December 15 1903

If this is the Tuesday before Dec 16, then it is Dec 15, 1903.

[envelope, no stamp]
Mis Nursie Whaley
Medart
Wakulla Co.,      Fla.

[postmark]
ASHMORE
DEC 16 1903
FLA.

[postmarks on back]
[faint one from Crawfordville]

MEDART
DEC 17 1903
FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

                   "Tuesday night"
Dearest Sweetheart:

                              Your
ever welcome letter
received yesterday, and
to night as I am at
home all alone I will
try to answer it. Mama
is staying to-night  with my
brothers wife, as he is
away and she is afraid
to stay alone, and Major is
off on a weeks trip up
on Smith Creek hunting
etc. So you see I am
left alone. How I wish
that I could be with you
to-night my darling. It seems

[page 2]

                -2-
an age since I saw you
when in truth it has only
been a little more than
a week. If I thought you
wanted to see me half
bad as I do you I would
come out there oftener
than I do, but I dont
want to intrude on your
good nature too much
for I know you dont care
to be with me all the
time.  There are plenty
boys more pleasant to be
with than I am, and I
know it.  If you see Susie
tell that she need not
expect a letter from M-
this week for he will not be

[page 3]

                -3-
home until the last of the
week, possibly Sunday.
   I had a letter from Miss
Robison last week saying
her sister and another young
lady of Carrabelle would
be with her last Sunday
and asked me to spend
the day with them. I didnt
go, neither have I answered
her letter. I know all the
young ladies she mentions
but I dont crd to be with
them. Since I have known
you Nursie I dont care to
go with any girl but you. I
dont think you can say the
same of me. I know you
do go with more boys than

[page 4]

                -4-
I do girls. However I
dont blame you for having
the best time you can.
   My dear girl, you very much
mistaken my meaning
in my last letter when
I said that "I love you
more than I cared for people
to know". Did you for a
moment think that I was
ashamed for other people to
know that I loved you?
Surely you didnt think
that of me, and yet that
is the way your letter made
me think you felt. Heavens
knows I dont care if every
body in Florida knew that
I loved you, for 'tis an honor to

[page 5]

                -5-
love such a girl, and as
I have told you before, if
I thought you loved me as
I do you I would ask both-
ing more. What I meant
before was this. I dont
think my love is any other
people's business and I
dont like to be the object
of some of their coarse
jokes. Girls are not sub-
jected to such rough jokes
as boys are, and you can
not understand fully what
I mean. Take for instance,
A big knowing how well I love
you would say: "John if I were
you I would hate to make such
a fool of myself about that

[page 6]

                -6-
girl when you know she
dont care a straw for you,
why every body can see
she is up to". Now I dont
like such as this for I dont
even want your name used
by some I know, and feel
like knocking them down
if I only had a right to.
   I dont think our affairs
are any other peoples bus-
iness. If you choose to fool
me, and I dont know any
better it nothing to them. I
dont make a "confidant" of
every body I meet and tell
them all I know I have
never told a living soul, with
one exception, about my love for

[page 7]

                -7-
you. Major doesn't even know.
   Not by any mens that
I am ashamed, but perhaps
you would be ashamed for
people to know you loved me.
   You are the one that ought
to be ashamed, for you are
an exceedingly pretty girl,
one any boy might be proud
to love, while I am about
as tough a looking sinner
as you would run upon in
quite a ways. However if
you love me half as much
as I do you, some time we
may show people more than
we can tell them now.
    Nursie are you still in a
notion to come to Mr. Allan's

[page 8]

                -8-
school commencement? Let
me know if you are coming
for if you come I want to
see you and if you dont
I wont go, for I dont care
a snap for the balance, but
I do want to see you.  I would
ask you if I might come after
you and take you over there,
but that will be a very busy
day with me and am afraid
I might not get off, and
I wouldnt disappoint you
for any thing.  Should you
come with me if I could
get off?   If you would I
could let you know before
then whether I could come
or not. I know I could come

[page 9]

                -9-
if I can get some of the
other boys to stay in the
store for me.  If you wont
come with me, please Nursie
dont come with any one else,
for if you do I wont get to
even see you.  Have you found
out whether the commence-
ment is to be at night or
in the day? If it is night
I am sure I can get off
in the afternoon. Sweet
heart I know you are getting
tired of this scratching. My
fingers are nearly cramped
from writing to-day, besides an
hours writing in the depot and

[page 10]

                -10-
several money orders and
checks. I dont have much
idle time in the day that
is why I write you tonight.
  I havnt touched my last  weeks
book work yet, but I hope
to get through it to-morrow
if I am not bothered too
much.   I had another letter
from the firm in Jacksonville
this week saying they were
holding the place for me and
wanting to know when I was
coming.  I am almost temp-
ted to go yet I havnt and-
we red their letter yet. I had
a letter from my sister this
morning saying she was
better. I hope your Papa

[page 11]

                -11-
is improving too. My cold
holds on with a dreadful
tenacity.  I want to do to
Tallahassee Friday night
if my brother comes back
in time. For fear of you
losing all patience I will
stop by asking you to please
write soon and a long, long
letter.            Ever Your own,
                                   "John"


NEXT LETTER

December 9, 1903

[envelope]
Miss Nursie Whaley,
                     Medart,
                             Fla.

[2-cent stamp]

[postmark]
ASHMORE
DEC 9 1903
FLA.

CRAWFORDVILLE
DEC 9 1903
FLA.

MEDART
DEC 10 1903
FLA.

[December 9, 1903, page 1]

     Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad Co.
                          OFFICE OF AGENT.
                        Ashmore Station, Dec. 9 , 1903
My Dearest Nursie:
                                I am idle for
a few minutes, and I can think of 
nothing but you will write you a few lines.
     I have been nearly sick with cold all
week, in fact I had it since I went to 
Tallahassee last week. I dont think
I shall want to go to another circus
soon, not come back at 12 oclock on 
freight train no way. I havnt heard 
from my sister or Mama since I was 
there last Thursday. I am almost 
uneasy that they dont write. If they 
dont write to morrow I wont know what 
to think. I am anxious for Mama to 
come home for I am tired of "baching".
     Everything is too cheerless at home.
I have got so that I dont like to go to 
the house at all. I sincerely hope your
Papa is improving by now. I wrote 
to Jacksonville to-day and declined to take 
the place that was offered me. I told the 

[page 2]

                           2
man thatI might work for him next 
year, but couldn't now. You may not
believe me Nursie, but 'tis so. I wouldnt
take that place because I couldnt leave you.
   Oh my darling! you have no idea how much I
love you. I had rather have your love than 
any place that could be offered.   I can 
not write such letters as the one you told
me about Sunday (you ought to have showed it
to me so I could have learned something), but I 
can not help but tell you how much I love you
for I think of nothing else, so how can I 
keep but write it, but Nursie please dont 
show my letters as you did the one Sunday. If 
I even thought you would I would not write
to you. I dont show yours to any one but 
Major and if you say so I wont show him
another one. I only show him the ones 
I want him to see anyway - not all of 
them by any means. I love you more 
than I want other people to know. I sent 
your ring off Monday and I hope to get it

[page 3]

                           3
back in two weeks. Before Christmas
anyway. Sweet heart I wish you would
give me one of your pictures, please
do. I would prize it above all things,
and I would not laugh over it to other 
people as you do mine. I have a 
picture in the store that I love because
I think it looks like you. It is the 
most beautiful picture I ever saw
as you are the prettiest girl I ever saw.
     I saw Miss Gay this morning, but 
poor child she cant look me in the face
yet. I dont think she likes me at all
now. It is getting late and I have 
three cars to bill, so will have to 
stop. Excuse paper, ink and haste, and 
please write soon.
             Au revoir mio favorito,
                      Yours always,


NEXT LETTER

November 30 1903

[envelope]
Miss Nursie Whaley,
Medart,
Wakulla Co.,    Fla.

[2-cent stamp]

[postmark]
ASHMORE
NOV 30 1903
FLA.

CRAWFORDVILLE
NOV 30 1903
FLA.

MEDART
DEC 1 1903
FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

R. W. Ashmore, Jr.         OFFICE OF             J. H. Ashmore
                                  ASHMORE BROS.
                          GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
                                        Ashmore, Fla., Nov 30 1903, 190_
My Dear Nursie:
                                   Your very nice letter of
27th inst to hand this morning and it is
needless for me to say I was glad
to hear from you , for I always am. I havnt
time to write this morning as I have
some worrisome business letters to
write before train time, but will write  a
few words anyway. Thanks for your kind
invitation to go to the bay also to sugar boiling,
but am afraid I should so very much
like to. Major and I have a hard time getting
off at all now for we have the Post Office
and depot to attend to and of course we
have to meet every train - Some times 10 or
11 O'clock at night. I would like to go
out there - to be with you -  but I have
so much to do. If you have the dance and
will let me know I will come then. We
are closing out now and guess we will
soon leave - Arn'ent you glad? I know

[page 2]

                             2
you are for you never loved me no-way.
   It is best for me that I should go.
I have made a fool of myself only to be
laughed at. Sometimes I wish that I never
had seen you but on the whole I am glad I
have known you, for 'tis better to have loved
and lost than never to have loved at all.
   Dont think that I am altogether an idiot
even though you have made me act the fool (as
not other girl has even done) for I have known all
the time that you didnt love me. Dont think
you have fooled me in that direction, for you have
not, I kept on because I thought maybe you
would learn to love me, but now I dont think
you will. In future I will try to keep my love
to my self (God only knows how hard it will be), for I dont
like to be forever plagueing one with something that
is irksome to them. I wish -  must - see
you one more time and then - well I dont care
what. Let me know if you have the dance Friday
night. Tell Julia that I have a "feller" here for her and
with her permission will bring him out to the dance, if you have
one. Excuse this paper, for I havnt time to hunt any other,
also mistakes for I am in a hurry. Passionately yours, John A.

[reverse of page 2]

I hope your Papa is improving ere this.
My Sister in Tallahassee
is very sick. Mama
is going to her to-day.
   I would like to but
cant to-day. I dont
know what is the
matter with Major + Susie
but will find out.
          Yours, Jno.


NEXT LETTER

November 23, 1903

• November 23, 1903 was a Monday, but this letter is dated Thursday, so I suspect it was written on November 19, 1903.
  
  

  

  
  
  [envelope]
  Miss Nursie Whaley
             Medart,
  Wakulla Co.,        Fla.
  
  
  [2-cent stamp]
  
  
  [postmark]
  ASHMORE,
  NOV 23 1903
  FLA.
  
  
  [postmarks on back]
  CRAWFORDVILLE
  NOV 23 1903
  FLA.
  
  
  MEDART
  NOV 24 1903
  FLA.
  
  [body of letter, page 1]
  

  

  
  
       Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad Co.
                               OFFICE OF AGENT
                        Ashmore Station, Thursday190_ Night
  
  
  My Own Darling Nursie:
                                                     Your very nice 
  letter came yesterday. While I missed 
  your letter Sunday, yet to knew what 
  was the matter as I had heard the ted-
  rifle news from out there. I am anxious 
  to see you as some one who who can me all about
  the affair out there. So many rumors are 
  afloat out here until I dont put any cre-
  dence in any of them. I know it is bad
  enough, simply horrible, but I feel sure 
  it cannot be as I have heard. John has my 
  sincerest sympathy in his double bereavement.
     I have lost one of my parents and can sym-
  pathize with him some, but I know that
  I can not realize how he feels. No, my love 
  certainly I am not mad with you. I am sure 
  you had an excuse to forget me for the time.
     When you say that I dont love you as you 
  do me I am obliged to dispute you, for Nursie 
  even you cant realize how much I do love you.
     If you could only know the change that has 
  come over me in the last six months. Before
  
  
  [page 2]
  

                                2
  I loved you I didnt care which way the 
  wind blew. I was careless and asked favors 
  of no one. If I went with a girl and she 
  didnt do to quit me I simply let her go. I 
  had begun to think that I should never find 
  a girl I could love. I knew that I could love
  one, and my darling in you I have found 
  the one and only love of my life. Sometimes
  it almost frightens me to know how completely
  my very life is wrapt up in you. I sometimes think, 
  suppose you get tired of me - which is likely -
  my life would be wrecked. I would not 
  care whether I lived or not, in fact I had
  rather not live - if I cant have you. Great
  Heavens sweetheart you talk about I dont love
  you. Tell me, havnt I proved it? I have shown 
  you in every manner in my power that I 
  loved you. You cannot say the same to me. You 
  have never given me one kiss, on caress of you 
  own free will. I always have to beg ever so hard
  for one kiss, but if you loved me it would be dif-
  
  
  [page 3]

  

                                3

  ferent. You know that well as I do Nur-

  sie. it is the one thing that hurts and worries

  me that you dont love me with as pure,

  true and deep a love as I do you. I believe

  you care a little for me, if I thought you didnt

  you would not be troubled with me any more,

  even though it killed me. I dont see

  why people persist in trying to break us

  up. I have never done any thing that they should

  talk about me to my back in such manner.

     They are none of my friends who do this even

  though I dont know who they are. This much 

  I will say to you. We will never be broken 

  up unless you do it of your own free

  will or that you do something that I think 

  the girl I love should not do. I do not for-

  give easily, neither do I get mad easily.

     But as for me going with you to pass

  off the time, there is no truth in it.

     You know if I were to be going for that 

  I would go with some one closer home. There 

  are plenty girls I could go with here, but

  
  [page 4]

  

                                4
  I havnt been with one in quite a while. 
     I only want to be with my own dear love, 
  and I want to be with you just because I 
  love you better than any thing on earth. You 
  say if you were to love me you would not know
  what to do, as you would never love another
  boy as you do me, but uf I were to lose you
  darling I would never love another girl at
  all. I am told that you are fooling me
  and you are told that I am fooling you, but 
  if you love me half as much as I do you, we 
  will show them yet, wont we sweetheart.
     Well I must stop. Excuse paper for as 
  you may know I am in depot. Will see 
  you Sunday if nothing happens.
                        Ever your own,
                                        John
  
  
  [in pencil]
     Will go to church if I can but am afraid
  I can get any one to attend to depot
  for me. Am going to try anyway. I am 
  nearly dead to see you. 
                                        Yours,  JHA
  
  
  NEXT LETTER
  
  
  
  

November 8, 1903

We still see mixed signals between the two lovebirds in this letter. On the one hand Nursie may be seeing another guy (or accused of seeing one) and on the other, John has now bought an engagement ring. He is crazy in love with her but insecure about her returning his affection and afraid of being made a fool.

[envelope]

[2-cent stamp]

          Miss Nursie Whaley,

                    Medart,

                         Fla.

[postmark]

ASHMORE,

NOV 9 1903

FLA.

[postmarks on back of envelope]

MEDART

NOV 10 1903

FLA.

CRAWFORDVILLE

NOV 9 1903

FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

     Sunday afternoon, 8th

My Dear Nursie:

                Your 

nice letter rec'd a

days ago, and as 

usual I will answer

on Sunday, for to morrow

I wont have time. The 

past week has been a very 

busy one for one, espec-

ially so many letters to 

write. I had as many as 

eleven to write one day

and some to write every

day. I have a number to 

write to-morrow too - none

of them to girls though.

     Today has certainly 

been a lonely day for 

Major and I. We have 

been here all alone all

day. We expected some 

[page 2]

               2

of our people home to-day, but they 

didnt come. We are beginning to want 

them to come, as we are tired of 

"baching". Mr.+ Mrs. Lawhon tried to get us 

to spend the day with them to-day, but 

we wouldnt go. I told Major that you and

Susie didnt want to see us, so we 

decided not to go, as there was no 

one else out there we wanted to see.

   I knew you all would be with some 

one else and we wouldnt get to see

you if we went, so thought we had

best stay home. I saw your fellow here

this morning, and think he is here

yet. I know you would like to see him 

to-day, and I dont blame you for he is

a nice boy - the best one if the Lee's,

but dont tell Julia I said so. I saw 

Albert to-day too, and he was looking spry.

I have been sick part of the week, al-

though not in bed since Sunday and I 

have had bad luck all around, first 

I had some trouble with some business

affaire and on Friday afternoon while 

in the woods inspecting ties I lost nine

dollars. I had it in my pocket with my 

book that I checked ties on and lost it 

some where. Too bad wasnt it? But 

this dont worry me half bad as some-

thing else does. Nursie I have ordered

the ring. I think it is a pretty one, but

[page 3]

          3

will not tell you what 

kind it is, It is not an

opal though. Nursie I was 

surprised that you would 

write me that "I didnt

care if you went with 

Arthus". Do you think 

that I would have any

thing to say about who 

you go with and be laugh

ed at for being a fool.

   You forget I have no right 

to say any thing about you

going with any body you

pleased. I am not ex-

actly an idiot and I 

know there are plenty of 

boys better than I am.

   If I had my way I would 

like to be with you all 

the time, but Nursie you

dont care for me or to be

with me. You dont love 

[page 4]

          4

me as I do you. You 

like me very well until 

some one else comes a-

long and then "Good Bye

John". I have seen too 

many girls do that. I 

can be with you and tell

your thoughts or part of 

them as though they

were printed in a book.

   Nursie I wish that you 

had not tried to fool me

at first. If you had told

me at first that you 

did not love me it would 

not have been so hard

for me as it is now. Mine

is a passionate nature

and I love you with my

whole heart and soul.

I have been with all 

kinds of girls all my 

life and not one of them

[page 5]

               5

ever caused me a second thought.

   When I first saw you I had no idea

that I should ever love you, but since

then I have learned to care for you

more and more every time I saw you

until now I love you better than life 

itself. I did not try to love you, for 

I had rather be as I need to when I 

could have a nice time with any

good girl and not think of her after-

wards. When I say that I had rather 

be as I used to, it is because I know

you dont love me. - If you only loved 

me, with a pure and true affection I 

would ask nothing better on this earth.

   Your love, as you are capable of log-

ing if given to me would be more than 

all else. Oh Nursie, you cant understand

how I feel for you dont love as I do,

with your whole soul. You are in my 

thoughts every day and night, and I am 

dreading the time when you say, "I love

another". I had honestly rather be shot

than to hear that from you. Yet I am 

sure it will come. Now Nursie please

think before you say, whether deep down

in your heart you love me. Remember I 

give you all that is best in me, and 

[page 6]

          6

please dont trifle with me.

   If you dont love me, be

honest and say so. Dont

wreck a life for a big time.

   Oh my darling I couldnt

give you up now.

   I hope you will have 

the dance you speak 

of. We would come this

time if nothing happens,

and I want to see you

so bad. This coming 

week will be here any

length of time or not.

   I hope we will be here 

to-gether, one more Sum-

mer. 'Tis getting dark

and will have to stop.

   Write soon, Forever Your

             Jno.H.A.

NEXT LETTER