Nov.17.1918

My dear brother.

How are you to night. Floyd took the mumps last Sunday then on Tuesday Mary she took them.  Mary's jaws are still swollen very bad but she doesn't suffer any now.  I don't know if Coreta, Ennice and I are going to get them or not.

Well we are so thankful that this cruel war is over.  It was certainly God's work or we wouldn't have gained victory.  How soon will you boys get to come home?  Oh, there will be nothing too good for our Soldier boys when they come marching home.  I will be so glad when you do get back - especially for poor mamma's sake.  You have never been off her mind I guess day or night.

You won't know Sparta when you get back.  My it does look strange up there.  They are going to put Citizen phone central in that house Alvin Pearl use to own. Bell phone in Dell Coon's house.

Well, Johnny, I want you to come and help us eat some pork.  We have our butchering done - hog weighed about 200 lbs. I had about gallons of lard and nearly 1 1/2 gallons of sausage.  We sold our poultry that we raised this summer.  I had over $42 for my share beside what we ate this summer.  I saved out a duck to eat. Well do you know whose birthday comes the last of this month. ha ha.  38 this month and been kissed lots of times.

Willie hasn't got his corn quite all husked yet.  Mr. Vansickle has been very sick so he is just out around now helped to butcher and helped to catch the chickens.  Coreta was to Mildred Bells 4 1/2 weeks.  So we heard school begins tomorrow, but we don't know for sure.  Johnny, why don't you write us a big letter and let us know if you ever receive our letters. 

Mamma said young M.H. Kaufman had influenza.  Minnie then had it too.  But we don't know how they are now.  Sarah Reed & husband and kid moved to Akron.  He gets $140 a month right in the start.  Well I can't think of any more so I will close.

Good bye from your sister,
Rose Shepard

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