The Letters- November 15, 1926 from Bob to Jean

The Letters- November 15, 1926 from Bob to Jean

"Sweet:

        Did you have a wonderful time at Homecoming? I hope so- and I hope you missed, and kept a place in your heart, for one who could not come home. 

       I woke late this morning, read a while and went to sleep again. I wanted no dinner. I woke again about four- the L___s were gone- and I could not stand this empty house, so I set out to walk. 

       I meant to walk around town but as I came to the edge I saw, way off in the distance, a high hill. Something made me want to climb it. Somehow it seemed like the top of the world. The ground was soggy- squashy under my feet- the wind bit thru my sweater- yet I was strangely warm. I followed a creek for a mile looking for a place to jump it- but finally waded thru. I hurried- I wanted to see before it got dark. I climbed innumerable fences, fought thru countless briars- but at last I stood on the top. 

       What did I see? In the distance another hill still higher- more difficult to reach. Life is like that, somehow, we struggle to reach the peak- where the world lies all at our feet, but always there is a higher hill- 

       I thought of the hundred twenty first Psalm- "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my life. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.--- The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul." 

       How long had I stood there? The moon shone through the clouds- then was gone. Below the lights from a farm house were yellow spots in the blackness. It began to rain-

       And then I was no longer on the hill. I was back in Chapel writing notes to you in the choir loft- watching the back or your head at Sunday Vespers- dancing to the corner with you- watching you in the choir on commencement morning- running thru' the rain with you- laughing on the porch with you that first night in June- dancing with you at Manhattan- telling you I loved you that first time- watching you measure off fractions of an inch to show me how much you liked me- playing tennis with you in the sun at Ellis Park- phoning you hourly the day you didn't get back from your trip- feeling you lips on mine that first time you let me kiss you- waiting for you in front of Killian's- telling you I was going away- saying good-bys the night I left- crying with you in those last few minutes on the porch- calling you that first time from Colfax- dancing Alpha Xi Sweetheart with you at your dance- laughing at you as you scolded me about my overcoat- dreaming of you- thinking of you- adoring you- loving you- loving you- loving you- forever- always!

       At last I started home- cold-wet-stumbling thru' the trees in the dark- but at peace with the world. 

      And that hilltop- in the wind and the rain and the dark- was not half so lonely as this house I call home. 

                                                             I love you, Jean

                                                                               Bob"

 

This one is pretty special, isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to get a read on how Jean really feels at this point about Bob, but knowing that she cried when he left and that they've kissed certainly is telling. Encouraging, rather. 
I do know from reading the family letters that Jean worked at one point for Killian's Department store, which is what he's referencing.  Some images below (I know the dress shop one is older than 1926 but it's so pretty!)
Tillbaka till blogg

Lämna en kommentar

Notera att kommentarer behöver godkännas innan de publiceras.