No. 74
Chas. in 1884 in Study
Stewart King c/o
John C. Davant, Attorney
501 Cleveland St.
Clearwater Florida
December 23, 1939
Dear Stewart,
August 30, 1884
Dear M—, Special Deluxe News! Got the job as railway postal clerk. We danced into the pond when news came and I gave E. a spin and kiss. We were completely soaked. Surely we will now be in a new way. Blew money on shopping for children and Esther while in town picking up uniform and supplies. Now “school” for Papa. Cannot write until pass the tests to remember schemes, routes, and regulations. Cannot hear myself think for the babes and Esther. Henry helps me drill with cards. Esther attacked me with dinner knife, but Henry pulled my hand at precise moment for to save it. — Chas.
As I learned more about the life of your uncle Charles Brother from his letters, I was learning more about my life with your mother and his sister, in the 1890s trying to master the Maria Parloa manual, which was published in 1898. While Charles studied the regulations of a railway postal clerk, I took to how to care for the laundry, properly, not at the last minute, but separating fabrics for how they would be treated, according to what chemicals were in stock and what stains were presenting.
It was liberating to get my instruction from Maria and not your mother, who was always good to me, but of course was needed elsewhere. The rubbings I applied to the cloth, first with such fear of ruination. But I believed Maria: chemicals must not be used in such quantities that they do away with the work of rubbing...the chemicals loosen the dirt but I still must apply arms, twist my hands with the cloth, and rinse the fabrics, to near joy and with song. Now, Maria didn't say I had to sing, but it was moving along better and I noticed that I was using less and less chemicals as I was getting to the stains more quickly, and even finding myself spitting on top of the stain and chemical zest to let the awful ugly thing know that I was going to win.
--Miss Minnie
2025 Copyright Christine Friesel
