Evan Call Family - 19310920-b

Historical Context

This letter, dated September 20, 1931, was written by Evan's mother, Ethel, and highlights the deep love a mother has for her children, even when they are grown.

Her vivid description of a traveling pitchman selling "Indian oil" at the county fair captures a classic piece of early 20th-century Americana. These traveling medicine shows blended performance art, feats of strength (like inflating an automotive inner tube by mouth), and showmanship to sell cure-all tonics to rural communities.

Sept. 20 1931

My Dear Boy.

I surely hope before now you have received my letter I sent about ten days ago. Also sent a bundle of Star Valley papers. They were full of news and I do hope you have received them by now. I told you in that letter why it had been so long since I had written. Don't ever think Mother forgets you for all that long time that I just couldn't get to write a line to you I was thinking how hard it was for you not to be getting my letters. But I never went to sleep a night without the satisfaction one gets with from praying when they have a boy so far away. I can always go to sleep contented after I've prayed. I always wonder when I go to bed at night first where is my Boy tonight - so it is a great deal of satisfaction to know that the time is three hours earlier there and that you are likely sleeping when I am thinking that. That's one thing that is hard to imagine I just think of you coming home from street-meetings through crowded streets about the time I going to bed and I wonder if your large enough not to get lost in the crowd. I guess your getting used to that now are'nt you, The leaves are falling off the trees and things are beginning

(Left margin): I am sending a little picture of Chiree.

to look like winter and tonight it is very cold. It has been raining all day and most of yesterday. It seems worse to have you away when it begins to look wintry but we must live the days one at a time and look forward to the return.

Yesterday and today have been Conventions of Auxilliaries and Stake Quarterly Conference. We have had some splendid meetings. Apostle Richard R. Lyman Sister Greenwood Relief Society representative Sister Beesley Y.L.M.I.A. representative also Sister Greenwood's husband were here from Salt Lake City. This afternoon Apostle Lyman took several little cards from his pocket which he said were names of missionaries from Star Valley whom he had met during his travels in the different Missions. Where the Elder had returned he had him stand and in case he had not yet returned his mother was to stand. Before he got through he had several Elders and mothers of Elders standing among whom were Elmer Lancaster, Milnol Holbrook and a Daney from Thayne who were still out

Of course he thought they had all returned he said he wanted to see if they were still in line of duty. I think he said he had seven names so five out of seven were either there or not returned. I guess he has not been visiting in the Eastern States Mission lately or he would have had one more name which would have sounded best of all to me. He is such a powerful speaker and such

a large man he surely can hold his crowd. We got our history finished which I told you in my other letter we had to have finished before the Conventions. I am glad as it has taken so much of my time lately.

Vivian has gone to school again she has earned enough this summer to buy her some clothes and she can live at Baleys again. Mrs Baley wrote and told her she was holding the place for her. Lilly has gone down too and taken Chiree, she wanted Vivian to stay with her and take care of Chiree part of the time and each of them go a half day so I don't know how she is going to do yet. She thinks she can make her own way if we give her a start but I don't know it takes quite a lot of money but she is so determained to go and so discontented at home that she is going to try it. I will have to tell you more about it latter when I hear from her. Reuel took them down Friday. He is going to school this winter too so he stays a little later in Salt Lake City. It is hard to get along all through the winter alone when everything is harder to do but I guess I will have to give her up for good some day as all mothers do so I am just getting used to it.

We have another new little Jersey calf a week old. It's sure pretty. The cow does'nt look the best she has had a bad foot all summer, she has had to be left down in the lot so she could not walk, but it's getting better. Butterfat is going up

(Left margin): How was your fair? I would have liked to have seen your booth. I saw the little article in the paper was good.

so it all helps. School started last Monday. Gerald & Osborne in High school. Today is Bobbies birthday and he wanted to know when his birthday was going to begin. He had a party in mind so I told him I would get him some peanuts and then he said well who shall I invite. Spencer made him a little pair of bobs and so forgot about the party. Bob and Spence are sure good pals. I only wish Maxine was healthy as Bobbie but she is'nt. She has sick spells every little while. I am glad your nose is better I only hope it keeps better. There was a man in Afton lecturing during the fair. He was selling products from the Indians herbs, and Indian oil. He said the oil was sure to cure catarrh, and a great many other things so if you have any more trouble let me know and I will send you a sample of this oil to try, I think it is good. I've got quite a lot of faith in Indian medicines. I thought of you as I saw him lecturing on the street corners before the fair and under a large umbrella on the grounds during the fair. He showed us how strong he was by blowing up an inner tube of a car with his mouth. He claimed he was like Dr. Beal and his wife sent him down to the Indian reservation to get him cured and now he is cured and spends his time lecturing and selling their medicines.

It's nearly eleven o'clock so I will have to go to bed and I guess you long since there. Well sweet dreams and lots of love.

Mamma

(Left margin): glad you got new shoes and suit.

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