Russell Baker

What greater gift to have than a good book!?  Fleta left me a good book at Erin's months ago and Erin forgot to give it to me until my Turkey visit.  Should I be sad that Erin neglected to give me my read or be glad that Erin saved it for me to read later? The book was about Russell Baker.  You can google him and read all about him.  His biography of growing up is very good.  Mr. Baker makes light of himself and all his failures.  His father died when he was about 5.  The Dad had diabetes before the days of insulin.  It killed him at a young age.  His Mother gave up her 10 month old daughter to this Dad's brother and sister in law.  She struggled though the depression eking out an existence for herself, Russell and his sister, Dora..  At one time they took "relief" as Russell called it--a low point of his life.  Betty (yes, his mother) wanted Russell to "amount to something" and she took that as a life mission.  Often she told him to "have a little gumption".  The book is full of "terrible with raisins in it", but Russell makes it all into a comedy.  Thanks to Fleta and to Erin...Fleta for sharing it and Erin for waiting to let me have it.
The facts below tell of Russell in a short history.  In 1930, he is with his Dad in VA living the life of a child and by 1940 he is in the big city of Maryland trying to make it by hawking papers in the streets and taking the money home to his mother.  The household is minus the little sister his mother Betty have to his father's brother.  Russell said Betty did not cry when they took Audrey but sit in the kitchen and stared blankly out a window before asking him if he wanted some "jelly bread" something she thought was frivolous containing far too much sugar.

Name: Russell W Baker Gender: Male Birth Year: abt 1926 [abt 1925]  Birthplace: Virginia Race: White Home in 1930: Lovettsville, Loudoun, Virginia Map of Home: View map Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: Benjamin R Baker Father's Birthplace: Virginia Mother's Name: Lucy E Baker Mother's Birthplace: Virginia Household Members: Name Age Benjamin R Baker 32 Lucy E Baker 32 Russell W Baker 4 [4 7/12]  Doris J Baker 2 [2 7/12]  Audrey L Baker 0 [3/12]  Name: Russell Baker Age: 14 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1926 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Virginia Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Home in 1940: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland Map of Home in 1940: View map Street: W Lombard Street House Number: 1439 Inferred Residence in 1935: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland Residence in 1935: Same House Sheet Number: 8B Attended School or College: Yes Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 6th grade Household Members: Name Age Lucy Baker 42 Russell Baker 14 Doris Baker 12