(seq. 36)

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Hilltop Farm,
Deerfield, Mass.
June 25, 1951

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Dear Miss Gladding:-

I intended to write you as soon as I got your invitation to the party but just never
got it done and it's a good thing I didn't as I would have told you I'd be there and things
have happened since that to prevent me from coming.

I had intended to drive down and bring Beverly and "Sonny" if he wanted to come, but
my husband quit his farm job here a week ago and so we have to move again. We were getting
our tenement with the job so of course when you get through it means we have to move. This
is the worse farm job we ever hit are there arethree other men and they don't cooperate at
all. Lester is working by the day on a farm in Conway at present but places to live are
sure hard to find. I have seen some empty places but when I inquire they want to sell and
won't rent.

I want to stay not too far away as Beverly has just one more year to go to High School
and she wants to finish it in Deerfield. She did 2 1/2 years in Hopkins Academy in Hadley and
the last half her third year hear.

I have worked the past two seasons at the State University in Amherst in the Vetinary
Science Laboratory. It is where they do blood testing of chickens. The first year I
began in Nov. and worked til Christmas. Last year I began July 10 and had to quit Jan. 20th,
when we moved up here as I hadn't at that time gotten my driving license, could have worked
til Feb. 1st, if I'd had transportation. I'm in hopes to go back next month if we can
find a place to live which isn't too far to drive from.

I would really like to see you all. Everyone was so good to me during my stay there.
Time sure flies. It don't seem as if it were 15 years ago. -I came home from there.
Beverly will be 17 in Dec. Sonny will be 11 in Oct. They are all I have at home.

My two oldest boys Charles and Bernard are both married and each have a daughter. Charles
little girl is Brenda Joyce, she is 3 1/2 yr old. Bernard's baby is Marcia Jean and is 6
mos old. Of course they are about perfect to me. They all live in Shelburne Falls. Donnie
the youngest of my three boys is in the Army and is in Aschoffenburg, Germany. He is 18
years old and enlisted. in Feb. 1950 and went overseas in July 1950. I usually hear from
him every week but my last letter was June 8th.

I lost my Dad May 23rd. Hewas 84 years old and had been in poor health for several
years. We had expected it for a long time but it was still a hard blow when it came,
I was to see him the nite before he died and he was feeling quite well. Then the next
morning my youngest brother came for me at 4:30 A. M. and Dad was gone.

Donnie feels real bad because of course he has made his home with my folks since he
was about 9 years old. The Red Cross sent a cable to him for me but the last letter I got
from Donnie he said he never got the cable and didn't know of Grampa's death until about
two weeks later when he got a letter from me telling him about the funeral. My mother
still lives in Shelburne Falls. My youngest brother 20 years lives with her. The rest of
us are all married.

I have a big garden started here. Hope to be able to have permission to come back and
get my stuff as it rippens. If not, Ill send it to the owner. I enjoy working in my
garden and always have a good one. It saves a lot on the food bill both now and in the
winter as I can a lot.

Well guess I have said enough so Ill close for now. Ill be thinking of you all Thurs-
day and wishing I was there. Remember me to everyone and hope I'll hear from you all again
soon.

With love

/s/ Sarah and Beverly Maynard
[Emerson]