Letter to Paul B, March 18, 1919

[Received April 10, 1919]

1211 Dakota St. Danville Ill. March 18, 1919

My Precious Boy:- To say I have anxiously looked for a letter since last Fri. & Sat. is mildly saying it. For I figured out if you got worse then you were when you wrote Cecil surely you would have had Mr. Tayler to write a few lines if you didn't feel able to do it. And if you did we thought it would sure get here by last Sat. or yesterday (Mon. 17.) But as nothing has come in the way of a letter - or a cablegram if any thing serious had happened, I am trying the best I can to think that "no news is good news" I am earnestly praying that you are alright, and that long before this you have found out that your div. is to come home in May - anyhow will be leaving there in that Month. You will notice that today is daddys birthday 71 years old and I dont know if I ever told you how old I am you said you didn't believe you were sure just what my age was. it is 56 milestones I have passed. Guys came a week ago this eve and Della went home this forenoon. she left yesterday to go home but it was too bad a weather for her father to come to town, he was coming up to get wire. but he is not well so didn't want to come out in the bad weather. Guy is still working at the garrage -- That dash mean that I went and made myself some pancakes for lunch I was getting hungry. I will get supper about five oclock. Last Friday after dinner I received a telephone call through Kings from the Lake View Hospital to come out if I could it was Sr. Harris from Hoopeston they had brought their 11 yr old son down and was opperated on right away for plural trouble. had the pneumonia for couple weeks and the absess that formed on his lung was so thick it wouldnt run out through the needle so they knew there would have to be an opperation to save him so hurriedly brought him down. Bro Harris and there other boy 7 yrs came in the noon train while she came in the car with the sick boy. He was just coming out of the anesthetic when I got there. He seemed bright. But Bro Harris dont have much hopes for him. Yet he may get along alright. I stayed till six o-c. Then Sun. I got another call to go to Bro. Claggetts Sr. C. was sick in bed. I left here at noon Sun. and stayed till yesterday I got home between 2 & 3 o-c. She was bordering in pneumonia had been up and down for a week or so then on Friday had to give up and go to bed. but she got up yesterday Morning and didn't go back to bed while I was there. yet I wanted her to. for I was afraid she would get a backset. yesterday morning Bro C. went out to the Heme to the doctor he is almost down again wasn't able to wait on her to do any thing he is going to have to be opperated on and have his gall bladder removed before he is going to get better and he may not stand the opperation, cant tell. But he wants to wait till she is able to go out before he has it done. There is trials, and troubles and sickness on every hand. Surely the world is getting good and ready for the Sun of righteousness to arise with healing in His beams. O wont that be glorious when the sackcloth & ashes will give place to the joy and gladness that is soon to be ushered in. Well I am glad I can do a little for any one. There seems to be lots of flu in places, but no death rate like you wrote of being in that town you are in. It has been some pretty bad storms of wind and rain latter part of last week and yesterday was blustery and rainy - just rain by spells I guess it is equinoctial period. Some of the ships coming across with the Soldiers are encountering some hard storms. one fellow said they stood by the boats with life belts on ready to act at any time. so poor boys have to still face danger. Say! we are going to have lots of dafodils and they are about ready to open. but I wrote you good while ago about them coming through and if the buds coming up I would have thought they would be blasted as it was along the first of Feb. when they began to make their appearance. I hope you are well dear boy I have been in torture of heart and mind concerning you. Guys are still hoping to get word from you and Arthurs too Say! wont you be glad if you can ever get home where you can talk instead of writing. If I could only get a letter from you written by your own hand and know you are well. I cant tell the joy it would bring to my heart. Now I will not write any more at this time and wait and answer as soon as I hear from you. With oceans of love to our dear boy and a longing prayer for a safe return home to us I am your loving Mother write soon

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Daddy & I are both well. The Feb. allottment came last week. Yards are green. It wont be long till we will begin to think of making garden next Sat. we will have little chicks if they hatch Daddy read the "Shepherd of The Hills" yesterday, last night and finished this morning. Della had it out and was rereading same o Sun. and he picked it up and begin it. Now he is beginning on "The Calling of Dan Matthews" I told him to read it as it was good for you said so.