Summer 1942 - The Accident - Letter From Helen Upton - Part Three

Barbara & Helen Upton - October 1940

Helen's Letter Continued....

"What is V'Ona1 doing?  Still working in the bank?  Haven't heard anything of her for a long time.  Glad to hear Ellen2 likes it in Portland.  What do you think of the war out there?  Doesn't look too good here in the East.  Expect to get  Gas rationing in Erie tho' the wells are almost at our back door.  I expect your father is busy busy - Seems every one must do double work but then we shouldn't complain it is little enough for us to do back home.  It is hard to get help.  The girls are all working in the factories. 

We are all fine here at home except Butch who is getting over the whooping cough.  Jane3 has gone over there this afternoon to take care of the boys so Virginia4 & Bill can go out for a bit this evening.  They all went down to see Grandmother5 & all while I was in Jamestown.  Mother says everything is fine down there - they have a couple milking machines.  And were getting ready to pick raspberries.  They had a large crop this year.  Jimmy has a pony - and Grandmother a new Refrigerator.  Glad to hear every thing is coming along well for them.  I guess Ross6 & Jenny don't get down so often - he is working quite long hours.

Before I forget, just thought of a good book you want to read "All That Glitters" if you haven''t read it already - Very good which is poor praise.  Well Margaret I guess I have run out of news.  So I guess I'll quit this scribbling; which you should be glad of - I really should copy it - but I am afraid the ink would run out.  So will say good by for now - Love for all of us to all of you & that big little girl of yours too - She's sure a cutie kid from her picture - Take good care of the husband of yours - write soon & give me all the news.

Love Helen"

1 V'Ona Upton - the middle Upton sister
2 Ellen Upton - the youngest of Margaret's sisters
3 Jane Upton - Helen's sister
4 Virginia Upton - Helen's sister
5 Nellie (Ellen) Carter Upton - Helen and Margaret's paternal grandmother
6 Ross Upton - uncle to Helen and Margaret
7 Frances Parkinson Wheeler was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married Henry W. Keyes in 1903. They had three sons together. They lived in Washington and Virginia for a quarter of a century while Henry, a Republican, served in the United States Senate. He had earlier served as Governor of New Hampshire. The story of their courtship is told in Mrs. Keyes' first autobiography, Roses in December. The story of their marriage is recounted in her second autobiography, All Flags Flying. Henry Keyes was much older than his bride and, having never married before, was quite set in his ways. Early on he was dismissive of his wife's writing talent and the acceptance of her first manuscript by a reputable publisher was a triumph personally as well as professionally.  Her 1941 novel All That Glitters is also about Washington DC politics. (Wikipedia)