de LONG – ZANDE PAPERS: Series III – Folder 5. Letters, 1917.

SERIES III: ARABELLA BRAY DE LONG
Folder 5.  Letters, 1917.  31 items. 

“Tuesday 3.45 o’clock Well, Darling:—Here am I in the heart of the big Town quite alone…”

February 2, 1917  “My own precious Sister daughter—I am distraught you see, and forget who I am writing to.”

“Tuesday April 3d Just after dinner—and a pleasant chat with Miss Frances Cummings and Miss Marjorie Cook.”

Fragment.  “and she will be more insistent than ever as to your care—now can you guess?”

April 5, 1917.  “My Darling:—Here is just a brief word written in haste with a heart brimful of deepest love…”

“Friday—Eleven forty five and time to prepare baby’s dinner You, sweetheart:—How glad I am to know where to think of you on this exceedingly stormy afternoon…”

May 8, 1917.  “Precious Sweetheart: my gallant little daughter Helen, It was so good to have a little word from Mabel…”

May 10.  “Beloved and longed for precious child Helen.  What a great joy your own little letter brot us…”

“Sunday  Darlingest little Soldier, my beloved little daughter Helen, and now I don’t how to wait until tom-morrow…”

Tuesday—May 15. My dearest child Helen—Precious one, your priceless letter of Monday, gave me great joy…”

“Wednesday—16. My precious Baby? Well, you are, so there!!!!”

“11 o’clock a.m., May 17.  Howdy! Sweetheart, how happy I am to know that the ‘curse’ has been successfully stamped out…”

“Sunday (noon) Little Love:—Ethel has gone to church Aunt Ida is napping, I hope, and Nurse Hutton is washing the bathroom floor.”

[Helen has written on back: Mother Hospital, 1917] “’Rejoice, give thanks and sing’  My little Sweetheart, Soldier daughter:—Oh, how glad we are, how perfectly radiant with happiness and thanksgiving”

“Monday  Oh! Oh! Oh! You, my own little darling Child Helen:—How glad, how glad I am…”

“Darling? What do you spose Mother’s just been doing?”

“Why, why, why Helen!! You precious little break-my heart!! and don’t you always know that sister and mother always will take care of you?”

Wednesday—A dark day, Precious, after a night of showers but when I first began to think this morning…”

“Thursday—6 a.m. No glasses! Seven forty five—Just couldn’t write Sweetheart…”

“31 Vauxhall Street Friday morning 7.30 Well, my own little darling—My beloved child Helen It seems to me that you must come and say ‘Good morning!’ to me.”

“Saturday Chester  Darling Child: Oh Ho, but I was happy to find your little letter, written in South Norfolk, here to welcome me…”

“Wednesday (noon) On the verandah You letters, darlint are so delightful I am quite ashamed of all that I’ve been sending to you…”

“Thursday (morning) My darling Sweetheart, Precious Child Helen, I thank you for the dear little note which came this morning…”

“Friday (morning) Well Darlint, Sweetheart Child I feel quite like as if I were in an out of the way place this morning…”

“Monday—My darling Child helen:—Here is your mother just racing with time, for the mail man will soon be here.”

“Darling Child Helen:—Since I’ve written you every day really…”

“Dearie me, I am that proud to hear of your really good times, just bouncing with gladness.”

August 10, 1917.  “Dearest, dear child, Helen:—I can only write a hasty note…”

August 13, 1917. “Precious daughter Helen:—Howdy and I hope that you and your dear family are well.”

August 15, 1917.  “My beloved child Helen:—dearest sweetheart…Just plain beloved, daughter Helen…”

August 16, 1917.  “Dearest dear:—Here’s a brief telegram for to-morrow and then, the next to-morrow…”