Letter #40

Letter #40

Bountiful, Utah

June 23, 1918

My Dearest Sweetheart Henry,

Well, another Sunday night has rolled around and I find myself sitting at the table writing to you. If it wasn’t for Sunday school and no work, I don’t think I could tell it was Sunday. Well sweetheart, I hope you have enjoyed yourself today and have had a good time. I don’t want to say that I hope you haven’t missed me, for I surely don’t want to be banished from your thoughts, but I’m afraid that it would break my heart if that were the condition. I can’t help but feel that pure, noble, inspiring love which I know you give me, and for which I thank God for in every letter. I feel that inspiring love float out of your letter and encircling me.

Every night sweetheart, when I am on my knees pouring out my soul to my Maker, I ask Him that He will make you feel my love encircling you, and that the knowledge that my whole life should be yours until death will be founded in your heart. I have thought all along that my whole being is so much yours and so deeply in love with you that it couldn’t increase, but each day my Heavenly Father gives me more capacity for more love for you. My whole being tingles when you name reaches my ear.

Well love, after having supper, and playing piano for the folks for some time, I can resume this letter. I forgot to tell you, we have some new songs. One, “Daddy Mine” is telling of a soldier in the trenches receiving word that he has a fine baby boy back home. The chorus goes like this:

He's Got Those Big Blue Eyes Like You, Daddy Mine

Our sol-diers in the trench-es re-ceived their mail to-day,
From sweet-hearts, wives and moth-ers in the good old U. S. A.
There's one whose heart is danc-ing, his eyes light up with joy,
He reads the let-ter o-ver and he shouts, "Boys, it's a boy!”

[Refrain]
He's got those big blue eyes like you, Dad-dy,
The kind of eyes that seem to speak.
And when he smiles he looks like you, Dad-dy,
Yes, e-ven to the dim-ple in his cheek

I've named him af-ter you, for I knew you'd want me to,
He re-minds me of you all the time When he grows to be a man,
I'll give him up to Un-cle Sam,
Just like I did with you, Dad-dy mine!

This sol-dier boy's a read-er, he's read Shakes-peare and the rest,
And he knows Kip-ling back-wards, if you put him to the test;
But now he claims the great-est of po-ets nev-er wrote
A po-em half so pret-ty as this wel-come lit-tle note:

I think it is a sweet song and has such a spirit of patriotism, don’t you? The other is “Song of America”.

Your mother had her room papered and has a new rug. It surely looks fine. You would have to be introduced anew to your dining room. I heard your father’s birthday letter. Then your father had me, read it just after dinner while we were at the table. My, but that was a beautiful letter. My whole soul was a tingle when reading it, for it bespoke so beautifully of the love you bore your parents. Oh, if I were only worth one hundredth part of that, and live so that half the beautiful things could be so truly spoken of me, I would be very happy. Oh how small my life seems when I see real men and women’s lives, and their goodness. All I can do is struggle on and with the help of my God do my bit in this world. May you always have that same love toward those nearest you, for you owe all you can give them sweetheart, and always try and make them as happy as you did with your letter. For I know your parents hearts are overflowing with love for you.

We hooked up and took Irvin to the station. Mary, Rueben, and I went. Rueben surely is sweet and is going to make a dandy brother-in-law. May I be worthy of the relatives I hope to gain some day. After going to the station, Reuben took us to the strawberry patch. We came home a little after 8:00 pm. It surely makes me feel better to be with your folks, for it makes me seem nearer to you since they are part of you.

Deloras, Mamma, and Papa went to Uncle John’s today. Ralph and Fran are going to enlist soon. The draft will soon be for ages 18-45. They are thinking of going into the Navy. Mamma asked Edith if she would get married, and she said you never can tell. I phoned up to see how Jack was tonight and he is better.

What I am going to say now I want you to take as it’s given and as you wish it to be. If you want to get a furlough to married, I am willing. About all I know is that I love you enough to be married anytime. Do not let the thought bother you that you will have to go to war, for I understand it all right. I am not pushy and forward, I hope, but I intend only giving the answer I did not give before. Even Mamma said tell him to get a furlough to get married. This is the way we feel; you are to decide the rest. Do not take it that I want to force you to do this, but this is the answer to the question you asked before you left. Please take it that way.

Well, Goodnight

X X X Violet, as ever