September 24, 1908

Blogger Note:  I’m writing this from the O’Hare airport as I take a few days to visit Charleston.  But I couldn’t resist posting another letter for you all!  I also hope to have other good news in the coming weeks.  More letters may have been found!  Cross your fingers that they will make their way to me.  Happy reading!

My dearest John,

This has been another beautiful day and very warm.  I just finished my part of this week’s ironing and it is nearly time to get supper.  I do not know what is the matter with me I ache from head to foot and I never seem to get rested.  I have been going to bed early enough, too, and I am not doing so very much work either.

Sweetheart I was disappointed today again. I do miss your letters so much. I only hope you are not over taxing yourself again and that you are well.

Sweetheart whenever I do not hear from you I am afraid something has happened.  I hope it is not so, however.  Maybe I shall get a letter tomorrow noon.

I wish you could be at school when I try to teach my dull boy.  He constantly tell me “now wait” when he cannot pronounce a word or grasp a thought.  It does sound funny to hear the child say it.  I feel so sorry for him and wish it would not be so hard for him.  Sweetheart I must prepare supper – will finish later.

I did a rather foolish thing tonight.  After supper Mother asked me to go driving with her and I went.  We came back in about an hour and then she told me to go again and take one of the girls.  She said it would be better to be out of doors.   I took Miss Adams (Bess) driving and we talked so much and were having such a nice time that we forgot all about this time.  Because it was so late I drove the horse to the stables and walked home.  It is eleven o’clock now.  Sweetheart, I feel ashamed to tell you I have been out so late again because I know I ought to be in bed.  But it certainly is a grand night to be out.  Am I very naughty?  I do not go driving often.

Sweetheart what do you think of a man who says “whenever a man gets married he must have a brainstorm.”  I hope you will never have reason to say that.  I feel very sorry for that man for he is a fine man, but he has been disappointed.

This has really been the first time I had a visit with Bess since I came home.  I saw her before but only at church we have all been too busy to visit because there has been so much going on at church that had to  be attended to.  I feel sure you would like Bess.  I hope that the girls will all have the pleasure of meeting my Prince.

Sweetheart it is very sweet to have you think I am this “dearest girl in the world.”  It makes me very, very happy and you know you are the dearest boy in the world.  What a pleasure and comfort your love is!

Sweetheart it is getting very late and if I do not stop and go to bed you will scold me, and I shall not be rested tomorrow.  You will have to scold me lots and whenever I need it.  But I did want to write to you.

With best wishes and more and more love.

Forever your loving,

Daisy

Good-night.

Blogger Note:  Hard to imagine times without the instant gratification of cell phones, don’t you think?  To only be able to communicate via post?  I sense her compassion when she is trying to teach a child and love that even back then, children were witty.  Makes me wonder who that boy was. 

The word “brainstorm” must have meant something different back then.  Does anyone know the context of “whenever a mean gets married he must have a brain storm.”?  Definitely a negative perception, but just curious.  I’m going to do my research too.

 

 

 

 

September 23, 1908

My dearest John,

I just finished my supper and am glad another day is past.

This has been a beautiful day but I did not have a minute to spend out of doors excepting the few it took to walk to and from school. Mother was canning peaches and tomatoes and started to make some grape juice. I helped with the canning at noon and finished some jelly after school.

We do need rain so badly. I do hope it will rain tonight but there does not seem to be a sign of it. Mother and Mrs. Brenner are going to an opening at one of the stores tonight. I am going to sew until ten o’clock. I have some old moments last week and this week practicing my music. It seem terrible for me to neglect it as I have the last two years. But maybe someday I will not have quite so many things to do and then I can devote more time to it.

I missed the letter from my sweetheart very today. How I do wish you were here right now there are so many things I just feel that I must tell you. Really Dearie, I just feel that I must see you. I do want you. How I do wish that you were coming East! If you go north in the spring you will be so much farther away and I just cannot think of you being so far away especially when things are here as they are.  Sweetheart please do not misunderstand me. No person says one word except what is in favor of our being married and all are planning nice things for me and Mother is always thinking of something more to give us to begin.

But they all especially Mother say so many things about going away that hurt especially about going north – I know it is hard for Mother but she has the boys.

Sweetheart I know I ought not tell you these things but I must tell some one and you are the only one that I fully trust.

Sweetheart if you can get a position without going North it would save me much pain and trouble at home and I know there is nothing Mother would not do for us to start us and it is right for her to do it for me. But Sweetheart always remember no matter how much pain it would cause me, I am willing to go with you North if you feel it is best to go. I told you the place would make no difference to me so long as we would be together. But sometimes I feel there is no use making one person unhappy for life if it could be prevented. Do you Sweetheart?

And Sweetheart if you have a position we would not need any money at all except our traveling expenses and enough to move my things. But Sweetheart I have only said what I did because I could not keep it all to myself Sweetheart it is grand to have such a dear good man like you to whom you can tell your troubles. It will be so sweet and restful when I can go to you always. I wish the long time of waiting were over.

Sweetheart I wish I could go with you if you do go north this spring. You will be so far from me then. I have poured out all that has been in my heart for a week and I feel better. I hope you are well and not working too hard.

Sweetheart I must close, with more and more love every day and remember I shall always be your loving and trusting,

Daisy

Goodnight

Sweetheart if I have said more than I ought please forgive me.

Blogger Note:  Could you imagine making grape juice from scratch?  Or canning peaches?  I bet it tasted the best though.  I remember my grandma canning vegetables from the garden.  No place for me to have a garden right now, but someday, maybe I want to get into canning and such.  There is just something so gratifying about growing your own food straight from your backyard.

This letter seems much more desperate than any of her other letters.  From reading between the lines, she seems to be getting more and more pressure at home not to move to Canada with John.  And while she was very willing in the last letter, it is pretty clear that she is trying to persuade him otherwise and feeling guilty about that (especially in that post script).   Until next time…