Sunday – 11PM

Feb. 20, 1944

Hello my dearest big handsome husband, a soldier-ah-la-camp.

Here is a letter from Charlie. It was addressed to both of us so I am keeping the envelope.

I’ve missed you this weekend, my sweet. I must be spoiled like Raly. It seemed so funny not to get up at 3 oo and come over after you and I honestly missed you when I gave the baby his bath at nine o’clock. It’s been a nice day what I saw of it; I spent most of in bed.

The baby weighs 8.8 today so you can see he is growing. He sees now and I believe he recognizes me. He’s been awefully good this week but is crying now, has a tummy-ache. His navel isn’t healing so well. I have an enlargement (8 x 10) of that picture of me holding the baby with you on it too and I will send it to you and you are to send it to your mother and Dad. I think it is pretty good and wanted you to see it. Lord knows when you’ll get home as it isn’t cold in July and I want your father to have a picture of the baby before he talks.

My dearest – you mustn’t thank me for writing to you. I’m your wife and besides it being a wifely duty, I like to do it. Don’t make me sound like an ogre.

I think I am going to have a salvage day soon too. I must get my clothes in wearing condition. I go around looking like a rag bag.

Although I’m not losing any weight, I think I am getting a little thinner.

Tomorrow I will go to the movies (I should write this in red) ‘A Guy Named Joe’ and I believe you said it was good, did you not?

Darling – you shouldn’t be having headaches, not a healthy speciman like you. If it’s b___l [bowel] trouble why don’t you get a laxative and keep it on hand. If it isn’t that maybe your eyes. You should have it looked after if it isn’t the first. Lord, I know what a headache is.

I’ve been miserable all week as you could probably tell so I went to the doctor. He said my stitches are ok but gave me some medicine for my bladder and some tablets for douche 2 x daily 9damn) and told me to come back this week. It’s unbearable as I can’t be on my feet over an hour at a time.

I went to the library and got some books on Interior Decorating and Design for Homes big and little and I am going to study over there (Look at the mess I made of your letter. I forgot it was underneath my drawing!) Here is one house I like. Now I know we may never have money to build a house and that we had decided to buy an old one but consider this anyhow. Excuse the messy drawing but may be you can make it out. Consider the house itself first: It is long and low on roof lines making it have a homer like appearance. It is well arranged with a nice porch. It is of white, wide clapboard with green asbestos shingles. The chimney would be of field stone. The casement windows insure air and light. A house of this type should be “inexpensive” to build. Second, the interior: Hard wood floors in living room, pine in b. r., composition for kitchen 2 x 2 a red tile porch. White woodwork. (I love you) I changed the place a little. Where the kitchen is now was supposed to be a dining room and the kitchen was that small bedroom. (There may or may not be a door between the two. I put one in) I want three bed rooms because if we should have a girl, she certainly couldn’t have a bed with her brother and if we don’t have a girl, where could we put Mother and Dad when they come East if we didn’t have extra space? Anyhow we don’t need a dining room. The kitchen has 2 big windows over the sink. X is supposed to be the “laundry.” Darling study it and tell me you like it. I’m going to write your Dad and ask him about the cost of material and land so we can get an estimate.

This war can’t last forever and I want something we can call our own and if we start planning a little bit now don’t you think we’ll be ahead. Even if we don’t save so much money now, if we just know what our intentions are. And then, too, it’ll give us something to think about. Tell me what you think of the idea and the house and the plans. It isn’t a large house so that much should please you and it’s all on one floor.

Here I am chattering away again. I’ll bet you are asleep. It’s nearing two o’clock and I’m still writing.

I had a letter from your mother last week. Must answer, also to Ruth.

Mother is sick with the flu.

I had to break my five dollar bill last night to buy the baby some suppositories. The doctor says I should continue using them but not to worry because eventually he’ll move by himself. He just lacks the initiative now.

I’ve forgotten what I wrote first part of this letter so I hope I am not repeating. I’m getting kind of tired.

I want you to know I love you. I love you, sweety. I’m standing by so keep in there punching.

I wish I could see you to kiss you and feel your arms around me and be close together. I never knew twelve hours could mean so much. You are my dearest, my darling. Never leave me. I’ll never leave you, you are mine forever.

Consider yourself kissed my darling, [edited for content].

Good night (only it’s morning now) sweety. Maybe I can squeeze in a dream or two of you.

All my love,

Marguerite

P.S. I love you.