File:1936 - 12 26 Marie Hinderer letter to Clara Hinderer.jpg

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source:Clara Hinderer collection.

This letter was written Dec 26th, 1936. Some of the Hinderer kids were gathered together to celebrate Christmas. Unknown to them, their mother Klara Hinderer would be at home with Jesus before the end of the month.

There is one line in this letter which jumps out at me. Marie writes "this Xmas reminded me lot of our home Xmas like Ma used to provide for us kids." It gives insight into what family life was like for the Hinderer kids. What kind of memories they had. It brought back familiar memories of Christmas when I was growing up. Some of those cookies continue to be eaten by Klara Hinderer's Great-great-great grandchildren.

This letter also reveals the realities of life. The Hinderer kids were taking care of their aged parents. There were disagreements on responsibilities, each other's life styles, and money.

Familiar terms like "Springerle" and "sheis" are used. Apparently Clara sent a box of cookies to the gathering. She gave nephew Daryle Harris a loaf of bread.

This letter does help fill in some holes in family history and tie it together.

Paul Hinderer age 73, died 4 years later., Klara Schneider age 76, Clara Hinderer age 48, Ralph Baur age 14, Eugene Hinderer age 37, Winfred Hinderer age 33, two years into his law practice, Julie Hinderer age 46, Reginald Harris, Daryl Harris, Melva Woodwick, Shirley Harris, Amanda Hinderer age 35

Seattle, WA Dec. 26, 1936

Dear Clara and Ralph:

Got home from the folks a bit ago and your package to Daryl just arrived. He was very pleased over the bread and surely over the candy and cookies. We all had a lovely Xmas and sincerely hope you did too. Eugene sent us a turkey and it arrived in gand shape. We had it for dinner yes and “was it ever good.” Fred and Dorothy were to have some of it too but they left for Waterville Thursday Xmas eve so I’m afraid the turkey will be gone before they return which will be Sunday night.

I bought lots of candy and Xmas cookies, fruit cake, etc. sort of planning for you folks. Honestly, there is more food around here to eat and with all your lovely baking I won't have to cook for a week. I feel you just did to much, Clara. You worked so hard to do all that nice baking. Anyway, this Xmas reminded me lot of our home Xmas like Ma used to provide for us kids. I want to thank you for all your many kindnesses you sent out here.

The sausage is just delicious. So far we just tasted it. The soap looks like our winter banana apples <ref>This is an apple that can certainly be called the “Fairest of the fair”, the sweet and lovely Winter Banana. With its smooth, waxy, pale yellow skin and pinkish-red blush, the Winter Banana is an extremely attractive apple as well as a beneficial addition to the home orchard.</ref>. It's so pretty I hate to use it. I didn’t follow your orders about the Springerle. I left everything just as you labeled it and I dished out different cookies etc to the folks and the surplus I always put downstairs in one of Julia’s cupboards. She doesn’t eat there so it is all O.K. If I leave things upstairs they're into everything and such a mess.

Everything you sent arrived OK. I gave Fred his packages Thursday evening. Guess he and Dorothy had their tree or else they took their gifts to Waterville and unwrapped them there. I invited them here but they wanted to get right on their way as soon as “Dot” got thru work.

Julia left last Wed night for Oregon to spend Xmas with her kids so she won’t be back until Sun night, so it was up to me and my family to make Xmas for the folks. Hap and Daryl got the folks a tree the same time they did ours. They made a stand for it and Daryl decorated it for them. It looked real nice and we put it on the dresser in their bedroom.

We put it up the Sunday before Xmas so they could get their minds used to the fact Xmas was coming. Two days the tree was pretty and on the third all the ornaments had been broken but two. I didn’t say a word. We had our tree Xmas eve and the folks the condition they’re in I knew I just couldn’t bring them over as Dad has a fearful cold and they do go to bed real early. So Xmas morning I beat it over in the car and cleaned up the place first and put a rabbit on to cook which Daryl had given them for Xmas. Took me about two hours to clean up the place and Ma and get several things on the stove to cook.

So then I beat it home and we had all their packages in a big box, grabbed the pumpkin pie, cranberries and a salad I had made so we all went over to share their Xmas. Ma is always glad to see Hap and calls him her boy, so Daryl dealt out the gifts and helped them unwrap them.

They seemed very happy over everything but I don’t think they remember who things are from. In between shots I got their dinner on the table which was about 12 noon, so we visited with them until they were nearly thru eating then went home, stuck the turkey in the oven and other things ready for our meal. We didn’t eat until about 6. Had different callers in the afternoon, of course served Xmas cheer to everyone and a springerle.

I felt rather badly to think the folks had dinner alone, but I just couldn’t arrange it anyway else. They are both getting so feeble, but they did have a nice dinner and weren’t neglected in that way. Hap and kids cleaned up our place Xmas day while I was over to the folks and that helped me so much as with all the company I was sure rushed.

I took the folks some of Gene’s turkey this morning and prepared their noon meal. Now I’ll tell you about them.

Ma is better the past week or so, she isn’t suffering, her legs are practically normal again, gets her medicine and insulin regular, but she is completely off. As far as going to the toilet there just isn’t any for her. Everything on the floor.

I scrubbed more “sheis and pea” in the last week. I change her daily, every stitch bed also, and Julia’s washer in the basement is a god send and so are the two slips you sent. They fit perfectly as I put one on Ma this A.M. She is forever monkeying with her legs, taking her socks off, cutting up, or twisting some kind of string around them. Otherwise she is disrupting some other part of the house.

She cut up the oil cloths (that Melva bo’t for the table) the other. Then the apron I gave her for her birthday<ref>1860 - Nov. 11th</ref>. She had that in a million strips one day and to top it off I just got there in time this a.m. She had Dad’s new shirt from you and had ripped the collar off ⅓. I really scolded her but a person might as well shut up.

I brought the shirt home and I’ll fix it but I’m going to put Dad’s things in Fred’s closet after this. I have been keeping Dad’s socks in there as she always got into those.

Honestly, sometimes it's so disheartening when you enter that place in the mornings. It always looks nice when I leave but the next morning you’d never know I had been there. Dad just hasn’t been a bit well lately. He wants to sleep all the time and doesn't know when it's day time. Right now he has a terrible cold. Gave him a good slug of whiskey this a.m. and made him drink a qt of hot lemonade<ref>Hot Toddy

• 1 oz (2 tablespoons) bourbon
• 1 tablespoon mild honey
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup boiling-hot water
• Put bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved.</ref>. So tomorrow if I don’t see any improvement I’ll have to call the Dr. for him.

I cautioned him not to go outside and that I would buy all his groceries so I don’t know if he will remember long enough or not. If they keep on the rate they’re going, my spending the mornings over there won’t be enough, but who is going to put up with that “sheis etc”? Ma gets insulin once a day now, in the mornings. Her urine tested almost clear last Sunday. You asked how she acted while sick. Of course she wanted to lie down all the time, was very weak, no fire left in her, everything she left up to my judgement. She’d gasp for air and just lay their and moan. Guess it was a miracle she didn't go into a coma which I really feared.

I won’t tell you the story about Julia. Its to long. When you come I will tell you. Anyway, Fred got her out of it. She called here but Hap wouldn’t let me do a thing. Felt rather badly. Boy, he is so burnt up with her it makes him mad I just see her for a minute in the mornings.

Fred said her told her the first time she came home drunk or with a man she would have to get out and ‘’’stay out’’’. He has my support. She is to pay electric light bill and supply different medicines for folks and she has been doing that. Of course you just can’t depend on Julia. There is a lot of good in her too, but when she goes on a “whing ding” hard telling what she’ll do. The city Dr. said she was having change of life<ref>*Julia was born 1890 and was now 46.</ref> and every time she is under a strain she just cracks.

Now, what I write about Fred at different times, please don’t let it influence you in any way. I shouldn’t gossip and Hap would give me heck if he knew it.

At present Fred isn't on earth. “He is in love.” I think later he will come back. I do think he should have written to you and I feel badly he didn’t and some day when the opportune moment comes I’ll tell him. Now, when I find out things about his money cases I’ll let know and get it from him. He is slow pay, but if you hit him hard enough you’ll get it.

His car was stolen last Sunday, but he managed to get another from the same outfit. In the meantime the police found his car. He told me the other day he had to make out his income report. Said as close as he could figure he made $2900 the past year. Asked him what he did with it. Said he lived it up and hd to pay Harvard “U” $300 as they were about to bring suit against him. He is darn slow paying bills, his rent, water, lights, or in fact anything, but he’s always got money for a good time I notice.

Now I’ll tell you about ourselves. I’m sorry you and [Ralph Baur|Ralph]] couldn’t come, but as Hap’s mother always tells me “Maybe it was for the best.” Hope you had a nice Xmas. Hap gave me a wool flannel robe. I was pleased as I wanted one for a long time. Daryl gave me a neat bowl with cracker and picks and a nice card which I’m keeping always. Shirley gave me a toilet set, soap and powder, which is very nice also. Fred gave me an umbrella which comes in handy coming from folks. Then I received a pair of stockings, Kleenex, powder puffs, apron, cookie jar, perfume and sandwich toaster.

I gave Daryl an electric art set. He gets a big kick out of it as he leans toward art and drawing in school. Gave Shirley a monopoly game and hap slippers. Santa was just grand to all of us, gave Fred a pair of slippers. Kids decorated our tree and it looks real nice.

I’m enclosing $5 of Dad’s money for balance on coat. Does the slip fit I sent you? Did Ralph get the card? Oh, those knee warmers I’m going to return. They would be swell if Ma would leave them on, but she just won’t so I’ll wrap them soon and return them to you. Clara and Ralph, we all want to thank you for all the lovely Xmas you sent us. I just feel like you do to many things, Clara. You should have heard it Daryl chuckle over his bread. He probably won’t write, but he appreciated it.

Lots of love-

Marie and Family

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