August 21st,
1945
Hello Sweetheart,
Have you
been wondering where I’ve been the last five or six days? Well Darling I’ll
tell you there just hasn’t been anything to write about. We’re still doing the
same old things everyday and that’s just sitting around waiting. I’ve been
going to a lot of movies in
I haven’t anything new about coming home Honey. The earliest is next month and I hope they don’t change it. The government wants to release the railroaders and coal miners regardless of their ages or point status.
I just don’t want my Pheety to lose her patience and give up because we’re so young and have so much to look forward to together. I’m hoping you’ve started your plans for my coming home. You should be on your way home by now and getting ready for the great day.
Are you being a good girl Darling so I can be proud of you when I come home? I’m sure you haven’t been drinking anymore. Even though I had to forgive you for it, it did hurt me and make me worry. Drinking isn’t so bad but it’s what drinking leads up to in most cases. I’m just praying that you never got to the place where you didn’t know what you were doing.
Pheety I don’t want to be confused when I come home and you can do a lot to avoid it. There always seems to be the case when a soldier comes home that he is confronted by a lot of stories and gossip from many sources. In most cases it’s not true but it can cause much doubt and confusion when a soldier husband runs into it. Please for me Margaret, if there is anything in your social activities that has hurt your reputation as a true wife in the eyes of your friends, although it may only be gossip, please straighten it out to me before I’m confronted by any such gossip. You should know what I mean as you have told me you had something to tell me about down at the Pinewood in regard to the lies and gossip they told about you. If you’ve been going out with a crowd drinking you can imagine how much gossip can be built up on that. I’ve always trusted you Darling and if drinking with a crowd is all that you’ve kept from me then there’s nothing to worry about. Some social gatherings in public sometimes look a lot worse than they really are, especially if you’re seen alone somewhere with another party. If I were to learn anything like that when I come home when I don’t know of the actual circumstances, then I want you to tell me before I’m hurt before a lot of gossip which is always the worst. I wish you’d tell me about the Pinewood whatever it was, about the gossip.
You said you don’t have a bad reputation and I believe you honey, I’ve really trusted you when it comes right down to showing any affection for someone else so please don’t keep anything away from me that will cause gossip when I come home. It’s like your drinking, you said I would find it out sooner or later and the same would prevail if it were anything else. I understand how gossip is and I wouldn’t ever think of basing any facts of accusing you on just gossip. Remember the game of married women around the Hoffran whose husbands were overseas. Take a lesson from them, remember how they ran around, especially Avonell Crothers? Now you couldn’t be carrying on like that crowd, you know what a reputation bunch had, and what husband won’t know about that when he comes home? It’s in the papers everyday and I must say it’s pitiful. I’d hate to be one of them. I’ll always believe my Pheety before I will anyone else so if I have to hear anything about you that isn’t true, please tell me now so I can make an ass of any gossip makers when I come home. Prepare me for such gossip honey so when I hear it there will be no doubt or confusion in my mind. I’ll believe you because I love you with all my heart and my Pheety can’t lie to me.
I could forgive you Margaret for anything,
all except one thing and that is the limit. You know what I mean.
So don’t be afraid to be honest with me. There’s only one way I look at it, as
long as you have me the way you have, you’ll never go the limit. You
just don’t do those things when you’re really in love and I know no woman could
love a person anymore than you do me. I couldn’t do it no matter how long
they kept me over here. I dream every night of that first night with you, I
can wait because it’s worth it with you honey. And I ain’t kidding.
No husband could be more fair with his wife than I’ve
been with you. Please be fair with me and kill all that future gossip in a
letter to me. I’m broad-minded myself when I have to be and remember the kind
of love that I have for you forgives in case you feel guilty of
something that I may not take as bad as you think I will. I’m very much
concerned in your activities and how you’re living away from me just as much as
it is your business to know what I’m doing. Most women have written to
their husbands asking if they can do this or that. Doubt is about the worst
enemy a husband and wife can have. I can put it so simple to understand that
when I leave the house what do you say, “Where are you going Pheety”? You’re my wife and you should know. It works the
same way when we’re apart and I’m sure you understand and agree. Don’t try to fool
your Pheety, he’s much smarter than you perhaps estimate him. He was
broad-minded and loved you enough to give you a chance when he heard about your
drinking. Now he’s giving you a chance to straighten out the gossip which you
know I’m going to hear when I come home, especially around
All the consideration for you in the world Darling. You’re lonesome and I want you to have a good time.
I’m looking for your answer of my
letter of Aug. 3rd Darling and I hope it made you happy. I’ll be
just as happy to get the answer. I’ll never stop loving you Pheety.
You’re mine, Darling, and I’m going to keep you til
the day I die. You’ll never know how much I love you but I bet by now you’ve a
pretty good idea. I’ll never find another who will love me as much as you do
and I realize it. I’m proud to have a woman love me as you do. All my love and
kisses to you Sweetheart.
Love
Your Dumplin
X
XXXX XXX!
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See you in September