June 2, 1918
Dear Sweetheart,
They are trying to coax me to come to bed. Shall I go, dear? No, I won’t, as my pleasure is just starting. I can sleep better after I write to you. Oh, Henry, I do hope you got your Sunday letter.
There’s where you get the best of me, as I can pour my heart out to you. I’m going to tell you a secret now. I’ve been reading ALL your letters tonight. It seemed like I was lonesome tonight, so that was the nearest I could get to you. Isn’t it funny, love, that even while people may be swarming around you on all sides, and even those who you know, you can feel the spirit of lonesomeness if one whom you want is not there. Love surely is funny. Now, sweetheart, don’t think I’m blue, for I’m not blue, especially when I’m reading your letters.
I received your letter on yesterday, on Decoration Day. You know, if I were near you, I’d punch you for apologizing for writing again. Talk about you being selfish, why are you not a drop in the bucket next to me? Why, Mama says I go wild over my letters. I hope you will believe me when I tell you they are my most precious belongings. How could they help but be, when they bring me the love I so crave, so please, just write whenever you can, for there is a true saying, “the more the merrier.”
Hazel, Deloras (she came back late last night), and I went up to Aunt Ellen’s tonight. Amelia has been so sick, that Uncle Sam has gone into help Aunt Ellen. Amelia is pretty bad as she has rheumatism. Her hands, knees and wrists are swollen terribly. I hope today is her worst day and she’ll soon be over it..
While we were there, Marie passed by in a car with Wilfred Hardy, Deloras said. Now, sweetheart, I’m just telling you the news and please don’t take it the other way.
We have had company all day. Uncle Fred and Aunt Alice Rampton, and Uncle Vern and Aunt Katherine Pace have been by here. They came down to dinner. Hazel and I went to meeting today. It was not as good a meeting as it was a month ago when you were there, perhaps your presence made the difference.
Oh yes, the Mutuals, both young men and young ladies, were reorganized in the meeting today. D.R. Tolman took John Ashby’s place with Clarence Barlow and Warren C. Holbrook (don’t fall over). Aunt Katherine Pace took Sister Emma Garrett’s place with Nancy Holbrook and Len Hadley’s wife as counselors. I wish them all the best of success. They put them in now so that they could go to convention this week.
I received a letter from Clarence yesterday. He speaks very highly of Boulder. He passed through on his way to Vancouver. He is getting very, very anxious to come home. The papers have gone, but I don’t know the result.
Oh yes, Barlow, Eugene Bangerter, and Fred Duncan leave (if they have not gone already), for France right away. I guess on account of the success of the Huns, something must be done right away. Haven Stringham is in the hospital. His heart is bad and they’re seeing what can be done. His mother is quite sick. One of your nice Layton girls is married. Ralph Rampton and Elgie Adams were married last week. Henry, dear, have you done anything to remedy your being cold? It just makes me sick to think I can’t help you. Why don’t you buy a blanket or a bathrobe and sleep in it? Please, dear, if you love me do something, and take care of yourself. I do so hope and pray, love, that you are feeling better and that you have gotten rid of your cold. Be careful, won’t you please, for my sake. I’m glad you have heard from Jay. Say, what was that he said about me?
Henry, you tell me to write just as I feel, but, please, Henry, you do the same. I feel as if I know so little of your life there, so tell me all you can. Well, sweetheart (the sweetest of the sweets), it’s time you were home on Sunday night, so good night – one big kiss, please. Thanks.
Good morning. I have cut four rows of asparagus this morning. More stamp money for me (ha ha). Will it be alright, sweetheart, if I just write this, because I want the pictures to go. I will write a long one tomorrow night, but I can’t get any more in the letter with the pictures. How do I look in the one with the baby? Well, I haven’t any more room, so good-bye. It isn’t because I love you less, but darn the room.
XXX As ever, your waiting Sweetheart,
Violet
FYI: THE WESTERN FRONT
West Front Summary
Late during the summer of 1914, train stations all over Europe echoed with the sound of leather boots and the clattering of weapons as millions of enthusiastic young soldiers mobilized for the most glorious conflict since the Napoleonic Wars. In the eyes of many men, pride and honor glowed in competition with the excitement of a wonderful adventure and the knowledge of righting some perceived infringement on the interests of their respective nation. Within weeks however, the excitement and glory gave way to horror and anonymous death, brought on by dangerous new machines of war which took control of the old fields of honor and turned them into desolate moonscapes littered with corpses and wreckage. This new great war, called World War One, began as a local disturbance in Southern Europe but eventually spread into a worldwide struggle which produced two of the greatest bloodlettings in history; the battles of the Somme and Verdun. The western portion of this conflict took place mostly in Belgium and France.
The last great German offensive was launched on March 21, 1918, with Operation "Michel". It was opened with an unprecedented 6,000 gun barrage which delivered a lethal gas attack deep into Allied lines. At one point, the Germans advanced 14 miles in one day, more than at any other time during the fighting in the West. During the first six weeks of fighting, the Allies lost 350,000 casualties, but more troops were rushed in from across the channel, and American units began arriving for the first time. The attack was quickly followed by a second offensive at Ypres. The spearhead of their advance penetrated as far as Chateau-Thierry, only 56 miles from Paris inadequate reserves were available.
Still, the Allied situation was very grim, and the Allies were forced to issue a "backs to the wall" order.
No comments:
Post a Comment