Letters from Wallie illustrates a beautiful courtship, romance and marriage with wife Mabel via mail by rail from Wausau to Milwaukee in 1930s Wisconsin before and during the Great Depression.
Man Mabel formerly engaged to
Oh my, oh my! how much do I care for you! More than myself – every inch of me is plugging for you all day long…
Since I met you my dearest, life is so sweet & interesting. Honest before I met you I often began to wonder what life was “all about anyway.” There wasn’t much to hold my interest in it. But now! I’m so glad to be alive and live just for you.
You & I are looking at each other all the time, my dear. The only thing I’m afraid of is that I might take all the looks off of it. Then what? But I hope for one great big pleasantry – that I won’t have to be content with only the pleasure of seeing your beautiful face in picture form but that I can see & talk to you always…
This picture is just only an image of my face and that only. It does not reflect the image of my innerself – my heart. My dearest, I’m for you with heart and soul and every stroke of my heart is just another great big boost for you.
Therefor, may this “subterfuge” of my real self bring you constant memories of our associations when we are not on hand to see and talk to each other. May my eyes on the picture come to life to look into your smiling eyes and always behold the warm sunshine in your smile. And may my lips remind me of the honey dew on your sweet lips.
Please, my dearest, may God decree that you and I some day be pals & sweethearts for life.
I am so glad to receive the honor of being in the position that you have put me in – you have given me the chance of winning you. Oh, may I win… It would make me the happiest boy in the world if I, in the end, can have you – I mean that I should consider myself really & truly blessed, if I win out in the competition… You know, my dear, all is fair in ‘Love & War.’
With a Carload of Love... 