Monthly Archives: November 2011

September 28, 1925 (Walter)

Monday Night 9/28.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The letter came today, three in one, and they were mighty welcome. I certainly missed them the past few days and some how they make everything look different. I have to pinch myself, to see if it is a dream, or if it is true that I have the love of such a wonderful little girl as yourself. You mean so much to me, Dear. I guess I realize it more after I have waited an extra day or two for a letter.

September 28, 1925 (Walter)

September 28, 1925 (Walter)

I had a busy day and I feel that I accomplished quite a bit. I know that your letter helped a lot.

Had a letter from Mr. Laake today to the effect that Mr. Bishopp had written to him asking about the work and whether he considered it urgent that I join them this winter. Laake says that he would like to have me with them but that he does not want to take any steps which might be contrary to my plans. He knows of our engagement, but I haven’t written to Mr. Bishopp as yet. I’ll do so soon so that he will know what is up. No doubt Dr. Hunter mentioned it to him recently.

Am tired and sleepy, Dear, and I’ll try to chat more the next time.

With a sweet goodnight and with all the love that is possible, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

September 28, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Nite.
Sept. 28, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Your note of Friday Nite came this afternoon, and, even though it was short, as you say, it “hit the spot.” The quality was there just the same, even though there wasn’t as great quantity as there sometimes is. Just one word from you each day means lots to me, whether you have any special news or not. The old story “old but ever new” is always sweet. Love’s story never grows old.

September 28, 1925 (Ina)

September 28, 1925 (Ina)

Really, I am going to work tomorrow. It is only for one day I think. The District Clerk has asked me to help him. Court is in session, and I suppose he is so busy that his deputy is unable to handle it all. It has been so long since I worked that it will be a peculiar sensation I’m sure. It has been six months since I worked regularly, and I have not for one moment had that longing for the “thrill” of public work. Of course, if I were not engaged to be married soon, I would find a position and really enjoy it, but, under the circumstances, I don’t care anything about it. You needn’t ever worry about my regretting my choosing married life to that of the life of a business woman because, even though I do enjoy my office work when I am doing it, I prefer a home and home life with someone I love worlds more than I do the other.

We are going to be happy, Dear, because I love you above everyone, and I believe you feel the same way. Yes, indeed, I do love you.

Always, your
Ina.

September 27, 1925 (Walter)

Sunday Night 9/27

My Dear Little Girl,

No letter last night or tonight so they will probably come in a bunch. I’ll be mighty glad to get them when they do come. Have worked most of today, though I did not get up as early as usual. Couldn’t go to sleep as early last night. This time I was thinking about my work as well as yourself.

September 27, 1925 (Walter)

September 27, 1925 (Walter)

The wind has continued with occasional showers, but they did not amount to very much. There is quite a crowd in the surf. They never pay much attention to rains down here. Dr. KS rather feels disappointed if he goes fishing and it does not rain. As a whole this summer has been dry.

For some time I thought that it would be mighty fine to live here at the beach the year round. One feels that way when he finds the surf so fine. I am not so sure of it now. The salt air rusts things pretty badly, and unless one lives right on the ocean front the mosquitoes give some trouble. I am not so sure but that it is better to live at a higher elevation, but near enough the beach to drive down. This probably accounts for the fact that there has not been as much development between Jax and the Beach. The growth of Jax has been along the St. Johns river, and I expect that soon it will push to the higher elevations west of the city. We hope so anyway, for we want to cash in on the acreage.

I have no news for you, Dear, as I have been sticking so close to my work that I haven’t picked up much. Hope to hear from Mr. Bishopp before long.

I certainly do love you, Dear, and I am mighty happy to think that the time is drawing nearer for me to have you with me always.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter

September 27, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Nite.

9/27/25.

Dearest Sweetheart:

No, I didn’t go to church four times today – I went only once, and that was this morning. I think the Sunday School will thrive after I leave, because, as I was absent this morning, they had 306 present which is the largest attendance they have had for years. Our Mississippi cousins were here so I didn’t go. They are going to leave in the morning.

September 27, 1925 (Ina)

September 27, 1925 (Ina)

By the way, I have a confession to make. I am practicing one hand driving!! You perhaps wouldn’t mind if you had been sitting beside me, but you weren’t – nor was anyone else. I was all alone, driving with one hand and holding your letter with the other and reading it all at the same time. I went by the post office after church this morning and found your Wednesday’s letter and, as it was sprinkling rain, I decided I had better not stop to read it until I reached home. I might have known I couldn’t wait that long, so, as soon as I passed through the business part of town, open came the letter and I got quite a thrill out of reading it, even while driving in the rain.

Ray and his wife visited Miss Zoe yesterday and Thelma called on her. She likes her very much. She says she is pretty, sweet, and that they seem to be very happy. I’m so glad. If they love each other as much and are as happy as you and I are and are going to be, I think it’s great.

I love you Sweetheart, and wish and wish for you. I’ll be so happy when I can be with you again.

Always, your own
Ina.

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

Saturday Night 9/26.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Had a good shower of rain this noon and by the time I had finished eating it was all over and the sky was clear. The soil was so dry that it soaked in PDQ. Incidentally, they do not have any mud here after it rains. There is quite a bit of sand. About an hour ago it rained another shower. We are glad to have them. The wind is blowing from the Northeast, and I guess this is what the old timers call a Northeasterner. It always stays for 3, 6 or 9 days. Coming on Sat & Sun will keep the crowds away as these are the busy days for the Board Walk business places.

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

September 26, 1925 (Walter)

I am writing before dinner tonight as it is yet sprinkling. Hope to have a letter down there from you when I go to eat.

Tomorrow is Sunday but I have some work to do. It keeps me on the go just now. It’s because I am so interested in my problem and I’m anxious to get the missing links in C.E.

I love you, Dear, and I wish that I could hug you real hard, right now.

Always your,
Walter.

September 26, 1925 (Ina)

Saturday Night.
Sept. 26, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

‘Tis 11:08 P.M. and I wonder what you are doing – slumbering sweetly though I suppose. I am rather late tonight due to the fact that we have company. This afternoon a Mississippi cousin of ours and his wife arrived – coming by to say “Hello-o” before returning to Mississippi. They left home the first of August and drove to California and other states out West. They have seen some wonderful scenery, they say, but have agreed that the old home state will be beautiful to them. It is true that often people have to get away from home for a while in order to properly appreciate it. They expect to leave here Monday morning I think. We have been enjoying them this afternoon – finding out where people we knew back home have gone and what they are doing etc. It is almost equal to a visit there.

September 26, 1925 (Ina)

September 26, 1925 (Ina)

No, Sweetheart, Claudelle was not trying to tease at all about your calling Mama “Mother Lewis.” I’m sure nothing of the kind entered her mind when she wrote it, and, had I had the slighest idea you were going to take it that way, I wouldn’t have sent you the letter. I’m sorry. It was really just this way: Thelma, Claudelle and I have always said “Mama & Papa,” but, as Lucile and Claudelle’s other intimate friends happen to call theirs “Mother,” she decided she would do likewise as she was going away and ‘twould be easier than if she were here with us. ‘Tis only a whim of hers and didn’t have the slightest reference to or connection with what you said. I told Mama how you took it and she was surprised and sorry too. She said she thought the “Mother Lewis” was nice – she liked it.

In one of C’s letters to me she closed it by saying “I love you and Mr. Dove and everybody.”

I am puzzled over Mr. Bishopp’s writing and not saying anything about your staying in Florida. He evidently hadn’t the information yet from Dr. Hunter. Don’t you wish they were as anxious to let you know as you are to know? It is inconvenient for you I’m sure, as you don’t know what to plan about your work. Surely you will hear soon.

I love you, Sweetheart, and if I could be sitting out in the swing in this beautiful moonlight with you, I believe I would try mighty hard to tell you how much. I’d give ‘most anything to be with you right now.

Love,
Ina.

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach
Friday Night 9/26*.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The dream was interesting. If you should find a church social when we go to see my folks, it is almost certain that you will meet everybody and then some more. Since I have been away there are quite a few strangers to me who have moved there.

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

If Thelma and Reitha keep bringing cats to your home perhaps they will have to start a new series of names when they have used the hours of the day. Maybe it would be well to start on the days of the week. I think Friday would be such a lovely name for a cat. If he had this name, it would be well not to feed him meat, unless it was a K.K.K. Kat**.

My landlady is curious to know when I am going down the state. She is planning to leave soon and will be gone all winter. I’ll store everything except what I take with me, and will continue the work here after I have returned. It is so interesting that I do not like to leave it.

With a real sweet goodnight, and with all my love, I am,

Always your
Walter

* I’m assuming he means Friday, 25 September 1925.
** I don’t get it either. If any readers understand this joke please post a comment.

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Night
Sept. 25, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I did get it – the “sleepy” letter, you know. I was mighty glad to have it too, because I hadn’t “heard your voice” in two days. ‘Twas music to my ears again.

I know you were thoroughly tired out and sleepy when you wrote Monday, and I can imagine the sweet sleep you enjoyed that night. Your account of the trip was interesting, and I would consider myself quite a fisherman if I could catch as many fish as you did. One is all that I have caught in my whole life, and it was such a small perch that it would really be cruel to even use it for bait. There is quite an art in fishing and I hope I can learn it sometime, but I will have to start with my A B C’s. Dr. K.S. certainly seems to have it down to perfection. It just seems natural with some people. You promised to teach me, didn’t you?

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

It was too bad about Dr. Ransom’s death. Yes, you told me of him when you were here. Dr. White is a very faithful correspondent. You seem to have made a mighty good friend of him, and I think it’s nice, especially as he tried your patience so much during his stay with you. It speaks well for your disposition and tact to be able to retain his friendship during such trying circumstances. Besides the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing that you still have him as a friend, you may derive a material benefit from it. No doubt he will use his influence in helping you when he has an opportunity to speak a good word. We hope he does, don’t we? Every little bit counts, you know.

I love you an awful lot tonight, Dear. I never love you less, and it seems like I love you more all the time. Here’s looking forward to the time when I can be with you always. My! but that will be fine.

Lovingly, your
Ina.

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Night, 9/25*.

My Dear Sweetheart,

No letter tonight but I have been favored so well with them that I have no complaint at all. You have been real sweet to write so often. I am a bit lonesome now, and while I do not notice it so much during the day, when I am real busy, I wish for you at meal time and in the evenings. Usually, the pier is my hanging out place just after supper for about a half hour. It is cool out there and to watch the cars pass and the bathers enjoy the surf makes a restful pass time. They don’t dance every night now, but only about twice a week. There are fewer people in the surf than during the season.

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

It seems ages since I saw you and I”ll be a happy human when I can see you again. I love you, Dear, and sometime you will know how very much for I cannot express it in words.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

* This seems to be the letter from the 24th.

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

Thursday Nite
Sept. 24, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Third time is a charm. Maybe if I write this one tonight, I can mail the three tomorrow. We intended going down town this morning, but, just at daybreak, it started raining and kept it up until late this afternoon. It was then too muddy to drive down town. I am sorry you will have to miss a few days getting your letter, but you understand how it is.

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

I can hardly wait until tomorrow for a letter from you, but I am going to thoroughly enjoy it when it does come. Had it not been for wanting to post the letters to you, I would not have wanted to go down town until tomorrow because I would not have to experience that “sinking” feeling that I always have when I look in the box and there is no letter from you. Of course you understand, Dear, that I know why you didn’t write, and I surely didn’t expect you to – I wouldn’t either under the circumstances – but it just shows that I value your letter so highly that I can’t keep down that feeling of disappointment when I look into an empty box.

I love you, Sweetheart, with the tenderest, truest and most eternal love.

Always, your
Ina.