Wausau, Wis.
Dearest Sweetheart:
Nancy Leigh keeps me so busy taking care of her that I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to write today. Really, she’s getting to be a little rascal. I don’t know how I’m going to do my work when I get home. I hope she will be better by then.
Dear Heart, I received the letter wrote Sunday this morning, and notice what you say about my coming home. Yes, Sweetheart, I agree with you — I can realize how hard it is for you, and if it were possible I would go home Sunday, but everybody tells me how careful I must be right now. I wouldn’t want to take the baby on the train either. They plan on taking me home in a few weeks. I’ll come as soon as I possibly can. I’m so sorry for you, Dear, but try to be patient just a little while yet. And Sweetheart, you must eat more than only coffee & bread. That won’t do at all. I’ll be worrying about you and as the result the baby will get sick. Please eat meat & potatoes like we used to. Get rolls from the bakery & fruit, which is necessary.
I can hardly wait to see all those things — I mean the buggy, bed, wardrobe & high chair — and the color you have made them. It will be a real surprise for me. It’s wonderful of you to work on them so hard.
It seems so good to be up again. I feel a little weak yet, and Wallie, I believe I’m going to be a cripple the rest of my life. I still have that “stitch” or pain in my left hip. I can’t walk decent — it takes me so long to get around. My Mother is using her electric machine on it several times each day. It seems to help — the pain isn’t as hard as it was — so we will have to keep it up and see whether I can’t get rid of it entirely.
Another thing, Nancy Leigh has a real dairy farm. No need of starving her — I drink cocoa, malted milk & egg nogs several times each day. Only I have an awful time keeping my dresses dry. The milk just drips out.
I’m taking lessons — I’ve changed her several times, and as soon as I’m a little more steady, I’m going to try bathing the baby. That’s some job the first time I imagine. Her little wardrobe will be so handy when I bathe her. I’m so glad you got the buggy, Sweetheart, we can make use of it right away.
I’ll be thinking of you when you go to Oscar’s tonight. Wish I could go with you. No doubt Mrs. Quade has heard the news by now — I just wonder what she thought.
You didn’t mention anything about coming up, Dear, I hope you will come, but if you won’t be able to, I’ll have to be patient too. I’m so anxious to be with you again.
Did you sell those three stroppers you spoke of when you were here Sweetheart? I don’t want to be too inquisitive but I just happened to think of it. I hope that fellow who owes you 50¢ on those cards can pay it this time.
How are the Schultz’s? Did she give you the potato pancakes as she promised? You surely worked hard enough & long enough for them. Is there anything we could send you from here in the line of bakery? Don’t be bashful, Dear.
The mailman will soon be here so I’ll have to say adieu until Wednesday tomorrow. Goodbye my Darling, take good care of yourself and don’t get sick.
Sweetheart, I just received your letter of Monday evening now and see you have a bad cough & cold. Please Dear, be careful because the “flu” is very bad in Chicago & Milwaukee too, I’ve heard.
It would be terrible if you got sick. Use turpentine & lard — the best remedy you know. Perhaps Pinex will help. If you come up, bring a bottle along from Walgreen’s and we can fix it here. Be sure to dress warm enough & keep a fire in the furnace. Perhaps that’s why you have such a cold — the house is too damp without a fire.
I kinda wish you would accept Oscar’s invitation. Cecil no doubt is preparing a nice meal and will be disappointed if you don’t go. The painting won’t “run away” as they say. Of course, if you don’t feel well enough, I don’t blame you for not going then.
I received your letter of Saturday Monday P.M. and one of Sunday this morning (Tuesday). I’m so sorry didn’t receive one from me Monday — I’ll see that it doesn’t happen again, company or no company. I wasn’t trying to get it back on you as you wrote — I know you couldn’t write that night. You have been very faithful Dear Heart, and I love you more for it.
I missed the mailman already — he was earlier than usual — so Milton will have to mail this letter.
I’ll close now — the second time.
My whole heart’s love to you Dearest One,
Mabel.
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Wausau, Wis.
Dearest Wallie:
I don’t expect a letter from you today because if you went to Oscar’s house for supper, you would have time to write. I hope you did go — it would be a change for you.
Really Dear Heart, I feel so sorry for you being all alone — I’ll try real hard to be home in a couple more weeks.
I don’t know just how I will get the work done, especially the baby’s clothes (we don’t need a machine for them I can use the board & boil them) but we won’t be lonesome then anyway. We’ll be together, I mean, and that’s what we want, isn’t it Sweetheart? I hope we don’t get very much snow anymore. It snowed all morning but has stopped now.
This morning I gave the baby her bath for the first time. My, it seemed to take me terribly long. And the perspiration just dripped off my face. I bathed her on the kitchen table, it seems easier than holding her on my knees for me. Sweetheart, you should see how strong the little mite is — she holds her head up so cute, and when on her tummy, braces her little knees so hard. She surely is a strong baby. She doesn’t mind being bathed at all — she’s quiet all the while as a rule.
Yesterday we had some very unexpected company. Two young married women (one used to work for my Mother when Marie was born) who never come over otherwise. They wanted to see the baby. The one who worked for us has a little boy and a little girl, but the other one lives on the other side of Nelson’s, hasn’t any children, I guess she can’t have any. She said we could bring Nancy Leigh right over if we didn’t want her. Imagine — if we didn’t want her. Nobody could take her away from us, could they Sweetheart? We love her too much ourselves.
How are you feeling now, Dear? I just hope your cold leaves you real soon, so you can come up. There is excursions on both roads, we called the depots today. You could never come any cheaper.
If you come up, I would like to have you bring a dress of mine in the large closet. It’s that blue & white checked one (checks are 1 inch square) and is of gingham. It has a sort of jacket in front, and we want to fix it so that I can wear it for nursing Nancy Leigh. Then there’s that old brown dress (part of it) folded up and stuck in the box with your books from Walton in the kitchen. It’s so dirty because I spilled soup on it but I only want patches for the sleeves of my other brown dress which I have here. If you can’t find it, it’s alright too.
I don’t find time to do anything except care for Nancy Leigh, haven’t even read “The Ape” since I’ve been here. I just must pretty soon. In the evening I always feel so tired.
Nancy Leigh is getting prettier all the time I think. And she’s so good at night. Mother doesn’t have to get up at all. Of course, Nancy Leigh sleeps with me, but that’s better than being up all night, and anyway I have a whole bed to myself.
She’s crying now, so I’ll have to make this short. I don’t want to miss the mailman again today.
Goodbye Dear Heart.
All my love to you.
Mabel.
She just wants to say “Hello Daddy, come to see us soon.”
Take good care of yourself Dear.
With a Carload of Love... 