Nov. 19th 42

Dearest Hal,

                        I got a Vmail letter off to you yesterday but I always feel like they are so short. You know how longwinded I am when I write; I like to ramble on and on like the proverbial Tennyson’s Brook.

            We are having Indian summer weather and I guess it is around 70° the last few days- I guess we may expect a change soon.

            For different kinds of noise this place beats anywhere I know. I often long to get off where it is quiet but I know of no place here that is.

            Sara comes over often and I appreciate her coming for I know it is hard for her to get HU up when it is still dark and he doesn’t want to get up. She says he will keep running back and getting in bed and she can hardly get him to eat and get through with it. Elizabeth almost never comes and it does look like she might once in a while. She was here Oct 4th the first day for a long time.

            I heard through Marguerite that Pauline had been in Tazewell and called up and [I] talked to her- told her that Bits had had rheumatisus and had gotten some teeth taken out- said she had done his work for him while he was not able to. He still has not written to anyone that I know of.

            Billy wrote to him since he went to Camp Davis and helped to go to see him but they never answered his letter. I think that is as ornery as can be. I believe they think by keeping their whereabouts unknown they can better avoid their creditors- just not let anyone know what their address is. It has surely been a worry to me. Bits will never have anything but bills as long as he has Pauline.

            Abbott paid me part of his note and I paid the $1000.00 note at Ind. Loan that you and I endorsed and then I had to pay $107.00 a note that I had at National Valley that I endorsed for him before he was married.

            It was originally 200.00 He got it when he bought his car and the bank kept writing me that they could not get him to renew it or pay the interest on a small Curtailment said they’d be glad to carry it if he would, as they did not want to bring suit when I was ill in a sanatorium I wrote there that I would take over the note giving them my personal note for the amount.

            Then as soon as I got some money from Abbott I took both of his which interest and all I paid $144.00 also I took up the note we borrowed for Billy and finished up the Planters note of dear Mr. Halls. I hope I am through worrying with notes now for the duration of my sojourn on this veil of tears. I reckon when I can I’ll have to pay Anne the $200.00 I promised her. Some say not to do it but I feel like I am honor bound to pay her so I’ll save up for that next. I have not written you anything about those notes before- it seemed like you were so far away and no reason to worry you with it.

            Page said she gotten some notices and that you had asked about it so I decided I’d as well tell you how it was. You will never know how much your monthly check has helped me, in fact I just couldn’t have made out without it. I know Bits has been worried until it has really impaired his health and not one of us but we left him if he’d try to do the right thing- but I don’t reckon he can, for Pauline will never change.       

            After being up since July I have gotten pleurisy and fluid again and have been feeling perfectly rotten for the last week. I guess it will put me to bed for months. This is so discouraging as I’d hoped so much not to have any more backsets. This is a thing that happens to so many here, it just seems almost routine. That is why I’ve been so long getting this letter written. I write a little and feel so bad I have to stop. Sunday Nov 22nd

            Billy expects to finish up at Camp Davis Wed. (25th) and has a ride to Richmond; I’m surely looking forward to seeing him.

            I hope I’ll be feeling better than I am now. I don’t believe I feel quite as bad as usual today.

            I got another V-mail from you since I started this. You were telling how the natives there dispose of their dead. No wonder they have cholera. You have been telling us that the nights are cool. Is it hot there all year?

            I’m glad you got rid of your “mild cholera.” Do be careful and don’t take unnecessary risks.

            When you have that ear trouble get something for sore throat and treat your throat for sore throat even if it isn’t. Many germs accumulate in one’s throat and affect the inner ear and we feel like we have to swallow to get rid of it. I use a Payne’s iodine solution and salt treatment and sometimes a 5% solution of silver nitrate, which cures it up pronto.

            Please tell me why this summer they did not supply you with canned vegetables while you were in that awful place.

            I suggest a code by which you might tell us a few things like where you were last summer. Start the first letter of each sentence that will spell a word. It might sound cockeyed but we’d understand. We are much encouraged over the war needs.

            I hope it continues to the end.

            I often wonder why you were sent over there and what your work is and has been. Guess you can’t write much about it. I hope you won’t have to stay so long. I am so glad we can hear from you more often. Thank you again for the nice Christmas gift.

                                                                                                            Love always,

                                                                                                            Mother.