August 7, --18
Mary & Fred,
How is everybody and everything by this time. Got your letter today of Aug. 1st and as I haven't anything rushing just now will try and ans. It seems like I always answer your letters about as if fast as I get them. The others have to wait till I get to them. Well I hope that no more of your cows and horses freck. [sic]
We have a few hills of corn in the garden but it's far from roasting ears yet. I told the Mrs. that you had roasting ears out there. And she said, "Oh go on with your roasting ears you just want to josh me about your state."
Got those papers yesterday. Thanks. I sent that lace the other day for Ruth. Did you get it.
I am getting $20 a month. Of course wages by the day are higher but then by the time I would board myself I would not be much ahead cause things are way out of sight. I found that out when I was at Townsend. And besides I don't have to do much heavy work. And one couldn't get anything on the day order around a Fort. It's hard to get a place at all.
Well I guess the 69th is in N.Y. by this time, it just takes a week to go from here to the Atlantic coast. Do you know where the boys went to that left Camp Dodge.
Say did you put those plants in the house. They are all outside plants. Those ferns are wild, just thick here in the woods. I don't know if the daisies and primroses will stand the winter out there but I thought you could try. And perhaps give them a covering of leaves & brush.
Well Herbert is getting to be quite a storekeeper. I only hope that he will get the same kind of a job when we get to the other place, being he likes it so well. Say I won't know you when I get back with your washing outfit and Edison. Some class to you ja.
I've been thinking that perhaps my bed will get buggy and I put some clothes on it to [sic]. Perhaps some time when you go down you could look once and you could throw the things on the floor. When I left I thought I would be back by this time. And could see to it myself but I don't know when I will get back. I want to stay as long as Herb is around here, if my being here will help any to keep him. And that lard, you might as well use, give away or sell. And there is some jelly on the top shelf in the pantry. Perhaps Julia could make use of that. It might as well be used before it spoils, cause sugar is to [sic] scarce for that. Did you make use of those 2 sacks of flour. I'll bother you all I can. Well mabey [sic] someday I can repay you for part of it.
They claim they will keep all the men in the army for 6 mo. after the war but I can't see any sense to anything of that kind. I think they will have to send them home to raise food for those that are left. They surely will get all the huns captured pretty soon and many an American boy will have to lay down his life yet if they don't come to peace terms soon. God help us that we soon see the day. And strengthen our faith to endure what he has put over us.
They must have a new minister in Adair. Martha Ernst wrote me that she was attending Sunday school. Is Rev. Haar still in Adair and Arthur Wedem-- living in the parsonage yet or what. I see by the news that Byers whoop Lieut. Byers & Lougher were tied up. Well they make a pretty good team.
Well I've had my supper and done the finishing touches. Herbert is sitting here with one of his headaches again. Guess he must be getting easier as he is snoring. I'll probably enclose that $50.00 and then Fred can finish paying our taxes. I got my check the other day, but now after we move you will have to tell Grace again. I mean give him the address again. It will be:
Ft. Worden
Care of Mrs. E. P. Easterbrook
Then it will be brought to the house every morning, won't even have to go after it. Guess we will move the last of next week, but address our mail as usual till I tell you we are over there as the P.M. will send it over to Worden from here, we will tell him to. Guess Herbert will be in the 7th Co. over there that's a Special Duty Co.
He was just telling me a while ago that a fellow he soldiered with died last night. They operated on him here then took him to Worden and last night he died. Don't know just what was the matter with him. They took some puss from his lungs.
Well I hope pa is feeling better although I can imagine he isn't. If his time is up I hope the Lord will not make him suffer so long. Although I wish he could live till the dreadful war is over and we could all be together again but if it isn't to be we know if we keep up our faith and trust in our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ we will soon all follow him to our heavenly home where we know there will be no more sorrow. I would like to write to the folks but they would have to get some one to read it for them as I don't want to get in trouble. And you can tell them that although I am not with them in person I always am in thought, for never a day passes but what we go to the post office to get word from some one at home, even if it is only a few words sometimes from the little girls it's always a line from home anyway. Tell them not to worry about me I am alright and in good hands.
The Mrs. Easterbrook reminds me of Mrs. Cloeter not in looks but in works and deeds. The night before the Chaplain went away we went in to say good bye to him (he left 5 o'clock in the morning.) There were some others just stepped in to say goodbye also and he said we should sit down a few min. Then when the others had gone he said we will all kneel down and pray together as Mr. & Mrs. Hocamp are a part of my household - then we will say goodbye. And he prayed very touching prayer indeed, asked God to bless each one of us and to guide us and bring us all safely home again to our loved ones. -- So I guess there are some good people come from England also.
The people here sure will miss Mrs. E. after she moves. Somedays she spends nearly all forenoon gathering flowers and doing them up and then Earnest has to take them to the hospital YMCA or any place else where there are any sick ones or where she thinks they will be welcomed. She surely has beautiful flowers all around the house except the north side and there is a water tank there or I suppose that would be full also. And last spring the house next to theirs was vacant and she planted sweet peas along the west side of that house and such beautiful sweet peas I never [have seen]. She supplies the whole post with bouquets of peas and the roses are still in bloom. It never gets very hot and things just go on growing and blooming. One can't sit in the shade very long, it gets to [sic] cool.
Well when I started this I thought I would just write a few lines and it's almost a newspaper. I scribble away as though I were talking to you. I do wish I could talk to you all, gee wouldn't it seem good. Of course I mean if Herbert could go home. I wouldn't seem very good if I had to go home and he were going over the sea. I pray God will give us peace soon. Seems like the people are so full of hatred that they are blood thirsty.
Well I'll have to quit although I believe I could fill a few more sheets and mabey [sic] you think it's like the Adair News, nothin' in it. Well good night. Give my love to all, we are as ever. Emma & Herbert
Cooked Salad Dressing
Put into a stewpan a lump of butter the size of an egg. When melted add a tablespoon of flour. Add a tea cup of water. Let it come to a boil.
Have ready 2 beaten eggs mixed with a tablespoon of sugar and mustard. Add a tea cup of vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Stir with other ingredients in the saucepan. Let it come to boil and cool.
To use, take a few spoonsful of the mixture and dilute with milk and cream.
For potato salad add a little vinegar also.
Try this. It's always ready. Put it in a fruit jar or something. You don't need to seal it, it won't spoil.
I thought I wasn't quite through yet. I think the tax is $29.00. What is left Fred can use for other things he needs or perhaps has spent out of his own pocket already. He will have to keep track and we will straighten it up with him some day.
Thursday noon
Mary could you look in that tin box where our business papers are and see if you can find that paper I got with my first allotment. I have to fill out a card and it calls for the allotment number. I don't remember just what I did with it, but if I saved it it's in that box. And if you find it write me the allotment no. If it's not there why alright.
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