Letter #12

Letter #12 May 26, 1918
Bountiful, Utah

Dear Sweetheart Henry,
Well, how are you to-night? I just got back from Mary’s on the 5-car and it is now 7:20 pm. Papa and Mamma aren’t home yet. They went up with Uncle Ira as they were going on ‘the Ridge’. Delores stayed up there.
I received your letter of the 21st Friday and the one of the 23rd yesterday. I can’t tell you, Henry, what a letter from you means to me. All I can say is that it is the greatest means of keeping


the sun shining. You ought to have seen me yesterday when I got your letter. I just had to jump. I was so tickled. They say a letter means so much to a soldier but take it from one who knows, they are no more gratefully expected than letters from those away. Henry, dear, if you should stop writing, or would write only once in a while, I don’t know if I would ever be flooded with sunshine again.
When I read your letter where you told about George, I was so indignant with Clyde, I don’t know what I would have done with him, had he been in my reach. Tell George hello and try and make his life as happy as possible, for I know if anyone has sunshine radiating from them, you have. I wish-to-goodness sometimes that you weren’t with Clyde, but I know you can hold your own, sweetheart, so I don’t worry. Has he any other friends, yet? For you said that birds of a feather flock together.
We went up to Irvin’s on the five-car last night. They had a fine rain up there this morning. It is still threatening and I do hope it doesn’t freeze, for it is still cold. Hazel says it was starting to rain again. We had a nice dinner up to Mary’s to-day and we made ice cream this afternoon. Half I ate was for you. You just see how much food we have here when you come home, love. The baby is sure sweet, and has learned a new trick of spitting and making a funny kind of noise. She laughs so sweetly. Irvin was bringing us up tonight. He told us Lionel Layton (the Haddock girl) had a new baby girl. Wilford and Milton went up on the five-car to-night to Irvin’s. I had to laugh at them. They had five peonies on the way up, but they sold them to a soldier for 50 cents. Some class, heh? Beatrice Wadoupps went to Ogden on the car with us last night. She is sporting a new diamond. It isn’t half so fine as mine. I think the fellow is from Tooele. Eunice said she hadn’t met him. I wonder if any of them have.
I haven’t seen any of the kids since you left, so you are just about as well off as I am. We didn’t have Primary Officers’ Meeting yesterday.
I haven’t heard of any more Scarlett Fever cases in the town as yet. I hope that no more cases break out.
Well, Henry dear, it seems lonesome tonight as only Hazel, Uncle James, and I are here. I must not complain, however, as the sweet becomes more sweet as one has partaken of the bitter. Irvin says we will appreciate each other more when you come back. Well, that may be true, but if I get much more love, I think my heart will have to grow more or expand to the limit.
Well, Henry dear, do not worry about me for I am all right. What with your letters and love (that above all things), my religion, and my hopes and the blessings it gives, and the folks here in my life…all this has made it bearable. My one thought now is to live my religion so that I may ask the greatest gift to me of my Heavenly Father. That is that you will return to me just as pure and clean and as much mine as when you left, and that someday you may become my helpmate throughout this life and the eternities. I am not above telling you that this is my constant prayer for you. Am I going too far, for one not tied with the bond of matrimony? If so, please forget it until (some may say) I have a better right to say it. Well, Henry, take it as you will, but remember, it is one who gives you her whole heart. Perhaps I am getting too bold, but I am showing you one side of myself, and I can trust you. Thank God for that.
Thought you should know Irvin is wearing your overalls now. He gave me one of your shoes to hug, and believe me, I did. Irvin surely was pleased with the rain. To-morrow is load day again, if it isn’t too wet. That means more radishes to pull, which means more stamp money.
If I am breaking you buying stamps let me know; but please, dear, don’t forget how much I love the letters. Well, Henry, to-morrow is Decoration Day. What will you do to celebrate? I guess I’ll stay home and get my greatest pleasure by writing you. If you have a chance to have a good-time (I mean your standard of a good-time), then have it, for that makes me happy, too. Mamma says there was something happening at Lagoon last night for the soldiers here because of Decoration Day. The bath houses aren’t finished yet. You know, Lagoon opens Thursday.
To-night coming home on the car there were some soldiers who were smoking all the time. Most of them got on at Layton. I couldn’t help contrasting them with you. I pity our generation if the following generation is like them. Well, Henry, I have enjoyed my evening as best as I can to-night without you, but it has been made very pleasant by writing to you. If you have half the pleasure reading my letters as I do writing them, and telling you what I desire, I will be satisfied. It is 10:00 pm and Hazel is calling me to come to bed. So Good night, Sweet repose, Half the bed, and All the clothes.
As ever, your waiting Sweetheart, Violet XXX



FYI: DECORATION DAY ….While Veterans' Day in November is to honor all those who served their nation in war, Memorial Day is primarily to honor those who died in military service. This all-American holiday has its roots in the practice of women of decorating the graves of their loved ones who had died in the Civil War, and was originally also called Decoration. Both the North and the South claim they began it. it