Wagner Urges Son To Keep Pushing
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
This election week is a good time for a Wagner Week to serve as a mental palette cleanser, don’t you think?
Papa D.R. Wagner tries to tell his young adult son, George, that it’s okay to not feel like a winner right now. He says that he can relate to that feeling as he didn’t do anything good until after he fought in the Civil War. Not sure that came off as a comfort for ol’ George. And then a little kid Dudley writes George asking for a “liquid pistol,” which I assumed was just a water gun until I looked up the old advertisements for it and saw that you fill the little pistol with ammonia. Dudley is not messing around.
Water Valley, Miss
Nov 22, ‘03
Dear George,
Your letter to hand, I am sorry that you do not feel good over your prospects, but my son, if you feel that way hard enough you will overcome any deficiency that you think you are deficient in, every young man has feelings of that kind and I soon found the remedy. That is in hard work. That’s a pretty good remember for almost all things. I think you are doing fairly well and I always knew that you could do what you set your head to do. Eugene is a good student but I think that you are quicker to see things than he is when you try.
Keep right on and do your best and all things will come out right. I have been a successful man and I never did anything worthwhile until I came out of the war. I was then 25 years old. I trust you will do as well and I see no reason why not.
We are all very busy now. We sold about 3,000 in 4 days last week. We have Jackson that was in the Depot helping us. Also, Holt in the Gro. We work for 100,000 sales this year. Nothing like setting your hand to do a big thing & then do it. The deposits are larger in the bank than ever before, $60,000. Business in Memphis is great.
Dap will be moved December 22. Jessie and I are going to Memphis Tuesday week. The Baby is well. They named him “John Henry.”
All of us are well. We had a freeze and our flowers are all gone, sorry for that. Kalista is coming home, so are Corinne and all of you, that will be nice to have you all at home again. I trust you will have a good time during Thanksgiving. I think we will all be hard at work then.
We all send love to you.
Affectionately your father,
D.R. Wagner
Water Valley, Miss
Nov 8th, 1903
Dear George:
How does this little letter find you? I have been wanting to write to you for a long time but have been so busy with school books that I haven’t had time. George, please look up there and see if you can get me a Liquid Pistol. They cost 50 cents and I will pay you the 50 cents when you come home Christmas.
Send it right away please and pay them with your money and when you come home I will pay you.
Your loving nephew,
Dudley Wagner
