Sunday – at home,

Dec. 19, 1943

Dear Oliver,

     I’m taking the opportunity of “killing two birds with one stone” in wishing you a truly Happy Christmas and thanking you for the grand letter you wrote November twenty-seventh.  Thanks also for the numerous interesting articles you enclosed. 

     With shortages of so many descriptions, I think it was wonderful that so many New Testaments were made available for free distribution at your Camp.  One would think, with all the Bibles and Testaments printed in times past, that everybody would have at least one, but it is so surprising to hear of so many lacks in the reading of the word. 

     Say, you boys in the Service certainly had one big feast on Thanksgiving Day!  The kitchen help must surely have worked on that meal.  Your menu was much the same as Fred’s- with a few exceptions.  Fred, too, wrote very highly of the royal dinner served on that memorable day.  It helps the folks back home to know the boys are treated so well. 

     I have noticed from time to time, whenever you enclosed an “Order of Worship” program that your name has appeared as either the organist or pianist.  That’s swell! Hope you can keep up the good work. 

     Glad you enjoy being at Camp Wheeler- that means a whole lot.  If you have to leave there at any time you will have pleasant memories to take with you wherever you go. 

     You are having a variety of experiences in your work all right.  The incident of the “balmy” Negro in the grand house you wrote about was perhaps a real tragedy to the poor victim, although it sounded like comedy to on-lookers.  It must be difficult trying to do anything for some of these fellows.  I suppose some of the occupants of the grand house are regular offenders.  Fred told of a soldier in one of the Camps where he was stationed who was in and out of the grand house. 

     Evidently, the fellow had some weakness and found it much easier not to try to go in the right direction. Somehow I pity those chronic offenders as I believe there is a reason for everything, and once some of these hard-boiled ones are put on the right track, they’ll be straight shooters.  Of course, there are always some impossible cases. 

     We experienced real winter temperatures up here last week – little cold but no snow.  A white Christmas would be nice but we can’t always have what we would like. [Edited for content]  Glad you enjoyed the cookies we sent for your Birthday – also that you can put to such good use the candy tin. 

     Hope you will receive the little Christmas package we mailed December tenth, and that you will enjoy its contents. 

 

     With sincere Best Wishes from all of us. I remain

                                                                      Sincerely, your cousin,

                                                                      Louise