Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: M, 1935-1936. A-71, folder 612. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

[left] TO:

NAME Dr. Miriam Van Waters,

STREET & NUMBER Box 99,

CITY Framingham, STATE Mass.

[right] CENSORED BOX 1112 2

JOLIET, ILLINOIS

January 6th 1935

My Dear Friend:

Here I am again, a few more lines to let you know I am thinking of you. I recieved your Christmas greetings, in which you said that you had sent me a box of nuts. I received a notice from the front office, saying they were returned to Sunny hills, Georgia, or some such place. It is aginst the rules to send in food, but I thank you for your good intensions. I recieved many greetings from my friends, It was nice to hear from them.

I am sitting here trying to think of what to write, my canary bird just swore at me, he wants out of his cage and I don't want him flying around my head at this time so I won't let him out, therefor he is mad at me and has been calling me some very shocking names in bird language.

You must of had a good rest in Georgia. I suppose it is nice and warm down there, sure wish I was there. I don't care for cold weather. I don't go outside very mcuh during these cold days, it isn't very wise of me, but next spring I will make up for it.

Everything at home is going along about the same drab way, Mike hasn't had much work lately, there is usualy a slack period at this time of each year. I suppose he will get married when work picks up.

I started on my English, but didn't have enough

ambition to continue with it, all winter long my books have gathered dust on the shelf. a fellow was asking me about it just today, so, I think I will try again, of course I can do as I please about it; it concerns myself alone, but if I don't snap out of it pretty soon I never will, so, I will turn in a few lessons.

My old friends in Colorado sure are dandy. He sent me Saturday Evening Post for this year, and a few other things he and Mrs [Yambert?] have done make me love them I sure hope that some day I may have the chance to do something for them. I can't see why they care anything about me. She even told a Sister at the hospital that I was her ather son. I will never forget what people have done for me, "that is a certain few people" and someday I will ballance the books.

Well dear friend of mine, I hope everything is going as it should with you. and if you find time won't you write me a few lines? Give my regards to Sarah.

Sending my best wishes and thoughts. I am as always, your old friend,

[right] Russell McWilliams. Reg. No. 5661

January 12, 1935

Russell McWilliams, Box 1112, #5661, Joliet, Illinois.

Dear Russell:

Your letter of January 6th just came. It is tough luck about those nuts from Georgia. I ought to have known better, I suppose, but I could not resist ordering them for you. I wish you would send me once more a complete list of just what you can and cannot have.

I am sending you the enclosed check for $5. with which you are to buy yourself a Christmas present, or spend it any way you see fit.

I see that your canary bird has his ambitions just the same as anyone else. One cannot blame him for wanting to get out of his cage, but since he cannot, my advice to him is that he had better improve his time as much as possible by learning a lot of new songs and making himself agreeable to you.

Today the sun is shining very brightly, and it seems quite warm. On such a day as this I cannot help hoping you are out taking your exercise. Then, then you should continue your English lessons. It would be fine if your ambitions would wake up, and you would dust off the books on the shelf and try once more. In addition to the Saturday Evening Post, is there any other magazine you want? I am glad your friends in Colorado remember you so faithfully. I imagine your friendship means a great deal to a fine motherly woman like Mrs. Yambert.

I hope your brother, [Mike?] , has regular work now, and that the drab days are beginning to turn bright for him. As you say, I suppose he will get married as soon as he can.

- 2 -

I have little news for I have been laid up a week with the grippe. Sarah is getting along very well indeed. Every good wish to you for the New Year, Faithfully, your old friend,

Superintendent.

MVW/K

[center] Mar. 4, 1935.

EMK [?]-

[left] Dear Dr. Van Waters:

Russell McWilliams asked me to write to you for him. Russells mother has been ill in the hospital for the last two months

He finds his mother gets a great deal of comfort from his letters and has been writing only to her

I hope you will understand his seeming neglect in his not writing to you.

His mother has been quite ill with a heart ailment. But at present is some what better

Inasmuch as he is unable to write you at the present time