Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family

Harriet Anna Yancey to May Elizabeth Yancey, October 27, 1920

Church and religion | Clothing and fashion | Community life | Education--studying | Education--teaching | Food | Health, illness and death | Holidays, birthdays and celebrations | Home/Farm life | Place--Lynchburg, VA

Harriet tells her daughter, May, all the news from Esmont, Virginia. She baked May a cake for her birthday, but May's brother, Benjamin Franklin Yancey, Jr., accidently smashed it.

To: Miss May E. Yancey.
V.N.I.I.
Ettricks Virginia
From: H.A. Yancey
Esmont Va.
Postmark: Esmont, VA
OCT 29, 1920
8 AM

Wednesday night 10 P.M.
Oct 27, 1920

My Dear Daughter

Benny went to Postoffice & got your letter I was indeed glad to hear frm you sorry you are not feeling the best what cause the cramps be careful of your health get a bottle of Vaseline and eat some of it to loosen the cold. We are very well. Nora & Benny send love guess you got Nora & B send love I had a fall and I feel right stiff. so, I've been ?resting? for

(page 2)

it Helen is getting on nicely so Mrs H. say they all send love. Mr H. have Built a stable and have hauled the lumber for his home Yes our church look fine whn it is all finish You all can strut your stuff up one Isle & down the other

Mr ?Wagner? pay $9.50 per month & will let me have 21 Barrel of Corn an other thing as he did so I tell Nora she must learn they are so anxious for her to get an Education she seem to get along very well so far

(page 3)

B is doing his best he made 75 on arithmetic 70 on Geography & 70 on spelling we have only 3 teachers Father Mary & Miss Dickie frm Lynchburg she board at Mrs Smith my love to Alta. oh! My Daughter I wish you much happiness & a long life. listen I made you a lovely cake today to send you as a surprise for your Birthday and had it covered up on the table B. came in and not knowing laid his arms across the table and mash the cake flat and all to pieces I like to cried but he felt so bad

(page 4)

[missing text] not say much so you will set it later mother wont for get May tell me did I put 2 pair drawers in your trunk be sure let me know because I made you 2 outing petticoat and I will send you outer shirt and I want to sent all together so write straight back & let me know You must ans Mrs Booths letter what did she say I sent it to you guess you hear from R. this wk if I had the money I would send him so he could come over Sat but I havn't got it. just now then he wants to come over Xmas so have to save all I can Dennis Watkins was down Sunday sporting Violet she ask [missing text]

(page 5)

are you really getting along all ok make the best of things pray & the Lord will take care of you by

Lovingly
Mother

Published by: Virginia Center for Digital History

Source copy consulted: Papers of the Benjamin Franklin Yancey Family (MSS 11599), Alderman Library, University of Virginia

Text and images (c) copyright 2001, by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia

Move to:

Understanding the Online Presentation of the Yancey Letters
Yancey Collection Home
Race and Place Home