January 26, 1904

[envelope, 2-cent stamp]
          Miss Nursie Whaley
                      Medart,
Wakulla Co.,                         Fla.

[postmark]
ASHMORE
JAN 27  1904
FLA.

[postmarks on back of envelope]
CRAWFORDVILLE
JAN 27  1904
FLA.

MEDART
JAN 28  1904
FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

                 Tuesday night (way late)
                                       1/26/04
My Sweet Little Girl:
                                        I will en-
deavor to write you a few lines
tonight in answer to your nice
letter of Friday last, but Nursie
if this us dull dont censure
me, for I have had so much writing
to do until I can hardly use
my fingers. I use pencil for I
am afraid if I were to write with
ink you could never read it,
and you may not as it is.
   I am in depot waiting for train
longer after every body else is in
bed. Dont you pity me Nursie?
No, of course you dont care. I
dont have to do this Rail road
work, but really I am so
miserable until I want enough
work to do to keep me busy all
day and part of the night. I
dont believe there ever was a
boy placed in such circumstances
as I am - but I suppose I
should not complain.  If it had

[page 2]

                  2
not been for leaving my darling
where I could not see her at
all I would not be here now.
   Nursie when you doubt my love
the very fact that I gave up one
of the best positions ever offered
a poor bit for your sake ought
to show you how much I love you.
  Oh Nursie, you have no idea how
very, very dear you are to me, When
with you I am a different person,
and some times I forget myself. You
have no such love for me as mine
for you, and I am afraid to let you
even you know how dearly - madly -
I love you. You, who are in the
habit of having a "love affair" with
every boy you go with a time or two
dont think very much about any
thing except having a big time
with whoever you are going with.
  Right now it is me, next month
no telling who.  If you would
think seriously you would see
that you ought not fool a boy
up when he really loves you.
  Sometimes I think you do love
me,  Did you really mean what
you told me at Walter's the other

[page 3]

                      3
night? Have you wanted to
change your answer? I have
been teased quite a bit lately
about we being engaged. I neither
denied no affirmed the reports, so
they learned nothing. I would if
left to me have gladly told them
yes but for your sake I said nothing
for I know you wouldnt like for
it to get out that you were en-
gaged to such a thing as I. It
would be awful. As for me
I dont care who knows how I
love you, but of course I dont
bother to tell them. No Nursie
dont think that I show you
letters for I do not - not even
to Major. for he dont show me
his from his girl and I dont
show mine. You may rest as-
sured that what you write me
will be seen by no one else and
will be held sacred by me.
  Well the train has just gone
but I will finish this anyway.
  Mr. Cobb has asked me - Johnnie did
you think I wasnt coming? I told
him I had decided he had gone

[page 4]

                     4
around the other way.   I hope
you can get up another dance
out there but am afraid I
cant bring Major. I know what
is the matter and maybe will
tell you some time, but for Susie's
sake I dont want it to get ou.
   I wish I could have been out
there Sunday too, but it was I'm-
possible as I had to be here
to see my brother from Hilliard-
ville on some particular business.
  I know it was not a time to do
business, but Walter couldnt
come any other time, so had
to attend to it then. Sweetheart
you say if U live you half as
much as you do me we will
never have anything to quarrel
about, well I am sure we
shall never quarrel then for I
am pretty sure I love you more
than half as much as you do me.
   Nursie I had better stop, arent
you tired of this anyway? Please
write soon and a long letter.
Good night my love,
                                 Your own, John

[page 5]

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