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WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE
INSTITUTE, WEST VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF AUTO MECHANICS

Monday Morning

My dearest Charlene:

Just a hasty line or two before my "cherubs" start parading in. As is generally the case when you are not here, I spent a "dead" week-end. Saturday I could not find it within me to do any house cleaning. Did a little work in the yard between rain showers and let "the boys" romp awhile. Then came in and watched the basketball games. Showed "Not As a Stranger" Sat. nite---good movie. We had "Marty" scheduled originally but the distributor withdrew it last Wed. after it became an Oscar candidate.

Went to church yesterday morning. Kelly called me to the rostrum to conduct the services as he had a bad throat---taking cold. Said he would only preach a sermonette but it lasted nearly 30 minutes anyway. His usual fine discourse however. Rode up to Cohen's with Pete (Florence was sick Sat. nite). worked in the backyard some more (until rain started again) and then came in, fixed dinner, and remained in the rest of the day. Chopped down more of the plum saplings in the back yard and dug up some of the stumps from those I cut down last year.  I plan to move that lumber pile and then have all that area plowed and levelled so as to improve the year's appearance. 

The unusually warm weather has our rose bushes trying to bed. I put some plastic bags over them to try to prevent damage from a late frost---we're bound to have one. I also notice that the jonquils are up as much as two inches and the peonies are peeping thru. Spring is not far away!

Listen honey, I've been doing some serious thinking about our situation during the past three days. I've come to the conclusion that this is definitely the last of your being away from home. Our marriage cannot thrive on this separation and your being away has not helped us financially. Our phone bill this month is $43.54. Again I will not have money to take out that insurance policy (and Bob Holland is howling for me to go take the physical so that he can write the policy). 

On March 1st of last year we were in debt $7746.36. A year later we still owe $6704.26. We have cut our indebtedness only $1042.10 in spite of your having earned $2670.93 after taxes. Mind you, the indebtedness stated above does not include the bank note you now have. During this same period we have spent $338.10 on telephone bills. With our basic rate of $8.64/mo., it means that over $200.00 has been on long0distance calls. Add to this the C&O Railroad and you see how useless your job in Balto. becomes. We paid 1300.00 dollars to "Uncle Sam" and still owe him over $200.00. It is all quite sickening when I consider how we've denied ourselves the pleasure of being together and yet we come out "still in a hole". Darling, I love you dearly and will do all that I can to make you happy. Still, it is necessary that we both deny ourselves some of the