concentus Musicus Vienna;
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, director (1992 recording)