Letter to Paul B, March 16, 1919

[Received April 10, 1919]

Danville Ills.

Mch-16-1919

My Dear Friend -/-

Last Monday I received your letter of Feb. 20. And to think I haven't answered yet. But I realy did not have time before. This is Sunday evening five-thirty. I intended studying shorthand this afternoon, but as soon as I sat down I got drowsy, so thot I would take a little nap and then study. I slept about an hour and then my cousin came up, so it was goodbye study. He has just returned from Colorada and he brot me a bunch of kodak pictures with a promise of more. I have quite a few pages full in my kodak book now. You know I told you I hadn't been having very good luck with your kodak. My cousin Henry was over last Sunday and he looked at my pictures and then he examined the kodak and said the lense was dirty so he cleaned it and the pictures we took were much clearer. Maybe I can take some good ones now.

I was very sorry to hear of you having such a cold on your lungs. I was so afraid you might have pnuemonia. I sure hope you are well by this time. Medicine must be very scarce over there if castor oil is all they have. Damp, muddy weather is very hard on one's health. It has been raining for two days and nights and the ground is sure full of water[.] But it is warm as spring. Makes a person want to take off their winter clothes.

The little strain of music which you wrote in your letter is indeed a weird, dreamy melody. I ordered the piece from Benjamen's as they did not have it in stock. Wish it would hurry and come. If I get it you may be sure I will think of you every time I play it. And that isn't the only time I will think of you either.

The last letter I wrote you I sent my picture. I suppose you will receive it in a week or so, as it has been gone almost two weeks.

In that letter I told you I was going to take the stenographers' place. Well in the end Mr. Young had his way and they got another girl for the place, so I did not have to take it. I was realy glad of it, for I was afraid I could not do the work. So tomorrow I start on another job, Assistant bookkeeper, which consists of figuring and entering all the bills which are received in the store[.] I think I will like it fine. One has to know how to add, subtract[,] multiply and divide on the comtompeter, to be able to figure bills. I have known for some time how to do all except the division which is the hardest, and yesterday I learned to do that, or at least tried to learn, I am not very good on it yet. It sure is deep stuff.

I think I told you some time ago that we were thinking of having a new room built on. Well it is a sure thing now. The carpenter is hired and they are to start this week. I sure will be glad when it is finished. We have needed it so long. It is going to cost quite a great deal but will be worth it.

Well I sure had bum luck on my shorthand test, which I took Thursday evening. I had studied very hard for a week and I thought I knew it quite well. We had ten questions on rules, and then one hundred fifty words besides. I got the rules all right but I missed so many words that I only made 87%, and 90 is passing grade. So I have to take my test over tomorrow night. I seems like it is harder the second time as the questions are changed and are often harder. So as soon as I get this finished I will have to study the remainder of the evening.

I haven't been up to see your Mother for ever and ever so long. Seems like I can't get time to go. Have never even got to hear the new victrola. And I am very seldom at home when she comes down. She came down last evening, but I was working. I have to work every other Saturday evening. But I don't mind as the girl I chum with always has her friend bring me home with them in his car. Quite nice don't you think?

It certainly is disappointing the way U.S. has treated her hard fighting men. Keeping them over seas so long. If any one deserves to come home it is the ones who won the war but it seems things go just the opposite way. I sure wish you could come home soon. It seems ages since I saw you. I hope you are feeling better than when you wrote last, and that I will see you very soon: I am as ever your loving pal Cecil.