[Letter of Sarah Hope "Sallie" Bonner to son Joel Isaac Bonner, April 28, 1919]
[This letter is interesting because of the description of first airplanes 
(that she refers to as "air machines") she had  ever seen.  Also, she reports 
that the flight to Waco took 41 minutes.  Sallie refers to Africian Americans 
from the area who served in WWI and who were returning home.]

[Envelope missing.  Perhaps mailed with her daughter's letter of the same date.]

[p. 1]

                   Fairfield, Tex
                   April 28, 1919
My Dear Joel,
   This is Monday morning 
it [is] cloudy and cooler than it 
[has] been in several days. we 
are anxious for a rain 
it [is] so dry the seed will 
not come up, poor stand 
of corn and cotton not up
planted cotton last week
Jim Billie and family
and Sneed went to Kirven 
to see the air machines to 
day we were up before day 
to get them of[f] in time. 
Bettie and I went to Fairfield 
Friday to see them as I had 
never seen one, was well payed 
for the trip, it lit right at 
the school-house - there were 

[p. 2]

two there - one broke down 
trying to rise, they had to 
send to Waco to get some 
thing to fix it with. they 
flew to Waco in 41 minutes.
Mr Patterson and Mr McCoy 
came here Saturday, went 
to see Sister Lizzie in the 
evening, spent Saturday 
night at Worth Steward[’s].
Went to Cousin Willie’s for 
dinner. Sabbath to see Mary 
Thornton. Sam Manahan 
got home yesterday, our 
children went to see him 
as soon as we got through 
with dinner, they said 
he look[ed] fine. Fred Bonner 
landid at New York April 
25. Guy Robinson (Cousin 
Sallie Bell[’s] son) is at Teague 
now on a visit, will have 

[p. 3]

to report back at New 
York in a short time.
Every few days we hear 
of some of the boys getting 
back. I am always glad
to hear of any of them getting 
back home. Fred Carter came 
to New York a few days ago.
The Negros are getting
back to Jack Jackson[’s] and 
a Thurmon Negro is back 
they are not willing to try
it over. they have had 
enough war.
   It[’s] mail time, our school 
will close Friday. Clara[’s] 
closes this week to[o], they both
will have picnics.
   May God bless and keep you,
             Your loving
                  Mama