Hill Country Living
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By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week and I think we need to bring back the Whiskey Ticket in Water Valley elections. They sound fun!
Water Valley, Mississippi April 7, 1886
My dearest John
I intended in writing but was very busy and your father told me he wrote Monday so I was sure you would get a letter from home if not from your loving mother. I wish I could write letters, fast and good ones. I wish I could do it, but I am never pleased with any of my letters and then time is an object with me. I am slow at letter writing.
Grandma is sick with cold. She would go down to Gene’s in all kinds of weather and she could not stand it. Yesterday she had a chill. None today. I do hope she will soon be up. She is very proud of her toothbrushes, said “they came all the way from North Carolina!”
Well, we had a regular snow storm Monday morning, but fortunately for our vegetation it melted as soon as it hit the ground.
And it was election this week for city offices. The whiskey ticket carried the day. It was a shame on the town, I think. Herring, Mayor McKie, recorder and Tarver, marshal, and the alderman were whiskey men. The trustees were mixed. Your father is one.
Well, I have been interrupted as I always am. I don’t remember what I was going to tell you. Corinne came home with the metal today. She is very lucky or fortunate. She made the highest average in her room and got a prize — a silver knife, fork, and spoon. She’s very proud of it and it is very nice. As the owner of it. George goes every day — they all go but Eugene and it is quite still here until they get back.
I am glad your report is so good as you think for I don’t want my boy to fall behind like other children. I hope you are a good boy and doing well in all things not only in books, but in a living, “act well your part then all the honor is his.” I hope and pray you will make a man I will be proud to call my son, an honorable upright, Christian man, straight in all your dealings with all men. I ask you no higher aim for you than this. Don’t be led or influenced to do anything you consider not quite right.
Mr. Leland is downtown again. He is so glad to get out again – had quite a long time at home sick.
Miss Sally is keeping house in the house where the Bob Parks folks lived. Mr. George Smith bought it and so they have a home. Gertie did not want to keep house, but he told her to go and stay with Miss Sally and her board should not cost her anything and she told Miss Sally if she would buy carpet and put it down she would come. She was like this man that would not stop at anything but a white house to stay the night, and he was raised in a log cabin, so Grandma said.
I must close.
Your loving Mother
