I suspect swmk at the end means 'sealed with my kiss'. JNyF
_______________________________________________________
[envelope, 2-cent stamp]
Miss Nursie Whaley,
Medart,
Fla.
[postmark]
ASHMORE
JAN 18
1904
FLA.
[postmarks, back of envelope]
CRAWFORDVILLE
JAN 18
1904
FLA.
MEDART
JAN 19
1904
[body of letter]
My Dearest Nursie,
Your very
short but nice letter came
Friday and of course I was
glad to hear from you. This even-
ing I am so terribly lone-
some I can hardly stay here.
It has been awful through
the week, but then I had plenty
work to keep me from feeling so
lonely, nit today - since train
time, I feel so bad. I dont
know why but I feel like I
havnt got one in the wide, wide
world who cares for me, or
would miss me were I gone.
I suppose you would say
that I had got the "blues"
but if so I have them to such
an extent that they are poor
company. I dont think that
there are many placed in a
[page 2]
2
similar manner to me. I hope
not anyway, yet I would like
to sympathize with them if there
is for they would certainly ap-
preciate my sympathy. Honestly
my greatest pleasure is in
writing to you and reading
your letters. I have your letter
with me now and have read
it so many times until I know
every word in it. Nursie you
asked me what made me
think you didnt love me
and I will tell you. I dont
think you love me simply
because you have never told me
so, but it is always in a
kind of half tired voice just
as though you had a dis-
agreeable duty to perform and
had best get through with it
best you can, and you never
[page 3]
3
write me a letter like girls do
to the boys they love. I have read
some although they were not mine
having never gotten any love letters
of my own, because I have never
loved before. Now I dont blame
you for not wearing your heart
on your sleeve for everything to pick
at, for such girls are des-
picable, but I do think if you
really loved me you would show
it at least - to me. You know
that I love you, my darling
with as pure a love as a boy
ever had for a girl. I love
you as I never dreamed that I
would love, and as I shall
never love again, even were you
to "throw' me over now. My whole
life and thoughts are wrapped up
in you, you I think of last at
night, and you I think of first
at morning. Dont think I tell
[page 4]
4
you this to be writing, for I
do not. I tell you nothing but
the truth. You are just simply
the sweetest girl I ever saw and
I love you with all my heart. I dont
believe you would willingly lead
me on, knowing as you do how
I love you, but you dont love me
as I do you. I think you really
like me, and I hope will some
time love me. I dont believe
you are like some girls I know
who would ask nothing better
than take this letter I am
writing, show it to everybody
that comes along and have a
big laugh over it about what
a dupe I am. If I even
thought you would show it I
would not tell you what I
have. Nursie you must not
have felt any worse last Wed-
nesday night than I did for it
[page 5]
5
was very late when I got home
Tuesday night. After I left you
I stopped with Early for some
little time. I had to get up
real early too to get a team off
to camp. I felt bad all day Wed-
nesday, and that night a drum-
mer staid with me, and kept
me up a good while. I could have
been with you, but not a drummer.
Dont forget to keep what you have
funny to tell me until I come
as I am anxious to know what it
is. Tell Julia I am awfully
obliged to her for her good opinion
of me, but tell her to please not
make fun of my looks, because
I know very well I was one of the
worst looking boys there. I wish
that I was with you this
evening, I think I could throw
off this bad feeling. I dare say
[page 6]
6
you are enjoying yourself better with
out me. Aren't you sweetheart? Do
you know I envy every body that
goes with you darling. I am not
jealous for only shallow-minded
people are jealous, but I do envy
every boy that goes with you. I
just cant help it. Some girls
at Sopchoppy sent me word
yesterday that they were coming
up here to to see me. When I see
you will tell who they
were and what I told a per-
son to tell them. I dont think
they will want to see me now.
Joe Gray was with me last
night, but he didnt ask to
see any more of my letters.
I got some thing over forty
letters last week and havnt
answered half of them. Yours
was the only one from a
girl, and the only one I care
[page 7]
7
anything about answering.
I will stop now as this is
getting to be quite a long
letter, and you dont like
long letters. Dont forget
you promised to write a
long letter next time, and
write soon. Trusting to see
my darling little girl soon,
I am, ever faithfully,
Jno.H.A.
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