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Old Times Remembered (1938-1940)

Mary Alice Hearn Heard

 

In 1994 Florence salvaged several sacks of letters from the basement. A wet floor and dampness had taken their toll, and some were illegible. Others, however, were in good shape. I have been reading some of the letters–correspondence between Florence and Aubrey in the late 30s and early 40s. During these years the family lived at their first house, 2717 Westwood Avenue in Nashville, TN. Aubrey was on the road much of the time as a consultant for Training Union work at the Sunday School Board. In the fall of 1938 he even attended Southern Seminary for a semester, coming home some weekends.

As you can see from the excerpts which follow, life was very difficult for both of them. Florence had live-in housekeepers or a maid–most notably Annie Lee and Ruby–for part of the time. She also allowed Kermit, Aubrey's brother, to room in the house when he came to town to manage his district for Compton's Encyclopedia. The presence of these helpers, particularly Annie Lee, allowed Florence to help at a kindergarten three mornings a week (she helped with music activities in return for Charles' tuition) and to continue her piano lessons. Still, she did not have a car or her own bank account. Aubrey's travels, though more interesting than the life Florence lead, took him away from his family and his office. Both of them wished for a more stable family life.

Florence and Aubrey did not consider telephone calls an option. They tried to write each once or twice a day (since mail was delivered twice) when they were apart. I hope you find these excerpts interesting.

FLORENCE
Nashville
September 1, 1938, shortly after Nancy's birth on August 21

Five years ago I waked thinking of my wedding day. This morning I waked after my first night alone with three babies. How rich the last five years have been in experience, happiness, and love. You are all that any girl could wish for in a husband. You are an ideal father and husband, and my life is one sweet song because of you.
They had failed to tell me at the hospital that they charged a dollar a day for the baby in the nursery. So my bill was three dollars more than I had expected. Also they charged 15¢ per day for electricity when I used the fan. I used it only four days since two of my room mates had colds and could not have a fan on.....They did not charge me for the little bracelet, though–evidently. I hope you won't be worried about this. Even though it did cost a little more, I think it was best for me to stay. I feel so good and am able to help a little with the children.

AUBREY
Louisville
October 18, 1938

My 8 lbs. of laundry (about 40 pieces) cost only $1.17, which was only 43 cents more than the shirts alone would have cost. About once a month I may get my laundry done here and not bother you with it.

AUBREY
Memphis
October 28, 1938

You may need some money before Monday. If so, you can cash the enclosed check next Saturday. Our Nov. 1 check is being spent as follows:
Ins. 51.94
House payment 37.47
Bank 22.00
Water 5.25
Total 116.66
I am sending you $23.00 and the money for bank and water. I don't know how we'll make out to the 15th but we must do so some way. I barely have enough left to get back to Louisville.

FLORENCE
Nashville
Dec. 7, 1938
Tonight I was praying her prayer for Mary Alice [19 months old] when I put her to bed. Charles [3-1/2] kept making noises in the kitchen. I went in and told him to quit attracting Mary Alice's attention. He said, "I'm not tracting her 'tention, I'm 'tracting yours." Which was too true.
FLORENCE
Nashville
Dec. 21, 1938
Charles crawled in with me at two o'clock this morning. Mary Alice waked wanting her bottle. Charles fussed about the light so loudly that Nancy waked up too. I had to give her orange juice and Mary Alice some milk. I made Charles get back in his bed, whereupon he screamed and cried for a long time. (I can't sleep well with him.) Mary Alice kept standing up every five minutes so I had to get up and tuck her in. In all it was after four o'clock before she went back to sleep (I heard that West End High School clock chime.) Nancy waked at 6:45.
AUBREY
On board a train going somewhere
Sept. 1, 1939
This has been a happy day for me in spite of the rush. But I have been lonely all evening. I have been thinking over the events of six years ago. These six years have been sublimely happy for me. We have had our difficulties, but some of them were to be expected. Surveying the years I think we have many things to be thankful for.
FLORENCE
Nashville
Sept. 2, 1939
Your letter today is one of the sweetest you have ever written. It makes up for all the disappointments of yesterday. You are so dear and precious to me. I am going to try harder than ever to make you happy and to be a better mother. If the next six years are only half as perfect as the last six have been it will be a grand life.
AUBREY
Tallahassee, FL
Sept. 3, 1939
The present war seems so odd, so strange, so unreal, so unnecessary. I have had a gloomy feeling about it all day.
I am most thankful for you. I knew you would make a wonderful wife and mother, and you have and are. No man anywhere has a finer wife. I am proud of you and I love you with all my heart.
AUBREY
Campbellsville, KY
Oct. 11, 1939
There's an article in the current issue of "Your Life" on "Your Child and the Funnies" that I want you to read. It supports my view about the danger of the comic strips in some very sane arguments.
FLORENCE
Andalusia, AL
Dec. 12, 1939
Nancy is Mother's and Daddy's pet without a doubt. She is getting so cute and sweet I can hardly blame them. And yet Mary Alice and Charles are just as precious. I teased Mother tonight and told her she was crazy about each baby until he was old enough for the badness to pop out, and then she turned her affections to another one. She asked me if I thought badness could ever pop out of Nancy!
FLORENCE
Andalusia, AL
Dec. 12, 1939
Go to Sears and see if they have a freight train which costs $1.98. There is one advertised in their catalogue but I hope the Nashville store wilarry it. There won't be time to order it unless you have them to wire the Atlanta store and have it mailed to Albertville. If you should do that be sure that it will get there in time. The number is 49V5923. It should have a station with it, 6 cars including the engine, and an inner track, to switch on. Be sure to see about this right away because Charles is counting on it. He picked this one out!
FLORENCE
Nashville
March 14, 1940
Mary Alice and Nancy are taking their naps. Charles has already rested and is now standing near me like a leech. He simply can't think of a thing to play. I get so tired of "talk" sometimes I don't know what to do. That is one main part of being a Mother though. Charles has such an inquiring mind! That is a grand quality but My! what a burden to his Mother.
FLORENCE
Nashville
April 21, 1940
Nearly all afternoon I have been working on the sink, which is stopped up. The trouble is far down in the pipe in the basement. I finally went outside and unscrewed a plug I saw Mr. Garvey take off. The black, caked stuff came pouring out. Finally I got a long, long wire out of the garage and rammed it into the three or four-inch pipe. More "stuff" came out. I haven't tried it yet to see if it is open. If I succeed I will send you a bill for $5.00.
FLORENCE
Nashville
April 21, 1940
The recital yesterday was a success I guess, as far as my piece was concerned. Everyone said it was beautiful! Mr. Wiggs, the theory teacher, told me it was fine. Miss Throne said I ought to be pleased because he never complimented anyone. She did say that when I played two years ago he told her it was the best thing they had had the whole year at Ward-Belmont. Now aren't you proud of your smart wife!
FLORENCE
Andalusia, AL
June 10, 1940
This afternoon Charles and I went to see "Pinnochio." Or rather, we started to see it. I paid the 35¢ for our tickets and we went in the door. Charles saw some horrid creature throwing things at the little fellow and making terrible noises and he was frightened stiff. He began to cry and wanted to go home. I made several efforts to get him to stay but he would not. I realized it was making him nervous, so we left. The lady gave us our money back. Charles said he never wants to go to the picture show again except to see "Gulliver's Travels." He said that wasn't a bit scary, so I had told him.