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   Early in January, the time for signing a new lease came again . With things the way they were, we decided that if George Baldwin wouldn't come down to $40 per month, we'd move. We bearded George in his den one evening and found he wasn't ready yet to talk rent reduction but I sprung my $40 proposition on him anyhow and to my surprise, he didn't seem too much surprised. I felt quite confident we'd get it when the chips were down. Three days later, we saw him again and hit him up for $40, but in spite of every argument I could bring up, he was adamant. It was a showdown. We didn't want to move. Finally George offered a new lease at $45 but starting January 1, 1933 or the equivalent of $42.75 beginning April 1st, and we signed, much relieved. It wouldn't have been worthwhile to move unless we'd gotten a $35 place and we had grave doubts of getting anything suitable at all at that figure. We'd grown very fond of our little home and a 21% reduction wasn't bad, so we were quite well satisfied. We went to the movies that night to celebrate getting this hurdle behind us, seeing Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in "Red Dust." Also, we had a very beautiful sunset that day, seemingly sort of symbolic of things going a little better for the moment at least. It was a color symphony in crimson and lavender with here and there a streak of jade peeping through. Whenever I saw a sight like that, I wished passionately that I could live forever. Of course, when I'd have such wishes, I'd seem to take for granted that I'd feel young forever along with it.
   In spite of this confidence in my health, I strained my back one morning hauling ashes out of the cellar. And since I was already suffering with an infected finger which I'd taken to the Works hospital, I wasn't in too great shape for a few days. But the backache evaporated in a few days and the infection likewise cleared itself up and I was back in business again. Apparently I'd acquired the finger infection untying Bab's shoes, letting the laces run across my finger and pressing the flesh into the nail, so it had been done in a good cause. However, about that time also, I lost my temper with Bab one evening while undressing her, spanking her for not minding properly. Then she really did get upset, Willie got provoked, and I was good and ashamed of myself. I resolved to have more patience with her and resolved too, that from then on, spanking was out because it wasn't the kind of discipline she needed. I hope I never spanked her again but I just can't remember one way or the other.
   We had the Reeds, Harrises and Scarboroughs in for "contract" one evening. Maybelle Scarborough had had a lump removed from the back of her right hand the day before, making the hand useless temporarily. But Walter had made her a card tray which clamped to the table, and she made out very well. I was very much impressed with Walt Harris as a great guy, finding that I liked him better every time I saw him.