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Adelia M. Hoyt memoir and photographs
Page 116
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116, UNFOLDING YEARS Lillian was not doing so well. She came later and left earlier; and was frequently absent for two or three days at a time. She claimed to be ill and I had no reason to doubt her, but it left me alone all together too much. Fortunately, I was not helpless and could look after myself; but the work did fall behind and I often had to do more than I should. It was all right as long as I was well but there were always the possibility that I might be ill. My friends and neighbors worried about my being alone so much. Winifred Hutchings had never really liked her work in the Library of Congress. There seemed no prospect for any advancement so when she received an offer of a better position in the Cincinnati Public Library she accepted. I think she rather regretted leaving Washington and our home where I believe she had been quite happy. After she had gone i moved back into the front room and gave Miss Lanning the room I had occupied. It was then I decided to employ a white woman for housekeeper, one who would be with us all the time. I remembered Mrs. Emma Neff who had been with us for a few months; I communicated with her and she agreed to come. She arrived on the 1st of December and took over; and this was a great relief to me. It was arranged that Miss Lanning should take all her meals with us. This change was a great improvement as I now had someone with me practically all the time. In May 1947 Ira Hoff again visited me. As usual we had a round of entertaining and of being entertained. Before we left, Susie Duffy arrived and these two met for the first time. Ira had now crossed the continent about three times in his car and was getting ready for another trip west. Always a great lover of nature nothing of interest escaped him. He visited friends and relatives on these trips, stopping when and where he pleased. He missed no place of historic or geographic interest. Ira loved birds, flowers, animals and people -- and made friends everywhere. He wrote me long interesting letters, often enclosing pressed flowers and leaves; even bird feathers and snap shots he had taken. He learned braille and often wrote letters which I could read
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116, UNFOLDING YEARS Lillian was not doing so well. She came later and left earlier; and was frequently absent for two or three days at a time. She claimed to be ill and I had no reason to doubt her, but it left me alone all together too much. Fortunately, I was not helpless and could look after myself; but the work did fall behind and I often had to do more than I should. It was all right as long as I was well but there were always the possibility that I might be ill. My friends and neighbors worried about my being alone so much. Winifred Hutchings had never really liked her work in the Library of Congress. There seemed no prospect for any advancement so when she received an offer of a better position in the Cincinnati Public Library she accepted. I think she rather regretted leaving Washington and our home where I believe she had been quite happy. After she had gone i moved back into the front room and gave Miss Lanning the room I had occupied. It was then I decided to employ a white woman for housekeeper, one who would be with us all the time. I remembered Mrs. Emma Neff who had been with us for a few months; I communicated with her and she agreed to come. She arrived on the 1st of December and took over; and this was a great relief to me. It was arranged that Miss Lanning should take all her meals with us. This change was a great improvement as I now had someone with me practically all the time. In May 1947 Ira Hoff again visited me. As usual we had a round of entertaining and of being entertained. Before we left, Susie Duffy arrived and these two met for the first time. Ira had now crossed the continent about three times in his car and was getting ready for another trip west. Always a great lover of nature nothing of interest escaped him. He visited friends and relatives on these trips, stopping when and where he pleased. He missed no place of historic or geographic interest. Ira loved birds, flowers, animals and people -- and made friends everywhere. He wrote me long interesting letters, often enclosing pressed flowers and leaves; even bird feathers and snap shots he had taken. He learned braille and often wrote letters which I could read
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