Hinman Bigelow Letters: Say Yes! (25 Jan 1919)

This letter was written on 25 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes yet another letter to his mother about the little Ford Racer. Nothing's going to stop him!

Jan 25th

Dear Mother,

I received your last letter but not the socks nor the candy. You say in your letter that another dividend has passed, well if you get stuck, help yourself to mine to any extent you feel like. If there is not enough for us both you take mine and I will go to work and try to support myself until your stock gets back on its feet.

Just at present I am conjuring every cent I get that I can spare toward getting a Ford racer. This is a special car not one of those tin affairs like the regular Ford, but a Ford engine in a real chassis. I think by saving I can get it, don't you? It is worth $650 but the fellow who is having it built in his father's factory will sell it to me less than cost at $400. Well mother you know how handy a little car is, it will save you jitney fare and all kinds of trouble such as waits and delays.

Couldn't you help me to the extent of $75, not all at once but gradually, I have until June to get the money and I will get it.

I am going to work this summer the months of July and August leaving the last part of June and September for my vacation. I think I will go to work next fall regularly instead of going back to school if our incomes decrease much more.

Please send me $6.00 to make up those classes. I paid my society dues that left me a dollar and then paid for a hair cut leaving me 50 cents and got my suit costing 75 cts, putting me a quarter in the hole and then you expect me to pay all my store bill besides, well it don't work out.

I need a pair of indoor track shoes. These cost $5 and I would like to have them and then I would be complete as for clothes. Please send this as soon as possible also my allowance as I have been here two weeks and received only one allowance so please send immediately.

Now look this proposition, I ask you, over fairly (1) you would like the car (2) It is cheap running 20 miles on a gallon of gasolene (3) it is worth $650 and would sell any time for $500 so I can't lose. (4) You could save $75 gradually by May at least to help me. This is the biggest thing I ever asked of you, 75 dollars, but I hope you will grant me that much and if you would even consider it a loan I could easily repay it but as you are my mother I should think you would help me to such an extent. Even if you would consider it a loan and if I didn't pay you could take it out of my income as you have control of it, so please do as I ask and I will promise you the best rides you ever had.

The upkeep of a Ford is practically nothing and if I get tired of it, I can sell it for even money or better anytime at all.

Write and tell me what you think of it, now don't say impossible I am spending too much or anything like but get behind me and help me get the car. Just think I am asking you for only $75 and it is up to me to get the other $325 and watch me to do it.

Well please consider this thing and think what it means to you to have a car.

I just got the socks, handkerchiefs and the candy. Thanks ever so much.

Please write soon and say yes!

Your loving,
Hinman

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