Wausau, Wis.
My dearest Wallie:
Here goes for the first letter — it surely seems funny to be writing to you, Dear.
I wonder how you are feeling about now — pretty tired I imagine. How was the ride back? Milton said the train was in when you got to the depot. I hope you had a seat so you could snatch a few winks at least.
Marie came home a little after nine and she and Dad played a few games of “smear.” Mother and I did some embroidering. About eleven o’clock we went to bed. Milton slept upstairs and I slept in his bed — the same one you slept in. I was pretty tired but kept thinking of you until I finally fell asleep. I didn’t hear any of the girls come home at all so I must have been dead to the world alright. This morning I didn’t wake up until our usual time — about ten minutes to seven. What time did you get to West Allis, Sweetheart?
It’s such a beautiful day — I must go out to get some fresh air. I peeled potatoes & put apples in the oven, washed breakfast dishes, etc. I wish I was home to see you this noon, Dear. I’m hoping you will find everything in the cupboards etc. There were many things I wanted to do, but couldn’t manage Saturday. Anyway, my head was upset I guess, I couldn’t think clearly at all.
There’s a little beef juice in one of those small saucepans in the attic which you will have to throw away. I meant to but forgot.
You won’t forget to call Dr. Doer, will you, Sweetheart? I could write him but don’t know his address. If you want me to write, tell me what it is and I will. And will you save the stories please? You can send them with some laundry a little later. Marie started reading “The Ape” and likes it. And “Golden Dawn” — I’d like too.
Stories - Collection of stories as found in The Milwaukee Journal archives online [via Google News].Was the door hooked or did Schultz’s find your note? They couldn’t help but see it on the floor.
1:15 P.M.
Just finished dinner dishes. My Mother puts the letter out on the mail box and the mailman takes them, so no one has to run to the mail box. I’d do it for you anyway, Sweetheart.
Maybe Wallie, you would like to put some of the knives & forks in the (flannel) roll so they don’t get tarnished so quickly. Those that are used & washed continually don’t tarnish. The few you have out would be in use everyday then & wouldn’t have a chance to tarnish. I wanted to boil them with those crystals Saturday but it entirely slipped my mind.
Milton just came in with some walnuts. We’re going to crack them for cake & nut bread. There’s some nuts in the buffet dresser if you like some.
Your shirt turned out very nice — didn’t fade one bit. Mother soaked it in salt water for a while first. I’ll iron it today yet I think.
Milton told me that he read in the Wausau paper that Fanny Farmer’s were sued for unsanitary conditions — somebody found a mouse tail in some candy. Isn’t that terrible? I didn’t read it in the Journal, but we used to miss out on the paper sometimes and didn’t see it for that reason.
Did you have too much lunch Sweetheart? Those sandwiches aren’t so filling really, and, one isn’t satisfied with only one.
I hope Schultz’s wake you in hte morning because it will be rather hard when the alarm is so weak. If you leave a shade up I think that will help a good deal.
Was there any mail for us? Will you kindly forward any letters? You read them first. I don’t expect any since I’m home — I owe several to Gussie & Natalie.
Well Dear One, I think this will be enough for one day. I’ll write again tomorrow. Gussie, who boards here, surely gave me the “once over” this noon. Her eyes actually got larger. I suppose Nelson’s will hear about it soon.
Be happy Sweetheart, it won’t be so long & then we’ll be together again. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” I believe. I love you so much Wallie, I didn’t realize how much until now. Take good care of yourself — I will too.
With all my love,
Mabel
West Allis, Wis.
1/26/18 ~ 12:30 P.M.
Hello little Sweetheart:
Here I am. I’m writing you a few lines to tell you to tell you I got here okeh. I got home into the house at about 6 Bells. Arrived at the Depot at 4:45; I boarded a Wells Street Car at 5 – the first one that came along was West Allis 77th Ave – Wasn’t that “nias”? After I got home I hit the hay. I set the alarm clock for 7 – I woke up then but as usual went back to sleep another stretch. I finally got up at 5 to 8. I got to work at 8:10 I sure was tired, as I didn’t sleep very much on the train. First because like Saturday night they didn’t know if that coach even going through to Milwaukee – I got to the depot just in time – only had about 3 minutes to spare. I had quite an interesting talk with another guy on the train so that killed the time a little.
How are you my sweetheart? I’m cold & gloomy this house is like an ice box. I’m scratching this up PDQ so that it might rush you tomorrow. I’ll write more tonight dear heart you see I’m writing this during lunch time that accounts for the scrawling. It’s 20 to 1 now so I’ll close for this interval as I want to take it to Greenfield Ave to mail it.
Bye Bye
My Darling sweetheart
from your own
x x x x x x x Sweetheart Wallie x x x x x x x x x x
West Allis, Wis.
Well, my Dearest little pal, here I’m writing you the second letter of the day. I hurried like a race horse this noon in order to get the first letter on the way to you. I do hope that you get it tommorrow. It’s now twenty minutes past eight. At seven thirty I finished dishes and then went down to start the fire. I tried to get along wihout a fire but it’s too ding ding cold. I’ll try not to let it get a head start. Andesterweis the old coalpile will dwindle all to soon.
For supper I had some of that beef roast. I also boiled some spuds. I’ve still enough meat for tomorrow. My breakfast consisted of one of those ham sandwiches which you gave me to take along. I didn’t eat on the train. For lunch I had two Limburger sandwiches. Gee! sweetheart, it’s so lonesome without you here next to me. And it will be still more so as the time goes one. That fellow whom I told you about will not come to stay with me. He says he has a good place to stay and receives very good treatment. So I’ll have to “hermit” through by myself. How is the weather up there, sweetheart? It was so warm down here yesterday that the snow got knocked for a row. Today it also was very nice. I sure hope spring does come soon. I’m all of a sudden getting sick of winter. Were it not for that, I’d still take a chance on picking up an old “lizzie” and trundle up to Wausau every weekend. Now that Monday is over with that means one day scratched off the list. This afternoon I felt so tired. But you should see me now. I can barely keep my eyes open. The saddest part yet is that old bean is all tired out it don’t want to percolate just right. You can see that from this letter. Who ever saw a letter like this one everything is scrambled up. I’ll bet there are already two dozen spelling mistakes in the space I covered so far. I’m going to read the magazine section of yesterday’s paper and tomorrow I’ll send it up to you. Also today’s part of that story which you are reading in “The Green Sheet.”
“The Ape” - "Larry Lawrence has written a new Green Sheet serial about a Three Rivers girl in Milwaukee..."
How are you feeling? My darling? I felt so bad last night. It was an awful job to force myself to leave you. I’m so anxious to hear from you I can barely wait till tomorrow noon which time I’m looking forward for a letter from you. Don’t feel sad for my part, Sweetheart that will only make you sick. Just don’t take it hard and before we know it you’ll be coming back to our little nest again.
Did you make arrangements to see the doctor yet? I think you had better not delay it long. But you must take “ma” along. Whatever preparations you make now might ease the rest of it. I wish I were up there so I could go with you.
I cannot for the life of me find that pack of stationery with my name on it, that’s why I’m using this old stuff. Will you please tell me where it is?
My darling little pal you’ll excuse me for not writing a longer letter but I’m so tired that I’m forced to make this a rather short one. So I’m closing for this time.
Goodbye, my dearest, from now till forever your best old pal,
Wallie
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With a Carload of Love... 