Document text
WIWI= WITH Lin
Original Names:
Lucille Keller
Changed Names:
Marjorie Hillman
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for nine months. I knew that childbirth was painful, but I had
never realized the seriousness of it or what it meant to be a
mother.
"My husband was nineteen at the time of our marriage. He
Was of a small family, having only one brother. He was born up
North where his father was a construction contractor, and he had
taught his son the trade. At the time of our marriage my husband
was construction foreman for a local concern. His salary was
$25 a week, and if we had been older we could have lived well on
that; but our inexperience made it difficult for us to get along.
"At fifteen I found myself pregnant. We were living with
my folks and they did all they could to help us oat. He got along
all right with my folks, but he wanted to move over to his mother's.
I refused and we began to quarrel; we were both stubborn. My
condition took a lot of the romance out of me, but I still loved
my husband in a way. At last, however, I told him to go live with
his folks and I would live with mine. He left. My baby came.
worked in the mill while Mother looked after it. It was a boy
love,
and she taught him Christianity, unselfishness,/and respect for
all.
limy husband came back after a year and a half separation,
but soon it was the same old situation. ae quarreled about
living with his people, then we separated again. We had
separated four times by the time I was twenty-two. During the
times we were separated I went with other men, but I never loved
anyone but him. Then we decided to quit our foolish ways.
"We got an apartment and set up a home of our own. That was
six years ago, and I find that I have never been so happy in my
life before. My husband has a good job now with an express company.
I keep his books for him and have his meals prepared on time. We
own a oar and he takes me with him on trips, or we go out riding
most every day. Our son is well, healthy, and strong. He is about
all a real boy can be and we are both proud of him. Being raised
in a large family and allowed to associate with the neighborhood
children, he is unselfish and broad-minded. He can give and take.
"I believe in birth control, especially among poor folks,
but a child railed by himself is generally selfish. If people
are going to have any they should have at least two so one would
be company and playmate for the other. I would have another
child if I could, but I have had an operation for female trouble
that has made me barren. It's the only time I ever was confined
to a hospital and the only time I ever had a doctor except when
my baby was born.
"My husband's people for several generations back were
construction folks, while my ancestors were farmers. My parents
were honest and believed fully in Christianity and education,
while their poverty kept them f a exercising their beliefs in
regard to education. One of my uncles was a writer. He was
injured while on tour in the jost and died two years later. He
was the best educated of any of my people.
"We aim to give our son a college education if he desired it,
but we're going to leave that up to him after he finishes high
school. With a high school education he should be able to decide
this for himself.
"I feel everyone should have at least a high school education
because this is required by most businesses employing help now,
and then it helps a person in trading and keeping what they
possess. Most every child of the middle class can get a high
school education now with the improvement in the present school
system, while I think the schools could be improved more. There
is too much time given over to play in the schools now --too many
socials, entertainments, and societies. The pupil who keeps 'up
with the social life of the present day schools, unless unusually
bright, will find it hard at times to concentrate on his studies.
no educate my son is one of my greatest ambitions. The
other is to own a home. We own a car, and all our furniture is
paid for. I guess we should have bought a home before buying a
car, but a home is the next goal which we are trying to reach.
We should reach this goal within a few years, because two-thirds
of my husband's present salary would keep us up satisfactory.
"I believe in using home remedies as much as possible and
calling a doctor as the last resort. Our medical bills for the
last six years has not been over 15 a year average. Our income
is adequate to meet all bills but we use discretion in buying.
to
I look for bargains, and I am not very particular as/the name
of the article nor the place where it is bought just so it has
quality. I use the same methods in buying groceries we use in
buying our clothes. I buy a lot of a staple article if it is
offered as a special. I have studied goods until I am a judge
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of values. I don't believe in paying a whole lot for a name when
some other article of the same quality and value sells for much
less.
"Our family is small, and it does not take so much for us to
live on anyway. Three people can live comfortably on $15 a meek
and have plenty to eat and decent clothes. They can live well on
$25 a week. We spend $25 a week most of the time, while we could
live comfortably on much less.
"I am an Episcopalian because that was the church I attended
when I was a child. I think other denominations are just as
good. I think all Christian people should join some churoh,
while living right according to what constitutes a Christian life
is about all that counts. I attend church services regularly and
also take part in the church societies, plays, and entertainments
which are given for the purpose of getting money for charity and
other church obligations. We give about $25 a year to the church.
Everyone should attend church. The way the masses are losing
interest in this feature is alarming. I think people should be
sincere in attending church. If they have no motive in doing so
they had as well stay away.
"In regard to politics, I am a Democrat and so is my husband.
I think we have better business conditions under Democratic
rule, especially the Roosevelt Administration. Of course, all
my ancestors were Democrats, but I am not influenced by this
fact. I oast my ballot for the party I think will do most for
the average American citizen.
"We are not extravagant in regard to our toed supply, yet
we have plenty of what I consider a balanced diet. For breakfast
we generally have bacon and eggs, one cereal, toast, and coffee.
I serve grapefruit or oranges with the morning meal also. For
lunch we have vegetables, generally two, chicken, or boiled ham.
For dinner we have the left -over vegetables from lunch with hot
bIscuits and perhaps a fried steak. The bread served with each
meal is as follows: breakfast, light bread toasted; lunah, corn
bread and light bread; dinner, biscuits and corn bread. In winter
we serve coffee with all three meals. In sum_ier we serve tea
with lunch and dinner. Ve serve sweets such as sugar, molasses,
and honey,
”Our amusements are few but ade4uate for recreation. We go
to ride most every evening, and my husband goes hunting and
fishing during the season. We attend shows now and then, while
we are not so interested in them. We do not attend dances any
more, but when we were younger we danced. My husband and I attend
ball games often. He is somewhat of a fan. I do not care so much
for foot, base or softball games, but he is very much interested
and I enjoy going to the games with him.
*I saw the show, 'The Birth Of a Baby', and I think that was
young
going a bit too far. The average/man or woman don't know enough
about sex for suf3h not to distivir their minds too much, and for
children I think such a show is terrible. It will have a bad
influence on their minds. To my may of thinking, there is no
moral to such a show for adults, and for immature girls and boys
it is destructive to their minds as it only perplexes them, leaving
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too much to the imagination which might be taken the wrong way
because of lack or knowledge."
Marjorie, her husband, and their eleven -year -old son, occupy
a three-room apartment. The front room is furnished with a studio
couch, a large desk, a studio chair, a rocker, and a straight chair.
It also has two center tables and two end tables. The porch which
is six by ten feet juts out almost to the street and has a swing on
the west side. The floor of the front room is covered with a
linoleum rig. Next to the front room is a bedroom furnished
with a bed, a rocking chair, a chest of drawers, a vanity dresser,
a radio table, and radio. The kitchen is furnished with an electric
refrigerator, oil range, kitchen cabinet, utility cabinet and oblong
kitchen table. A fuel oil heater is in the kitchen and is used to
heat the entire apartment.
"This is the happiest period of my life," she continued. nay
husband and I have always loved each other. We're older now and
understand each other better. Our son is a great pleasure. We
have both vowed never to separate again, and we're looking
forward to the happiness we now enjoy to continue. We are both
striving to make our esent situation a condition that will
last until death shall separate us.
"Above all, we are trying to live Christian lives so that
when death, the necessary end, snail come, we will find still
more happiness in eternity."
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