This is hand typed copy of a letter from the previously mentioned William L Jones, s/o William Jackson Jones + Unknown congratulating his Niece Bertha Mae Rister Baker & John William Baker junior on the birth of their daughter (My mother) Shirley Dean Baker in 1924. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Springville, Calif. September 1, 1924 Mr and Mrs J W Baker Harrisburg, Ills Dear Nephew & Niece: Some days ago I received the news that "Shirley Dean" is visiting you. Congratulations to both of you. I am very sure that she is a most welcome guest in the Baker home, and that she brings happiness to the home and cheerfulness to the hearts of the father and mother. Some say "What is home without a mother ?" They may well add " What is home without a baby?" I hope all are well and doing well. I havee been trying for a long time to get a few spare moments to write to you. The weather has been real warm here for some time, during the day, and I have found it very tempting to do just as little as I could. I have also been suffering some with high-blood pressure for some time and perhaps I have been a little negligent about some things that I could at all posstpone. However I am feeling better and hope I may be my best again soon. This altitude (1032 feet) has no doubt, been a little too high for me in some respects. I suppose that Sarah has told you that I am planning on retiring from active service at the end of the Conference year (October 1st) ? That will make 30 consectutive years for me in the ministry, some of them under great disadvantages and that I fancy that I will enjoy a rest. Although I will need to do something to buy bread and toothpicks, or else visit among kinfolks. I think I shall remain in California during the coming winter, on account of my throat affliction. I have been preaching ever since I arrived in the state and have not gotten all the benifits of this climate. Have been helped quit a little. I would like extremely well to see all the Dear Ones but will have to forego that great pleasure indefinately unless they conclude to come to see me. Times have been pretty close all through this section of country and money is very scarce. Orange growers lost more than half of their crop in the freeze last winter and thousands of head of stock had to be killed on account of Foot and Mouth Disease. The scarcity of snow in the mountains has given the ranchers but little water for irrigating. Many Easterners are returning "Busted". We sometimes have rains in September. That would bring relief. God has not put all the good things in any one section of the country, and "Old Illinois" is not the most God-forsaken place on the earth. Remember me kindly to all the kinfolk and let me hear from you as often as convenient. Yours with lots of LOVE Good by. W L JONES (signed) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I must state that my Mother is still with us and still being a mom. A great great grand mom. Don't let her fool you, she LOVES that part. I must admit that when ever I read this letter, I feel different things from it. I catch abit of happiness in the beginning, harsh, hard, but happy. Sadness that he never got the time to do all the things that he wanted to do. A statement that his health was poor and that he hoped the winter would help firm him up. And most of all a sadness for the folks that had traveled out there and went bust. Shades of Grapes of Wrath !! (One of Henry Fonda's BEST). I got the feeling that the only way he made it home was in a pine box, as he supposedly died c 1925. Thanks for listening Steve sspunk@aol.com