Letter #14

Letter #14 Bountiful, Utah
May 28, 1918
Dear Sweetheart Henry,
I received your most welcome letter today. I thought the mail man would never come but he did at last, and brought me what I wanted. I am glad you received your candy all right and I hope it wasn’t too dry. So Clyde wanted some. Ha! Ha! Say, is he homesick? If he wasn’t I don’t think homemade candy would appeal to him. Well, Clyde had a calling-down for not saluting you? Ha! Ha! I never knew the time would come when you would be saluted. Do you still like the captain? I don’t understand the send off you got from the captain but if you were pleased with the work, then that pleases me. We are all looking for you to make good and we know without a doubt you will.
Mrs. Bartholomew was over here to-day phoning about Clarence’s papers. They want to get him off on a recruiting furlough. I hope they are successful, because Clarence wants to come home. Ward Stringham went back last night. He has been here since a week last Saturday.
I have just got thru taking my music lesson, my first one for weeks. I guess I have to have a little pounded into this “wooden” head if I would practice, but you know I never do.
My news seems so very, very common place, Henry dear, compared with yours. I haven’t been any place since Sunday so I don’t know much news. About all I can tell you is that I still am very deeply in love with my soldier boy and will always be until life goes from me. I don’t know what I’d do if it wasn’t for the thoughts of you and your letters bringing your love. But don’t think I’m blue, for I’m not.
Barlows just came here to change some graham flour which we bought. It was wormy so they brought us some more. Does it make you shiver to think of it? We didn't eat any, so we won't be dying from eating worms.
When you spoke of so much smoking being ever around you, I thought of what such a life some of those boys lead. Thank God the one who has my whole heart is not about such things, and that he will try, not only thru his own strength, but thru that of his Maker, to return as clean as he went.
George White said two more cases of Scarlet Fever have broken out. He said Pierces had it. I don’t know the other one. Amelia Sessions has it now. Eva is pretty sick.

Oh yes, I earned some more stamp money yesterday. I went out to cut some asparagus the first time this year. I can beat them all. Ha! Ha! To-day has been ironing and churning day. Mamma has been up to the Red Cross all day. Papa said he was going up to get her, so I am writing now so he can take it up.
You said, Henry, something ‘drew you to-ward the writing table’. I think it must be a desire for a letter, for it surely is strong enough to drag anyone around here to the writing table. Papa is not going into town Thursday, so he will not have to go to the field to-morrow. Daniel Henry Wood and daughter Violet
Papa has just come to go up and get Momma and I won’t be able to get this in the post office, and I haven’t a stamp, so I will finish it when I come back and write a longer one. Will that be alright, sweetheart, till later?
Well I’m back and supper is over and it’s 9:30. Hazel has been trying to read my letter, love. Well, I haven’t anything I am ashamed of in it, but it was meant for your eyes, not hers. We missed Mamma when we went up town. We trailed her right home, for she walked and had just gotten home when we came. We called Aunt Ellen to-night. Amelia is the sick one, rather than Eva. She is pretty sick. I hope she gets along alright for she isn’t very strong.
Alton Call (John’s little boy) is pretty sick. There are quite worried about him. I didn’t tell you who the other family was who had the Scarlet Fever -- it is James Burn’s family. I guess the quarantine will still be enforced over Bountiful for some time if much more breaks out. Sarah Stoker was telling Mamma to-day that Elna had received her first letter from Tab since he has been in France. I’ll bet Elna was pleased.
Well Henry, dear, I guess your advice will carry, as I haven’t made any preparation for summer school. I am not going, I guess. Are you glad, Henry?
Papa has all of his tomatoes out now. He has left some in the beds so that if a frost should come he would have a few to replenish.
Mary showed me your card. You know, love, anything from her is just about as craved after as money. I’m not joking. I read, reread, and read your messages. Mary was going to write but she had no envelopes.
I’m glad you heard from your “other girl” as your term her. If she wasn’t your cousin and sweet I would get jealous. Well, you have one advantage. You’re there, and I’m here, so then I can see how many letters you write to her, or she to you. Well, when you are pleased, so am I. So be pleased just as often as possible. You know when I saw that “other girl” on your letter I looked for the name of Gladys. Have you written to her yet? Remember she thinks so much of my soldier. Remember, I feel so proud sometimes (I mean all the time), when I think of Violet -- that poor little insignificant mortal winning out in the game of love, when so many more enticing girls were competing.
Henry, aren’t you having enough to eat, and enough to keep you warm? Can’t you buy more blankets? I wish I were nearer and I would give you half of the bed clothes necessary to keep you warm. I mean I would share with you.
Henry, do you have time to read anything, such as the Liahona? If you want it then let me know and I can send it with the Clipper. Well, Hazel has just called for me to come to bed, or she won’t hug me.

So I’ll say goodnight until morning. Goodnight Sweetheart. Let this be just as if we were to-gether, for we are in each other’s thoughts, I’m sure.
Well good morning, how you are this morning? Ha! Ha! I’m fine. Hazel has just come back from your place. They are all O.K. She has received a letter and some pictures of David. I guess he was pretty surprised to find out you were gone.
I am sending you a little parcel this morning. It isn’t much but I hope you enjoy it. They were put away for Mamma’s birthday, so you see you can have some of them.
I have just phoned up to Call’s to see how Alton is. He is no better for he is very, very sick. We are all hoping for the best.
The east wind is blowing here, and has been a good share of the night. I hope it won’t whip the plants too much -- I don’t think it will.
You said I would get tired reading your letters. Write them just as long as you can, the longer the better. Do you have time to write and read all my scribbling, dear? If you don’t just let me know and I’ll condense it all for you. Well mail time is drawing near so we’ll close.
As ever, your loving Sweetheart,
Violet XX (that’s one-a-night till the next one)
Hazel gave me this stationary. Do you think I deserve a star?

FYI:
In the picture above, Violet works alongside her father, Daniel Henry Wood on their vegetable farm She talks often of earning stamp money from her work picking vegetables. Here is something Aunt Elizabeth wrote that dsecribe this man: