Letter #16

Letter #16

Boulder,Colorado

May 30, 1918

Dear Sweetheart,

Nothing to do but write, so you will forgive me, won’t you, for writing tonight? I was writing to Hazel, so I thought I would just put a few words in for you, if you don't mind Ha! Ha! I surely have been under the weather since last night after saying goodnight to you, for my harm has been stiff all day and my bones ache as if I had been working hard at some work I was not used to. I also have the sniffles, which you know are not wished for.

I have been over to the hospital again today to have my fingerprints taken, they also had us strip, to see if we had any scars on our bodies, they found none on mine, but discovered my crooked arm for the first time. The doctor asked, “What was wrong with it?” I told him I had it broken. Then he asked who had examined it before, and I told that he did. He didn’t say anything, but wrote down on a paper something which I could not tell. After I left, I was wondering if he was going to act upon it. Well, dear, I hope we are better tomorrow, for we must go back to work again. I don’t think there will be much cement mixing tomorrow for me. We will be given a piece of sidewalk to put it for the city of Boulder.

I am enjoying my quarters better since I moved to the main floor Room 8, for there are only eight men in it. The one who sleeps to the left of me does not smoke, but the one on the right does. He seems only a boy, about 18 years old. The other on the end does not either, there is one on the other side which does not, and so it will not be so hard for me and the other men who don’t smoke.

Say, dear, we surely had some mess tonight. We had chicken and gravy, and the cook told us it would be the last chicken until the Fourth of July. Well, if we don’t get any until then it won’t kill me for I can live on other things, just as well, though they do not taste as well.

I don’t know if I made myself clear to you about the subject you spoke of, the last night I was with you. Now dear, so not think it has had any effect on me, for it has not, I feel like it was just a test to see if you could really trust me. Now, dear, that is not saying that it was, for I did not take it in that spirit. I took it in the spirit of love and the desire of becoming closer, to my only love, which in time will be mine for time and all eternity. Now dear, this is just the way I feel in regards to my actions, I may have been in the wrong, but from my standpoint, I don’t think I did anything wrong. It did not have any effect on my inner nature

And I had the right spirit in mind. Such an action to some would be misleading, and taken in the wrong attitude. Now take my word, sweetheart, it was not taken that way with me. Now, dear, no one need ever know anything about that, for I deem that mine and your affairs,

I am surely glad you like your ring, I have not said anything about it yet, but I have been thinking a great deal, has anyone been running a few rasoos on you yet? If they have, they want to keep their mouths closed. If they think it is any fun, they ought to come out and show their colors, as I have, and not stay home jamming other people and seeing how much they can torment. How are those married fellows treating you?

I received a letter from Jay today. He surely is a friend to me. He spoke very highly of you, they way you took my going off. Well, dear, he is not the only one who can speak highly of you, for there is a soldier boy in Boulder which will defend the just, and fight for the truth, and above all, would fight for you if need be.

Well, I must stop for my letter will not hold it all, if I write any more. Well, keep smiling and may the blessing of God ever be near you is my prayer. Violet, if you get a chance to meet Jessie Blood, do so for me. Love to all X X X

As ever, your sweetheart, Henry