November 17th, 1918
(Postmarked November 18th, 1918)
My dear Brother:-
This is a beautiful night for writing letters — it is raining HARD but it’s warm and cozy inside with the furnace going.
I am so anxious for a letter to come from you telling me where you are and what you are doing. Since the fighting has stopped we are more anxious than ever to know where our boys are and how they fared during the last days of the fighting. O well! I’m sure we will hear before long.
I have been having another vacation — getting reckless don’t you think? Yesterday after dinner Ransom took Florence. Louise. Leslie and I up to Jen’s and left us until today — Marion came down to help Ruth keep house while we were gone. Today the rest of the family came up to dinner and we all came home this afternoon. Jen had more company today. Do you remember that Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart where we went to call that day we made the trip to Bolton before you left for camp? They had a man bring them down and arrived this morning about half past eight and were still there a short time ago — their chauffeur had not arrived although they had expected him. I’m glad I haven�t their ride tonight — raining, dark and slippery. I suppose that some of the rest have written you of the celebrations in the three villages after the news of peace arrived so I won’t try to. I didn’t attend any of them but you may be sure we had a little private “rejoicing” of our own. It is WONDERFUL but I suppose there is still a great deal to do before you can come home. I think we will all wait very patiently now though when we know the dreadful fighting is over.
A Christmas box has gone out to you this last week and with it has gone all the good Christmas greetings and wishes that you can think of from “all of us.” While we all had a share in the box the most of the credit goes to Edith, for it was she that arranged it. We would, any of us, gladly have done it only we knew that with her opportunities and excellent taste she could do it JUST RIGHT — and THAT’S what we wanted. I only hope it will give you as much pleasure to empty as it did us to fill it.
Last week was the drive for raising a fund for United War Work and, in this district at least, the declaration of peace didn’t seem to check the giving at all. I rather think that one quota will be more than filled when it is all in. Ransom was one of the workers and he had a splendid success.
All draft business has stopped and they have discontinued sending out questionnaires to men over 36. My! It seems good to think things will get back to normal conditions after a while.
Well Ransom and the boys have come in from chores and I guess would like some lunch so will call this off for this time. Write as often as you can.
Lovingly
Minnie
Into the land of Berlin,
Where the Yanks and French are going
There to hem the Kaiser in.
It’s been a long, long time a-coming
And the Kaiser don’t feel well,
For Old Nick is waiting for him
On that long, long road to – well.
— Corp, Leo Snyder, Camp Wadsworth