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, April 3, 1927
Source: PDF page 169; printed page 163.
Heading: MacVicar Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, April 3, 1927
Dear Baal am,
While you're off gadding on your vacation, I'm on mine too. I came up Friday evening, took ether and lost my Charlie Horse - also everything I'd eaten the day before because they hadn't let me eat anything that day. The ether made me sick, but otherwise I've had a fine time-slept most of the time and had a lot to eat. I'm going to get out tomorrow morning. I don't know how well I'll be able to navigate but I guess that I'll get along all right.
Well, was it a humdinging vacation? I bet that it has been. How about getting back to work again. Not so easy, what? Be sure to write to tell us about all that you've done. We haven't heard anything about it yet.
Doris Tozier said that she heard an old friend of ours asking Mr. Marriner about us-Cole. Did you see him? I suppose that he's just back from climbing Mt. Everest or some such stunt. If he's still around and you see him, tell him to write to us folks.
Did I tell you that I had a letter from Ruby Jillson Green a while back-same old Ruby. I haven't a doubt but that she's still worrying about the Lord gentleman and her lingerie. Also a letter from Ethel [Hirst], Almon's going to raise chickens. No flower gardens for us.
I have some of the loveliest little yellow tea-roses, and cards, and get orangeade, and my night nurse comes in and gives me alcohol rubs. I have to have the dressing soaked every so often, and they always have to wake me up at night to do it. It's terrible to suffer so! I'm having the time of my young life.
I got a bed-spread for our room, but haven't done any embroidery on it yet. It is sort of pretty.
I suppose that you'll be getting new Chi Omega officers soon. Who will they be, I wonder. I'm anxious to hear.
Well, old boy, write us all the news, and study like the dickens for those exams. That flunk notice in psychology isn't so good.
Heaps of love to Jumbo, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, April 19, 1927
Source: PDF page 170; printed page 164.
Heading: Spelman College, Atlanta, April 19, 1927
Sweet One,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope that you are the same. You don't understand how I suffered last week. My old Charlie Horse began kicking again, and say that thing has turned mule since it came South. But it is all well again now.
We aren't at all worried about one thing-that you'll get lost with that blazer on. It's a dirty mean trick, old lady, however, for me to have to try on my own tresses and yours to[o]. Your voile dress is cute.
Well, old buzzard, I'm sending you twenty-five dollars, but the Lord only knows when I'll be able to send you any more, so go easy! What in heck did you do with the forty-five dollars we sent you last month? I haven't spent that much on myself during the whole year. Ma and I have got to get together some money in some way to live on this summer. I haven't saved a cent yet and have to pay out about a cold hundred for my Charlie Horse, which is gone. All this is just to let you know that we are still a poor family, so stretch the twenty-five.
Went to the Georgia (Keith's) to see Reginald Denny last night. It was a cute picture. The vaudeville was a howl, too.
Sweet urchin, you wouldn't know your little sister now. She weighs only 112 pounds now. Her neck is all bony and her hip bones and shoulder blades wear right through her dresses. She's eating a lot now-a-days to get back her nice robust form before you see her.
You did pretty well on your tests. Why don't you do as well all of the time?
Ma isn't going to write until Sunday. She says to tell you that she's working on your darned old dress. It's sure good looking, looks nice enough to wear to the dances or anything like that.
Wish you could see the roses one of my girls just brought in to me-the kind you pay a dollar apiece for at home.
Listen, if you turn this check in for fraternity dues, ask them not to send it to the bank before the first of May because I have to pay a dollar if my checking account gets below SI00 at the first on the month.
Well, beloved, two months from now-
Heaps of love, Jumbo, 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.