Alex’s Job

From letter dated December 15, 1958

Alex has his first job. A friend who lives down in the next block asked him to keep her yard watered for her this winter, since they have moved to their town house. He sets the hoses and does part of it by hand every second or third day, depending on our weather. He has been very reliable and interested in his work and I have thought he was doing a very nice job of it. He’s thrilled, of course, and practically a millionaire with his $1.00 per week. Even I consider it a very generous pay, though I guess it is about in line with what is paid these days.

He made some extra yesterday, too. We had used up all the firewod Bucher chopped earlier, and were having a cold spell, so Alex started sawing off fireplace-sized lengths from some great pine limbs that our next-door neighbor donated to us after they fell on his house. Bucher paid Alex 5¢ per log, and he made 50¢ yesterday afternoon. I’m not sure it is much cheaper than buying firewood, but Alex needs the exercise, the responsibility, and the money, so it is nicer this way.

 

For the first time, Alex is selecting Christmas presents for the whole family and buying them with his own money. The other day he came tearing in saying he had picked something out and had to get the money to pay for it since he had told the woman in the shop just up at our little shopping center to gift wrap it for him.

I suggested that he ask me about it first to make sure it was a wise selection but he said he couldn’t, that it was for me. I was thrilled, really speechless.

And Alex was the proudest little boy you ever saw when he brought it home a few minutes later. He couldn’t wait for Bucher to get home so he could tell him about it. And he insisted on telling me the things he had looked at and then decided against. I can’t wait to see what he bought. Of course, whatever it is, I’ve already had my best Christmas present just seeing his happy little face at getting a gift for me by himself.