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Life Recollections

Chapter 3, Part 1
Into the Working World

After almost four years on the big ranch Dad decided to give up the lease and move up on our own land. He had had the barns built and he house was built enough to live in. I was thirteen years old and had finished grade school so was soon expected to go out into the world and make my own way. On my 14th birthday (May 30, 1915) I got a suitcase as a birthday present from John Johnson. He took me into Everett to some friends of the folks who were to help me get a job. We answered an ad in the paper and I went to work for this lady. She did absolutely nothing and I didn't have much to do. I was to get $2.50 a week. After telling my friends about it, they decided I better quit. Now I realize she was just a kept woman. I then went to work for a druggist's wife in Everett. I washed, ironed, scrubbed and took care of the baby for $3.00 a week and she bawled me out for any little thing. Mother came into see me with the horse and buggy and when I saw her I burst into tears. She went home very much upset.

By this time Ernie and Martha were married and Martha was expecting Thurston. I told the lady I wanted to quit and go and help my sister-in-law. What fun we had together, just two young kids fooling the day away but was sure to have our work done when Ernie came home. I stayed with them until Thurston was born and Martha was well, then I went home for a while.

After that I went back to my friends in Everett to look for more work. I got a job at Dr. Moefler. He was a nose and throat specialist. They were very nice to me and I didn't feel like they were overworking me though I was only getting $3.50 a week. I had a nice room and the two kids were good kids. While working there, I had my first city boy friend. I had learned a few things about clothes and a few nice things, like Esther said white stockings and black patent leather slippers. My parents' friends had a very nice sister my age and we became very friendly. She had a brother that was there each Sunday when I visited them. He finally got up courage to ask me to go to a show, which I did. The next Sunday he asked me if I would ride on his motorcycle out to Silver Lake. Me being at the daring age and thinking myself quit grown up said yes. We had dirt and gravel roads in those days and about half way out there we slid in the gravel and turned over. Neither being hurt we righted the motorcycle and went on our way. Later we decided to rent a rowboat and go out on the lake. It sprung a leak and we bailed ourselves to shore. Left the boat and walked back to the motorcycle and back to Everett. I don't remember going out with him any more but later in life when we would go to dances I would see him occasionally.

I really don't remember why I changed jobs but next placed I worked was for Mrs. Glen Hulbert. He was affiliated with Hulbert's Sawmill in Everett. They were newly married and had a very nice home. They were very good to me and I was happy there. I guess you would say they were in High Society. They had many fancy dinner parties and when they were invited out to dinner parties they would take me along to help in the kitchen. It was all very elegant, the women in low even gowns and the men in their evening clothes. It was something I had only read about in books. They had a lot of books and they encouraged me to read so I spent all my spare time reading. Then she told me she was going to have a baby and wanted me to stay but at that time Martha was expecting Margaret so again I quit and went to stay with Ernie and Martha. I was with them for some time after the little girl was born and then decided to go home and be with my parents for a while. Mother wanted to try and go out and earn some money so I was at home to take her place. It was then I realized how much work there was to do on the ranch but dad was very good to me. I had a little more freedom than I had as a child so I did get to go to a few dances and parties. I ended up by having Ann's brother for my boy friend and we had many good times, a big bunch piling into someone's Model T and away we would go.
(continued)

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