1413 Third Avenue Laurel , Miss Mrs. Sam H. Smith P.O. Box 3 Pittsboro, Miss New Year's Day Dear Pauline; Well Christmas has come and gone and a new year has dawned; I am wondering what it is all about and what is in store for us. It is probably best that we are unable to say or know. We had a delightful Christmas. Jack and Charleyne came and were with us; we were all well and had a good time together. My mother in-law sent us a baked ham and three cakes, and the nice box you sent us was the best of all. I retained the sausage almost entirely for my use "Personal" and Lum and Abner say. I ate them for breakfast when the kids were all asleep. It "Hope" us and we surely have enjoyed the cracklins. K.C. and Allen came Tuesday and brought us the lard, eggs etc. together with sandwiches and all that for supper- they stayed over for supper that evening. We enjoyed seeing them so much for even if the kids were here and all of that I felt awfully lonesome for some of you. I came back to work after christmas and found that I had gotten a ten dollar rase beginning the first of January. So that hope me too; and with all things as they are now, I guess I should be very happy and really I am and thank God that he has blessed me in so many ways. We have not had any further news about the disbanding of the camps and are still carrying on. Tho I am sue that it will be abolished or at least, greatly reduced. I have made application to the war department for a commission, and would like an awful lot to get back. "Dont know how it will be" but feel that I can be used to some advantage in trzining an army. Perhaps I can find a job in one of the Defense projects in the even t that I lose out here and am unable to become active in the army. K.C. said they were looking for Vick home for a few days visit, last week wonder if he came. I hope he continues to hold his job. We are going to do our level best to save some money on this job. Of course it will be only a samall amount but we are going to save something now if I can stay on. I feel sure that we will rent out room right away and with sister sending us some money each month we are going to do our best. We are going to write for Chris to come over and spend the week end with us real soon. I did not realize she was so near; though she was still in Brook- haven. Know you enjoyed having all of them home for the holidays. I have been hoping that Brother-In*law would be sent back to Laurel, but since old Baily is so strong witht he administration, guess he will spend the rest of the time down here. He looks like a tramp, his clothes are always dirty and never has had on a pressed pairt pair of "trouser" since he has been in Laurel. He says that he and his wife are living off his expense account. I imagine that Pete Martin lives well compared to his existence. Well I guess that is more of an accomplishment thn an something to be ashamed of, but it is hard to do. Some friends of mine near here, brought me a letter they had received from the Ellards in Birmingham, these folks here had lived next door to the Ellards for twenty years in Bmghm. The Ellards wanted me to write to them, and I am going to do it right away, as I have a hobby now of looking into the family tree, which I expect to develope real soon, and I want all the information that I can get from them. In the letter from the Ellards, it was stated that Dr. Ellard's father had two brothers in Mississippi; it is presumed that one of them was our granddad. By the way, in this connection, I want you to send me the dates of births and deaths of all members of our immediate families and to include grandparents on both sides as far as possible. I am going to write to Cecil and get him to secure some of the dates from the old family Book that they have, but you give me the benefit of all the infor- mation you have. Now don't forget to send me this and when I have gotten you all the information I can secure I will give you a copy of my data. I thought Allen looke pretty well but he handled himself very poorly indeed and it is apparent that he is definitely growing worse all the time. I got hold of a Commercial Appeal and saw one of the Crawford boys picture in it the other day. Know the old l ady is worried abo ut him. Tell Murff to write me a line, and give me a summary of what is taking place socialy thereabout. Got to go to work now. Write us when you have time, send the information requested, and remember Pearl Harbor. Love to All Foss Deloris will write you soon; she has been nearly sick for a week.