For a time they are joined by what Mrs. D considers a wonderful girl, a nineteen-year-old commercial-college student. She lifts an enormous load from their shoulders, but they worry because she seems to have a life of all work and no play and never sees boys.
Then she, too, goes on her way.
Mrs. D Sees a Doctor
Mrs. D consults a doctor about her trouble conceiving. She tells him that an earlier doctor had helped her to conceive by blowing some sort of gas into her.
Mr. and Mrs. D are Both Writing
Mrs. D will be having a story published soon, and she has just finished writing another one, after working every day from 9:30 to 3:00. As for Mr. D, he is not writing stories anymore, but he has begun writing articles.
They hope her latest story will sell, too, because they find themselves without much money.
Mrs. D is Pregnant Again
Again Mrs. D places an ad, shorter this time:
COOK-HOUSEKEEPER—12 noon to early dinner, in considerate home. No washing, no Sunday work. $20 week. Tel. 2997.
Minnie Answers in Flowery Handwriting
Regarding the enclosed “ad” does it mean I may have a room in your house, or does it refer to one who has a home, and who would come in each week day to fill your needs? I did not just understand from the wording of the “ad” just the conditions so thought I’d inquire and if interested I’d like to hear from you if the position has not been taken and details of duties.
Minnie Will be Given a Chance. She Writes to Accept
Your gracious letter at hand and I hope my earnest efforts may prove satisfactory, and of course I expect to consult with you as to your wishes regarding all things pertaining to your home management. My idea, after I become familiar with things, is to relieve you as much as I can, so you may have more freedom to care for your health, and other duties of your own. I very much appreciate the fact that you have not asked for references etc. as I prefer to come on my own merits, yet it is a gracious gesture on your part to receive into your home an entire stranger, with no introduction except our correspondence. I hope I may prove worthy of your confidence and that I may soon adjust myself to your house hold.
Minnie Does Not Work Out, and Soon Thereafter Mrs. D Decides to Hire a Girl from a Residential School for Delinquent Children
Mrs. D receives a letter from the Field Worker, Miss Anderson:
There are many matters to be considered before we could place a girl permanently in your home, and at the present time I do not have a suitable girl available.
Mrs. D Persists in Asking for one in Particular. Miss Anderson Answers
Anna would be glad to stay with you permanently. But I am afraid you would find that adequate supervision would be a bigger problem than you realize. I could tell you more about Anna’s very poor background, and her mentality, which we have studied over a period of years, and you would then realize why our rules have to be rather severe.
For instance, there is the question of the hour she is to get in when she goes to the movies one night a week. I set this at 10:30 rather than 11:30, thinking that she should be able to go to the first show, in which case 10:30 seems late enough. She has also asked if she may attend the New Year’s Dance at the White Eagle Dance Hall with her girl friend and their escorts. Knowing nothing of the type of dance this will be, I hesitate to grant this privilege. These requests are just a sample of the problems which would increase as time went on. We want our girls to be contented and lead as normal a life as possible, but they must be protected.
Mrs. D Persists. Miss Anderson Yields
As soon as I hear that a definite transfer has been accomplished I will send you a contract, and will contact the Welfare Department.
After discussing matters in detail we can probably be a bit more lenient, but success depends a great deal on her outside contacts, and she will need a great deal of guidance, as is the case with many of our state’s unfortunate girls.
Despite High Hopes on the Part of All Concerned, Anna’s Employment is Not a Success
Mrs. D writes:
It is so hard to keep Anna in bounds, for even under this watching she managed to connive with a taxi driver and take our youngest out to visit friends of hers at a long distance and feed him Lord knows what.
She may also have been making indiscreet gestures downtown.
Back at the School
Anna writes:
Sorry not to have answered long before now, but we can write only one letter a week which is on Sundays.
How is everyone down that way. It sure is quite a lost to me.
The snow storm we had a week ago, didn’t have too much effect on our trip here. There was 2–4 inches of snow in Some places. Miss Anderson wished she had some chains that day. Cars slid from one side of the road to the other, and one car went off on the wrong side of the road into a ditch. Several had to get out of the car to clean off windshiels and I don’t know what. We stopped at the Rutland Dairy Bar for lunch, and then from there we had good weather.
Hope your trip was as successful as that of ours.
The points of view which you had mentioned in your letter are all very true and I only wished it had been a bad dream myself.
Glad to know you called Evelyn and Mrs. Warner. I can imagine how they felt and by all means Evelyn. She and I thought quite a lot of each other and I sure miss her. I miss church chior and M. Y. F. very much.
Close now with best wishes.
Mrs. D Finds Another Girl She Likes from the School and Receives a Contract for Her Hire and Supervision
Unless wages for your present girl are paid in full to date of return or transfer no other girl will be placed with you until full settlement of all accounts is made.
You will not hire this girl out to any other party.
You are to exercise parental supervision with due consideration for physical health and cleanliness, moral training, improvement of mind and wise use of leisure time.
If girl does not prove satisfactory you will notify the school at once and she will be returned. The school also reserves the right to return the she any time the school sees fit.
You will promptly advise the Priest or Minister of the Church with which she is affiliated, as to her arrival in your community.
You will supervise the buying of her clothing and all other necessary articles and you will allow her a small amount of spending money, not more than $1.00 cents per week. Her wages will be $15 per week.
Mrs. D Gives Birth to a Healthy, Full-Term Baby. She Sends the School a Good Report of Shirley
Shirley has been wonderful all through my hospitalization and since my return home. Thanks to her I have had a good rest and shall be able to pick up my various responsibilities eagerly as soon as we get a little cool weather.
We have managed to get Shirley into a swimming hole for most of the hot afternoons.
Mrs. D Supervises as Shirley Buys Clothes
On the July 31 bilclass="underline" raincoat, hairbrush, suit, skirt, jacket, underpants, gym suit.
On the August 31 bilclass="underline" sweater, dickey, wool skirt, blouses, sneakers, blue jeans.
Meanwhile, Anna Writes from Her New Position in Connecticut
I said I would write and let you know where I went, when I got a new job, so here I am. I am working in Conn. They are lovely people and they take me with them most every place they go. I have a very nice room with a little radio, electric fan, private bath room with hot and cold water, and etc.
We are near the salt water beach, and go swimming 2 or 3 times a week, and we sure injoy it, as it’s so hot every day here, that we can hardly breath, and the humidity very heavy with out any stirring in the air that we all lie around like sticks.