Post Eleven

We had good times in those days, not in any way like the way people have now-a-days. Very few of us had cars, so we couldn’t run off to the movies if there  were any. But we had the Saturday Night Club of about 10 or 12 couples and we  had dinner at one of the houses and played bridge or mahjong after. Usually, two  couples would get the main dish and others would bring in the extras. I  remember once when we had it at our house and Grandma Hunter was there.

She was upset that I had to cook so much and had it done for me. She was always very kind and good to me. We never had a disagreement, or if we did, never mentioned it. Then we had three or four dances in the village, and we had a chance to dress up – loads of fun. We invited a few extra couples to make the affair gay.  Nowadays one never hears of a dance in the town hall.

Our third baby was born a year after we moved into our new house – and such a  joy she was to us all. So different from the two others – very blonde and with fair  skin. I always thought of her as my Saxon princess. She was always devoted to  me.  When she went to school she would always call me up if I was out to tell me  she was at home. When we had callers, she always sat close to my knee on a  stool. Being eight years younger than Janet, Janet felt the affection we had for  each other and at times would resent it, especially when I wanted her to practice  on the piano. Then she would not do her work but demanded that I sit beside her.  Often, even then, she wouldn’t play her exercises, but just have her hands on the  keys and not do anything.  Of course, she got over it in time and became as devoted to Nancy as the rest of us were.

I remember when school was over in the Spring, I was often in my garden. Once when I was working and Nancy came home she said, “Mother, will you  always be working in the garden when I come home, on the last day of school?”. And I think she got her love of gardening then.

When Nancy was nine months old, Daddy decided that if he was ever going to take me to Europe and he had better do it then. So, we went for three months and saw all the famous places in France, England and other places. It was a most beautiful trip after we got started.

Mother and Father came to stay with the children. Of course, we had Ida, but when we went to take the train, Janet wouldn’t go to the station and had to be carried to the car. When we arrived at the station, there were all the Directors and heads of the Vermont Marble Co. there to see us off- quite a gala affair. Then Janet decided to go to store to buy us something to go with- it took her so long to get it that the train came and she was not in sight. I told Daddy I couldn’t go without saying good-bye to Janet and the trainman said, “It’s all right, Mr. Hunter, we have five minutes to wait in Rutland, and well wait here.” And then she appeared and we had just time to say good bye. Janet calling, “The big one is for you Mother and the long one for Daddy”

But, I was so upset that I cried all the way to New York. Not a very pleasant companion to start on our journey. But Daddy ordered me the nicest dinner I ever had on a train. I always remember it. Tiny chicken with tiny vegetables. Then when we were in New York, he took me to see “Queen Victoria” with Helen Hayes. I was fascinated with her sitting near him while he shaved because that is what I did.