OLD LETTERS
Pertaining to Monroe County, Tn.

Balfour, N.C.

Jan. 19, 1928

Dear Grannie,

I am writing to you to let you hear from me. I would sure like to see you. Why did you not come to see us Christmas? We would sure liked to had you. Grannie, I am doing good in school. C is the lowest I have made on my report card. I am in the fifth grade. Grannie, that scarf I sent you, I embroidered it. I have embroidered lots of things for mother. I reckon we are all well. I hope it will leave you all well. Grannie, the fifth grade up here are having lots of fun doing things. We sell candy to buy art material for group commence for our grade. We have lots of fun doing it. The girls make posters and lots other things. The boys make wooden doll beds, little chairs and other things for the group commence for our grade. Grannie, how did you like that scarf I sent you? I got a doll, a tea set, a book of paper-dolls, a box of pencils, a sewing outfit, a box of water colors, a pencil, two pairs of scissors, a box of lead for my pencil, and fruits, nuts and other things. Momma got something nice too. Write me soon. Excuse bad writing. I had better close by now. So, good-bye. Hug Catherine for me.

from, Estella Lewis

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Fletcher, N.C.

Dec. 12, 1932

Mrs. Rosalee Gibson, Vonore, Tenn.

Dear Mother,

I had a letter from Seth this morning. I was glad to hear from you all. This leaves us all very well, hoping it will find you all the same. I have just neglected to write as I should have. And I think you all have been slow enough about it. You know how we neglect those things. I am so busy now that it looks like we cannot come before Christmas. We are going to try and come between Christmas and New Years. The school will be closed that week. And I have so much work with the churches before that time that I just cannot come. But I hope we can get the money and the time to come then. My church work is doing about as usual. I am going to quit one church the first of the year. That is the Hominy Church which pays me $50 per month, then I do not know what I will use for money. The other churches do not have money. I hope you will have a good Christmas. We hope to know when the day passes. That will be about all with us. Grady is sure that Santa is coming to see him. Santa brought him a wagon last week. Carrie is getting so fat that she cannot wear her dresses. She may have to come to see you with a sheet wrapped around her. She weighs 138 lbs. I think I will have my teeth pulled and see if I will get fat. Otas is doing fine in the Army. Willard is still working at the dairy. Carson works with him part of the time. Estella, Fred and Grady are all in school. Neither of them have missed a day or been tardy during this school term. I have said about all I know to say. I sure hope you will take care of yourself and get strong. You should not worry about any of your sorry kids. We are not worth worrying over. We have not forgotten you. And I hope you will not think so just because we do not write often. I hope money is plentiful and everything lively with you all, for it sure is not that way here. Times are very hard with most everybody here. We do not have any corn this year. We have only one hog to kill. It is not large. Our cow is almost dry. We do have canned goods and some friends, I hope. So I guess we will not starve. We should not grumble about things to eat and wear. Have Seth to write us a long letter and tell us all about things.. Be cheerful and enjoy life as best you can. I sure hope you can get strong and live many happy years yet. I think of you often and pray for you. I hope we can come about the 3rd of Jan. But I am not saying so for sure. You know that it takes money to buy gas, and I do not know just what to use for money. May God bless you.

Your Son as Ever, M.L. Lewis

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Tuxedo, N.C.

Sept. 12, 1933

Mrs. Rosalee Gibson, Vonore, Tenn.

Dear Mother:

I am writing this letter hoping that you all will get. I cannot think I am as guilty of not writing as you accuse me. I think that I have answered every letter that I have received from you all. I confess that I do not write as often as I ought to. This leaves us all well hoping it will find you all the same. I sure was glad to hear that you are getting along good. I do not want you to worry about us not writing more than we do. We will try and do better. We are made to wonder why you all do not answer when we do write. I do not know whenever we had heard from you until yesterday. We sure were glad to hear. We have moved from Fletcher to Tuxedo. Tuxedo is eight miles south of Hendersonville on the Greensville Road, about three miles from the S.C. line. I have been preaching to this church for three years part time. I am here now full time. Willard is working in the mill. Carson will go to work soon. We have been very busy since we moved yesterday as a week ago. We have canned 113 cans of corn and several beans. We have a pressure cooker and a can sealer. We used tin cans for our corn. We have about 600 qts. in all canned. Estella goes to the Flat Rock School. It is about 4 miles away. She goes on the bus. Fred and Grady goes here at Tuxedo. We think that we will like to live here. The Fletcher Church hasn't got any pastor yet. I have no idea who they will get. Willard has him a girl here. I guess they will marry. Otas was with one of the C.C. Camps near Bryson City. But he was called back to Fort Bragg about two weeks ago. We are living in a six room house. It has two stories. We will soon have a sink and a bathroom. We have a good basement. We have two halls and two porches. Yes plenty of room. I wish you could be with us I think you would enjoy it. We live just across the highway from the church. Times is some better here than they have been. The mill here is running good. Still it is hard to get a job as so many are still out of work. Well I will close by promising to write more often, and by asking you to do the same. I have addressed this letter to my Mother, but it is for all.

M.L. Lewis