Bob Austin, Eldred, to Raymond Austin, Staten Island
February 9, 1925
Raymond,
The snow up here is melting fast. In the morning it is frozen so we go sleigh riding. We both got sleighs for Christmas. We saw the total eclipse of the sun. We have our wood sawed. Mrs. Cox hurt her leg sleigh riding and she came to school with a cane.
I am sick and I can not go to school. I had to stay in bed all day Sunday. I felt dizzy when I stood up. I hope you are feeling well. I am feeling better.
I hope you can come up on Lincoln’s birthday. The rest of the family are feeling well. Arthur is as fat as ever. Your brother, Bob
James Eldred (J.E.) Austin wrote his daughter Lillie Calkin who was studying at New Paltz Normal School. A number of folks sold eggs as a source of income, including Lillie’s family (in Bethel, NY) and later Garfield and Ella Leavenworth, in Eldred.
J.E. Austin, Hopewell Jct., N.Y., to Lillie Calkin, New Paltz, N.Y.
February 15, 1925
Dear Lillie,
Glad to hear you were all well. I see in the N.Y. paper the ice has gone out of the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. The rivers did quite a lot of damage in places on account of the ice damming up, but saw no account of any damage being done above the waters on the Delaware.
It’s about time your hens began to lay eggs. We took a crate of eggs to Poughkeepsie yesterday and only got 48 cents a dozen. The most we got for eggs was $1 per dozen. Our best month for the hens was December with $65 clear for about 187 hens. 100 of the hens about paid for their feed in December.
I have not heard from Mort since November. Hoping you are all well.
With love, Dad
