From A Maine Woman Goes South, letters transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2003. This installment contains 2 letters. Historical dates appear with each letter; the article retains the original collection’s publication date.
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, March 7, 1927
Source: PDF page 168; printed page 162.
Postmark: Atlanta, March 7, 1927 Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dear Balaam,
No mo'e Sturtevant home! Let's howl. Didn't you feel like it when you heard. The only thing Mother and I can think of to be glad about is that we have "Old Ironsides."
Quite a bit of news in your last letter. The jacket hasn't come yet and I'm crazy to see it. May I wear it once or twice before we send it on to you? By the way, who is going to the Phi Mu convention from Colby this year? It's going to be here in Macon.
I haven't done anything very exciting since I wrote to you last. A week ago Saturday night three of us had our boy friends up for dinner at the H.A. Building. We feed the brutes on grapefruit all fixed up with honey and cherries, steak, mashed potatoes, pinapple and date salad, and strawberry short-cake. We had a lot of fun getting it ready, and the boys seemed to enjoy it.
Jeff thanked you for your message and said that he could return your compliment on liking Southern boys. He likes Maine girls. I showed him your picture and made out that you're a raving beauty.
I guess that I'll go to Lee next year. It's a sure job and some others aren't. It will be sort of fun, too.
Write again soon Jumbo. A lot of love, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, March 23, 1927
Source: PDF page 169; printed page 163.
Heading: Spelman College, March 23,1927
Dear Baalam,
We are hoping that we'll get a letter from you this afternoon. Little heathen! You are neglecting us all most shamefully lately. Why don't you write to us once in a while.
Say Bumpkins, have a good time in Boston, but be good. Don't smoke, chew, drink or swear because nice girls don't, you know. No fooling, though, be good. Remember that you come from an ancient and honorable family and act accordingly.
Well, old horse, we got your letter this afternoon. Andy Gump doesn't rush things at all, does he? What does he look like? I expect that he is nice, but don't take him too seriously. They are all like that whether they come from Tennessee or North Carolina.
By the way, you haven't a good opinion of yourself of anything, have you-telling about how all these folks think that you are such- a- much.
I'm enclosing a little dough. Make it go a long long way.
Heaps of love to Jumbo. Be good. Sambo
Source and transcription
Original complete PDF, transcribed by Jean F. Hankins, 2003. Original spelling, bracketed notes, and omissions marked with dots are retained. This web edition was extracted from the scanned transcription; consult the PDF when an exact reading is important.