The Journal of Negro History Volume IV Part 59

NASHVILLE, TENN., Oct. 25th, 1917.

_Mrs. L---- t----:_ my dear friend I receuve your card and was truly glad to hear from you--it found me not so well at this time present and when these few lines come to you I hope they will find you all well and doing well--I want you to write to me and tell me what ar you doing and what ar you making and where is your son w---- and how do you think it would soot me up there.

All of your friends said howdy and they would be glad to see you--I would love to see you and Mrs. B---- I miss you so much.

Say T---- do you think that I could get a job up there if I would come up there where you are--if so write me word and let me no are you keeping house now to your self--if so write to me and let me no--write soon tu me

Yours truley.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

_My dear Sister:_ I was agreeably surprised to hear from you and to hear from home. I am well and thankful to say I am doing well.

The weather and everything else was a surprise to me when I came.

I got here in time to attend one of the greatest revivals in the history of my life--over 500 people joined the church. We had a Holy Ghost shower. You know I like to have run wild. It was snowing some nights and if you didn't hurry you could not get standing room. Please remember me kindly to any who ask of me.

The people are rus.h.i.+ng here by the thousands and I know if you come and rent a big house you can get all the roomers you want.

You write me exactly when you are coming. I am not keeping house yet I am living with my brother and his wife. My sone is in California but will be home soon. He spends his winter in California. I can get a nice place for you to stop until you can look around and see what you want. I am quite busy. I work in Swifts packing Co. in the sausage department. My daughter and I work for the same company--We get $1.50 a day and we pack so many sausages we dont have much time to play but it is a matter of a dollar with me and I feel that G.o.d made the path and I am walking therein.

Tell your husband work is plentiful here and he wont have to loaf if he want to work. I know unless old man A---- changed it was awful with his sould and G---- also.

Well I am always glad to hear from my friends and if I can do anything to a.s.sist any of them to better their condition, please remember me to Mr. C---- and his family I will write them all as soon as I can. Well I guess I have said about enough. I will be delighted to look into your face once more in life. Pray for me for I am heaven bound. I have made too many rounds to slip now. I know you will pray for prayer is the life of any sensible man or woman. Well goodbye from your sister in Christ

P. S. My brother moved the week after I came. When you fully decide to come write me and let me know what day you expect to leave and over what road and if I dont meet you I will have some one ther to meet you and look after you. I will send you a paper as soon as one come along they send out extras two and three times a day.

CHICAGO, ILL.

_Dear Partner:_ You received a few days ago and I was indeed glad to hear from you and know that you was well. How is the old burg and all of the boys. Say partner is it true that T---- M---- was shot by a Negro Mon. It is all over the city among the people of H'burg if so let know at once so I tell the boys it true. Well so much for that. I wish you could have been here to have been here to those games. I saw them and beleve me they was worth the money I pay to see them. T. S. and I went out to see Sunday game witch was 7 to 2 White Sox and I saw Satday game 2 to 1 White Sox.

Please tell J---- write that he will never see nothing as long as he stay down there behind the sun there some thing to see up here all the time, (tell old E---- B---- to go to (H----) Tell B---- he dont hafter answer my cards. How is friend Wilson Wrote him a letter in August. Tell him that all right I will see him in the funny paper. Well Partner I guess you hear a meny funey thing about Chicago. Half you hear is not true. I know B---- C---- hav tole a meny lie Whenever you here see them Pardie tell them to write to this a dress Say Pardie old H---- is moping up in his Barber shop. Guess I will come to you Boy Xmas. I must go to bed.

Just in from a hard days work.

Your life long friend.

DIXON, ILL., Sept.-25-17.

_Dear Sir:_ Time affords of writting you people now as we have raised to wages to three dollars a day for ten hours--eleven hrs.

a day $3.19 We work two wks day and two wks night--for night work $3.90 This is steady work a year round We have been running ten years without stopping only for ten days repair. I wish you would write me at once.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 11/13/17.

MR. H---- Hattiesburg, Miss.

_Dear M----:_ Yours received sometime ago and found all well and doing well, hope you and family are well.

I got my things alright the other day and they were in good condition. I am all fixed now and living well. I certainly appreciate what you done for us and I will remember you in the near future.

M----, old boy, I was promoted on the first of the month I was made first a.s.sistant to the head carpenter when he is out of the place I take everything in charge and was raised to $95. a month.

You know I know my stuff.

Whats the news generally around H'burg? I should have been here 20 years ago. I just begin to feel like a man. It's a great deal of pleasure in knowing that you have got some privilege My children are going to the same school with the whites and I dont have to umble to no one. I have registered--Will vote the next election and there isnt any 'yes sir' and 'no sir'--its all yes and no and Sam and Bill.

Florine says h.e.l.lo and would like very much to see you.

All joins me in sending love to you and family. How is times there now? Answer soon, from your friend and bro.

PITTSBURG, PA., May 11, 1917.

_My dear Pastor and wife:_ It affords me great pleasure to write you this leave me well & O. K. I hope you & sis Hayes are well & no you think I have forgotten you all but I never will how is ever body & how is the church getting along well I am in this great city & you no it cool here right now the trees are just peeping out. fruit trees are now in full bloom but its cool yet we set by big fire over night. I like the money O. K. but I like the South betterm for my Pleasure this city is too fast for me they give you big money for what you do but they charge you big things for what you get and the people are coming by cal Loads every day its just pack out the people are Begging for some whears to sta If you have a family of children & come here you can buy a house easier than you cant rent one if you rent one you have to sign up for 6 months or 12 month so you see if you dont like it you have to stay you no they pa.s.s that law becaus the People move about so much I am at a real nice place and stay right in the house of a Rve.---- and family his wife is a state worker I mean a missionary she is some cla.s.s own a plenty rel estate & personal Property they has a 4 story home on the mountain, Piano in the parlor, organ in the sewing room, 1 daughter and 2 sons but you no I have to pay $2.00 per week just to sleep and pay it in advance & get meals whear I work so I think I shall get me a place whear I work next week the lady said she would rather we stay in the house with them & give me a room up stairs than to pay so much for sleeping so she pays me eight Dols per week to feed now she says she will room me so if I dont take that offer I cant save very much I go to church some time plenty churches in this plase all kinds they have some real colored churches I have been on the Allegany Mts twice seem like I was on Baal Tower. Lisen Hayes I am here & I am going to stay ontell fall if I dont get sick its largest city I ever saw 45 miles long & equal in breath & a smoky city so many mines of all kind some places look like torment or how they say it look & some places look like Paradise in this great city my sister in law goes too far I stop here I will visit her this summer if I get a pa.s.s I cant spend no more money going further from Home I am 26 miles from my son Be sweet Excuse me for writeing on both sides I have so much to say I want to save ever line with a word and that aint the half but I have told you real facts what I have said I keps well so far & I am praying to contenure & I hope you & your dear sweet wife will pray for me & all of my sisters & Bros & give Mrs. C. my love & sis Jennie & all the rest & except a barrel ful for you and Hayes Pleas send me a letter of recommendation tell Dr., to sign & Mr. Oliver. I remain your friend.

CLEVELAND, OHIO, Aug. 28, 1917.

hollow Dr. my old friend how are you to day i am well and is doing fine plenty to eat and drink and is making good money in fact i am not in the best of health i have not had good health sence i ben here, i thought once i would hefter be operrated on But i dont no. i were indeed glad to recieve that paper from Union Springs, i saw in this a peas swhare I wrote to ellesfore a 2 horse farm, i have seval nochants of coming back, yet i am doing well no trouble what ever except i can not raise my children here like they should be this is one of the worst places in principle you ever look on in your life but it is a fine place to make money all nattions is here, and let me tell you this place is crowded with the lowest negroes you ever meet, when i first come here i cold hardly ever see a Negro but no this is as meny here is they is thir all kinds of loffers. gamblers pockit pickers you are not safe here to walk on the streets at night you are libble to get kill at eny time thir have ben men kill her jest because he want allow stragglers in his family, yet i have not had no trouble no way. and we are making good money here, i have made as hight at 7.50 per day and my wife $4 Sundays my sun 7.50 and my 2 oldes girls 1.25 but my regler wegers is 3.60 fore 8 hours work. me and my family makes one hundred three darlers and 60 cents every ten days. it don cost no more to live here than it do thir, except house rent i pay 12 a month fore rent sence i have rote you everything look closely and tell me what you think is best. i am able to farm without asking any man fore enything on a credit i can not in joy this place let me tell you this is a large place Say Jef thornton, and William Penn taken dinner with us last Sunday and we taken a car ride over the city in the evening we taken the town in and all so the great Jake era. they left Sunday night for Akron. Allso Juf griear spent the day with me few days ago give my love to all the Surounding friends

By By

PHILADELPHIA, PA., Oct. 7, 1917.

_Dear Sir:_ I take this method of thanking you for yours early responding and the glorious effect of the treatment. Oh. I do feel so fine. Dr. the treatment reach me almost ready to move I am now housekeeping again I like it so much better than rooming.

Well Dr. with the aid of G.o.d I am making very good I make $75 per month. I am carrying enough insurance to pay me $20 per week if I am not able to be on duty. I don't have to work hard, dont have to mister every little white boy comes along I havent heard a white man call a colored a n.i.g.g.e.r you no now--since I been in the state of Pa. I can ride in the electric street and steam cars any where I get a seat. I dont care to mix with white what I mean I am not crazy about being with white folks, but if I have to pay the same fare I have learn to want the same acomidation. and if you are first in a place here shoping you dont have to wait until the white folks get thro tradeing yet amid all this I shall ever love the good old South and I am praying that G.o.d may give every well wisher a chance to be a man regardless of his color, and if my going to the front would bring about such conditions I am ready any day--well Dr. I dont want to worry you but read between lines; and maybe you can see a little sense in my weak statement the kids are in school every day I have only two and I guess that all. Dr. when you find time I would be delighted to have a word from the good old home state. Wife join me in sending love you and yours.

I am your friend and patient.

DAYTON, OHIO, 7/22/17.

_My dear pastor and wife:_ I reed your letter was Glad to hear from you I am do find hope the same for you I am send you some money for my back salary I will send you some more the 5 of Sept next month Give love to all of the member of church I will be home on a visit in Oct are early so pray for me write to me I would have wrote to you but I didnot no just what to say all of the people leaves Go to place up East that I did not no weather are not you care to hear from me are not so I am glad you think of me. Mr. O---- write me was going to take out life insurance with him but he would not send me the paper so I just let it Go as I guess he did not cla.s.s me with himself I am mak $70 month at this hotel and then not work hard.

PARIS, ILL., 11/7/17.

REV. ----, Union Springs, Ala.

_My dear old friend:_ Yours of a few days ago has been received and in reply I can only say that I was only too glad to hear from you and to know that you are having such great success in your farming as well as church work since I dont farm I know that my Kmza joys will be made from a box fresh from your farm.

We are still well and happy glad to say and doing about as well as can be expected. We have had some heavy snows this fall, but the last four days have been like summer.

How is the conscription, high cost of living and now high cost of postage serving you? It is giving me more trouble than I want.

One hundred of my men are gone to Texas and we feel that if Uncle Sam doesn't come down they will have to go to France and from the battle fields to the grave yards as the Germans are still on the job and playing havoc.

I am to preach the Thanksgiving Sermon for the Union Services this year. At this service all of the churches of the city come together, both white and colored. I also recd. a notice of being elected to preach the Annual Sermon for the Dist. Grand Lodge K of P. in May of next year. Son pray for me for these are no small gatherings, no little honors. How would you like for me to play off and get you to fill my place? speak out, son.

The madam joins me in asking to be remembered to dear sister Hayes and extending you all an invitation to come to see you soon.