May 7, 1944

My dearest Hal,

Friday night it started to rain, [and] all day yesterday it simply poured. This morning it was still raining. The brooder house roof sprung a leak and my chickens got wet. I had let the fire go out last week because the weather was so warm and now I had to make the fire up again. Did you ever make a fire in a brooder stove? There is a trick to it and it took me quite awhile to figure it out. Finally, the house is warm the chickens dried out. I hope they don’t decide to die. I have only lost four of them so far; two of those were killed accidentally. They managed to knock the door of the stove down on their heads and of course that finished them. I am sure you couldn’t be interested in all this but I do hope you will be here in time to eat some of them fried this summer.

Every time I plant anything I think that maybe you will be able to help us eat it. I cannot accept the news that you may not come. I have already accepted the fact that you may not come for a very long time. Darling, no matter how hard the waiting is I know you are having a much harder time than I am. Even though we have to be separated each of us has a job to do. I don’t know but that I have been sent home to take care of the ones here. I know I cannot leave them until I find someone to stay with them. When you come I shall make so arrangement for them so I can be with you. I have to be with you if there is any possible way. As long as it is impossible I have the satisfaction of knowing that I can really help here.

Daddy is about as usual. He wants to get out and help so badly but just the effort of walking is almost too much for him.

Tin and Heber Shelton came down to see us today. Daddy likes Heber very much. You will probably remember once we visited Tin and Johnie and what a sorry visit it turned out to be. This marriage has been very successful and I think Tin is happy, though she works awfully hard and they haven’t much money. It doesn’t take much to be happy when two people really love each other. I wonder how much we have grown up during our period of separation. We have so much to be thankful for. I never look at Sam that I don’t breathe a prayer of thankfulness for all the pleasure he has brought to those who love him. I think of all the years we have had and I can look forward to all we have in store for us and I have the greatest sympathy for those husbands and wives who have never known any happiness that was not clouded by war, those who have a few brief days or weeks and maybe that is all. You may be sure that everything you left will be here waiting for you when you come back. The love just keeps on piling up until you will not ever be able to use up half of it. Sam and I will just eat you up when we get the chance.

I must put Sam to bed [because] tomorrow is a school day. I have an awful time getting Sam up in time for school.

All my love,

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