Letter # 51
Bountiful, Utah
July 5, 1918
Well, one more picking day is over, but the worst is not done. Papa hasn’t a very great variety of products for tomorrow, just berries, cucumbers, and more berries. We picked two thirds of a patch today and got forty cases of berries. We’ll have to pick in the morning and have Daddy take them in tomorrow afternoon.
The folks have just come in. I rushed in to see if the baby was crying and to start writing. The folks here surely think or know that I am in love, and well I am, more and more every minute. Oh love, what on earth would I do without your love? It would be the most dark and dreadful place imaginable. But now is a time for a nation’s feelings rather than an individual’s, for if I considered my feelings, I would never have let you leave my sight. That is how selfish I will be if I have the right to be. But I must not now, even though my whole being craves you and although it is almost impossible to still my heart of its longing for you.
Now, sweetheart, don’t think I will not try and do my part. This is the greatest thing to me, for I see my national duty, and with the help of my God, I am trying to do it. This reminds me of the little memory gem which says, “Find or know your duty, and there do it.” Let us both remember this, darling, where ever either of us may be. Let it not be said of us that we were afraid to assume the duty which was ours by reason of the freedom given us. Thank God my lover, and someday my husband, I hope, has a body worthy to fight for such a grand and glorious a country as the good ole U.S.A. How proud your children and grandchildren will be that they had an ancestor worthy to fight in so glorious a cause. I imagine or can see you sitting among a group of children relating wonderful events which have transpired in this war.
Perhaps you think, darling, that I am assuming too much or saying funny things, but I’m sure your future will be that. (How do you feel about it?) When people talk to you, and tell you things which made you look at the world thru sad, blue glasses? At such a time, think only of your Maker, never under any consideration let your faith in him fail you for one minute. Try always to think of His promises to the faithful of his flock. Whenever you are blue, sweetheart of mine, think of the promise he made to me, where it says that in due time I shall be given to a worthy companion for life and that I shall be numbered among the chosen mothers and daughters of Zion. Thank God for that promise, for it has been the stimulus all along. Oh Henry, I have so much to thank Him for, I don’t know where to start.
I received that sweet loving letter today. Talk about letters, why darling, each word is priceless. I would be pleased to have a good long letter three times a day, but of course I must curb this selfish feeling. I surely am like you, love, for it surely is the truth that the longer the letter, the better. I had a smile from ear to ear when they asked me how many pages I had. In your letter you asked me if I would go to the dance with you. Do you not know that I would go to the ends of the earth with you or for you? So you didn’t want a partner, eh? Well, well, I thought surely that night you would want one. Well, I’m thankful that the one who has my love appreciates a good girl and may I so live that I will be worthy of him. So they dance the same there as here? You have one over on me as I haven’t been to a dance since you left.
So I have a soldier decorated have I? I am proud of everything he does no matter what so long as it’s good. I’m glad that the meeting was so good and that they treat you as well as they do, for nothing is too good for you.
It makes me happy when you tell me what I have done for you. It sure makes it nicer when it is for the one I hold dearest. But darling, your influence on me enhances the love I have for you.
I’m sorry George is not feeling well. I’m going to write to him Sunday. It’s alright, isn’t it? So the quota for your camp was increased to 38 men, was it dear? Have you heard any more as to your future? How is your furlough coming? Let us both never cease praying that our hopes will be realized. There was one thing in the letter that seemed to knock everything out of me at first, but I am alright now. That was to ‘send no more parcels.’ It sounded at first as a forerunner of something else, but remember, Henry dear, “God is everywhere.”
I am glad the girls of Boulder are treating you so fine. It is alright as long as they don’t get too sweet on my soldier. I heard today of two new arrivals. Marybell Briggs (Harold’s wife) has a girl, born Sunday morning, and Monday night, Mary Nelson Holbrook had a girl. For chums, that is fine, isn’t it?
It rained a little this morning, and the wind came up again tonight with thunder and lightning. It is trying to rain now. Well, darling, I am somewhat tired and I must get up in the morning to pick again.
Well my darling, may your future not be too dim or dark for either of us, but it may have in it a shower of blessings for you is my desire. May we both always be true to each other and to our God and be worthy of our hearts’ desire is the humble prayer of your sweetheart forever.
X X X Violet
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