Letter, 22 August 1918 with cover
Item
Title
Letter, 22 August 1918 with cover
Description
Frank Raymond Lane, Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, to Nellie Rahe, Milan, Indiana.
Creator
Source
Manuscript Collection, The Filson Historical Society
Date
Format
Language
Identifier
Mss. A L265 / 1
Text
Letter addressed to Miss Nellie F. Rahe, Milan, Indiana, Rural Route #2, Box 52
Postmarked Friday August 23, 1918.
16 Battery O. T. School
Camp Taylor Ky
Aug 22, 1918
Dearest Nellie -
Again will write you a few lines as I am again at liberty[.] Just went over to the Y.M.C.A. and got some envelopes so that I could send you one of my pictures. they are not extra yet you can see partially how I look in uniform. Had these taken yesterday morning at Coke Station just across the track from w[h]ere we were at first. Am going to send two and you can take your pick and if you don't want both you can give one to Anna & Henry.
Oh! I just received a letter from Louisville Kentucky and you will be surprised just as I was to learn who it was from. Well it was from John Klotters cousin Minnie Klotter and she said that John wrote her I was here, and as she was a friend to every soldier she invited me to their home at 1827 Preston St., Louisville Ky. Now what do you think of that.
I have looked in vain every day this week for you and some of the rest to ome down but guess I am to be disappointed, but oh how I wish you would come if only for an hour. it would be the happiest moment of my life. I received my harp, soap, prunes, cigars, and gum, also the Grit paper, for which I thank you very much. they were all in good shape.
Last night the students had some work to do and did it here where we sleep and of course we got no sleep while they were here and that was about 12 oclock, and this morning I was so sleepy I could hardily [sic] go[.] hope it doesn't happen very often.
It is not so cool today altho it is not hot[.] last night it was cool enough to sleep under the blanket but it won't be very long until we can use our covers all the time.
I wrote Pa & Nell a letter yesterday and suppose by now that they have read them and are ready for another.
When I come home I will make some corn bread for dinner and some hamberger [sic] as I made for supper last night also some orangeade then you can see how I can cook ha! ha! then perhaps you will milk and feed the chickens while I get breakfast see.
Have Carl & Gusta married yet [?] I have heard no one mention them yet altho there is a fellow by name Liggett in this battery.
I suppose you folks have been digging potatoes for some time and are they much good [?] but I guess not as it has been to[o] dry. we certainly use lots of potatoes down here about 50 lbs at a time. we had mashed potatoes chocklate [sic] pudding, dressing, roast beef, gravy, green beans, tomatoes, and ice tea for dinner so you see we have plenty to eat.
That money that you got for those snaps you take that to use at Sunday School and when you put in a nickel put one in for me and if you don't want to do [it] that way use it yourself as I would use it for you if I were there. Oh Nellie you know what my greatest desire was and is and if it can be brought about any way that is right I would that it could be done, because I surely deserve to have a few happy moments in my life so if I come home we can try to bring this about now can't we. I believe you are willing[.] you talked that way once and I believe you. you don't know how your name in my thots helps me[.] it would make any one shun temp[ta]tions if any thing would and we have all kinds here and at all times.
You may think me foolish for writing this but change places with me and see what you would do.
All for this time
Yours with love
Frank
Postmarked Friday August 23, 1918.
16 Battery O. T. School
Camp Taylor Ky
Aug 22, 1918
Dearest Nellie -
Again will write you a few lines as I am again at liberty[.] Just went over to the Y.M.C.A. and got some envelopes so that I could send you one of my pictures. they are not extra yet you can see partially how I look in uniform. Had these taken yesterday morning at Coke Station just across the track from w[h]ere we were at first. Am going to send two and you can take your pick and if you don't want both you can give one to Anna & Henry.
Oh! I just received a letter from Louisville Kentucky and you will be surprised just as I was to learn who it was from. Well it was from John Klotters cousin Minnie Klotter and she said that John wrote her I was here, and as she was a friend to every soldier she invited me to their home at 1827 Preston St., Louisville Ky. Now what do you think of that.
I have looked in vain every day this week for you and some of the rest to ome down but guess I am to be disappointed, but oh how I wish you would come if only for an hour. it would be the happiest moment of my life. I received my harp, soap, prunes, cigars, and gum, also the Grit paper, for which I thank you very much. they were all in good shape.
Last night the students had some work to do and did it here where we sleep and of course we got no sleep while they were here and that was about 12 oclock, and this morning I was so sleepy I could hardily [sic] go[.] hope it doesn't happen very often.
It is not so cool today altho it is not hot[.] last night it was cool enough to sleep under the blanket but it won't be very long until we can use our covers all the time.
I wrote Pa & Nell a letter yesterday and suppose by now that they have read them and are ready for another.
When I come home I will make some corn bread for dinner and some hamberger [sic] as I made for supper last night also some orangeade then you can see how I can cook ha! ha! then perhaps you will milk and feed the chickens while I get breakfast see.
Have Carl & Gusta married yet [?] I have heard no one mention them yet altho there is a fellow by name Liggett in this battery.
I suppose you folks have been digging potatoes for some time and are they much good [?] but I guess not as it has been to[o] dry. we certainly use lots of potatoes down here about 50 lbs at a time. we had mashed potatoes chocklate [sic] pudding, dressing, roast beef, gravy, green beans, tomatoes, and ice tea for dinner so you see we have plenty to eat.
That money that you got for those snaps you take that to use at Sunday School and when you put in a nickel put one in for me and if you don't want to do [it] that way use it yourself as I would use it for you if I were there. Oh Nellie you know what my greatest desire was and is and if it can be brought about any way that is right I would that it could be done, because I surely deserve to have a few happy moments in my life so if I come home we can try to bring this about now can't we. I believe you are willing[.] you talked that way once and I believe you. you don't know how your name in my thots helps me[.] it would make any one shun temp[ta]tions if any thing would and we have all kinds here and at all times.
You may think me foolish for writing this but change places with me and see what you would do.
All for this time
Yours with love
Frank
Citation
Lane, Frank Raymond, “Letter, 22 August 1918 with cover,” The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects, accessed May 8, 2024, https://filsonhistorical.omeka.net/items/show/23.