Amanuensis Monday - Mr. & Mrs. Paul L Moore

I know that many of you were following my “Amanuensis Monday” and the letters between Pvt. Paul Moore and Elaine Cummings. Through those letters we have been able to take a peek into their lives from the first meeting to the birth of their little girl. We even able to meet her father, F. L. Cummings and see the love he had for his daughter and granddaughter. I wanted to share the last few cards that were written between all of those important in their lives. I hope you have enjoyed these letters and I have few more collections similar to this that I will share at some point. 

 Dec 10, 1947

Hi!

Bet the kids are sure excited about Christmas, I sure am. I’m wondering what Terry will do when he sees our tree. We are going to have present next June too, should be about the 13^th. Sure hope it’s a girl. Terry will be 15 months old, so it won’t be too bad. Hope that takes some of the meanness out of him, he sure has a lot of it, at 9 months too. Wonder what he will be like in a couple of years?

Have a nice Christmas

Love to all

Betty, Arlow, Terry

NOTE: This was a hand written note/letter on a Christmas card mailed to Mr. & Mrs. Paul Moore & family 321 Union St. Apt C Newark, Ohio on Dec 17 1947. ***The names singed on the card are Arlow, Betty & Terry True***

Sun. Dec 14

Dear Paul, Elaine and Girls:

  Hope to see you all Christmas, but in the meantime, wanted to say “hello”. I know I owe you a letter but it is so easy to not write. Anyway, we think of you all, and speak of you often and would like very much to see you. Iva, earl and Dorothy were here for the week-end, just left this evening. We all went to Paden City this forenoon to see the folks. We had not been there for a long time. We don’t get around much since we sold the car.

Love and Best Wishes

Mary

NOTE: This was a handwritten note included with a Christmas card addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Moore and Daughters, 321 Union Apt. C, Newark, Ohio. Mailed out of Middlebourne, W.VA Dec 15 1947. ****The names on the card are Doll and Mary

Dear Elaine, Paul and Children

  I often think o you and wonder how you all are I imagine the girls are really growing up. Sure would like to see you, I suppose you will be coming back to Omaha for a visit one of these. Hope you are well & happy and that you have a very nice Xmas & prosperous New Year.

Love

 Aunt Emma

NOTE: This was a note written on a Christmas card addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Paul Moore & Girls, 321 Union St. Apt. C, Newark, Ohio. The return address is Mrs. A.G. Larsen, 2452 Ave E, Council Bluffs, Iowa postmarked Dec 16 1947.

***The names on the Emma & Arvin****

Dear Paul & Elaine:

Seems I never get you letters answered when we should. Yes we’ve talked of a trip to see you several times and one of these days we’ll make it. But I can’t promise when.

Lenny went squirrel and deer hunting too but had no luck.

How are the girls? Ours have had bad colds this month.

I spent last month in the hospital so seems everything had been so far behind including my Christmas mailing.

Tell Paul I try to get Lenny to write but all he’d do was sign the cards for me. At least that’s a help. We talk so much of you folks & wish we’d get together. If you have an opportunity do come down – or if your near here let us know & well drive over.

Love Margaret, Lenny & girls

NOTES: This was a letter mailed with a Christmas card. The card is signed with Margaret, Lenny, Lucky, Pattchs Edmond. The envelope is mailed to Mr.  & Mrs. Paul L. Moore, 321 Union Ave., Newark, Ohio on Dec. 18 1947. The return address on the back reads Mr.  & Mrs. Jas. L. Edmond, Box 233, Maxie, W. Va.

Amanuensis Monday - Sadly the Separation Continues

February 1, 1944

Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Dad,

  Received you gift today and its really swell. The locket & bracelet are just beautiful, so tiny. They are a little big now but I can hardly wait to put them on her. Thank you Dad they are just what I wanted.

  Have you heard from Dr. or Paul? Paul says he’ll know pretty defiantly whether or not he'll have to go between the 1^st or 15^th so I’m thinking of leaving in 3 weeks. I can imagine how proud you were seeing Jr. name on the Honor Roll. I’m proud too.

  Well I just fed the baby and have her back to sleep. I hope, she’s really awfully good tho, and she’s so cute. She’s growing so much and just looks at everything she can focus her eyes. They are turning brown too.

  I’m feeling swell and have to call the Dr. to let him know how I am. Then Sun. I’ll be able to go out.

  I’m going over to Uncle Ch as decided that would be better than having them here.

  Mrs. Rita came up to see me & the baby she sure that she was a little doll.

Sunday I got grandmas trunk so I’m going to start packing. I called Mrs. Brown yesterday, she wants me over for dinner before I go, so I’m going to be pretty busy seeing everyone and preparing to leave. If Paul must go I think I’ll leave anyway & go to W.Va. I haven’t made any arrangements with Aunt Marg & she doesn’t want anything but somehow I feel I’d like to give her something. ????? I’ll need all I can get now.

  I ?????? to Jr tonite and I had a letter from Joyce telling me about the make up ??? Guess she’s very pleased & she thinks you have very good taste, so do I.

  I haven’t said anything to Grandma all tho from all I’ve heard she really made a fuss over Aunt Mar notifying everyone & was quite insulting. I’ll be glad to get away from all the fracas for its quite nerve wracking.

  The baby is really fussing but I’m letting her cry for if I spoil her I’ll really be tough. She’s just mad not hungry. It gives her exercise sure wish you could see her.

  Dad I wish you good luck on the house and I’ve been thinking if Paul leaves I’ll go to W.Va. then maybe by the time of your vacation, you’ll have things settled. You can come get me & help me take care of her on the train. Does that sound ok?

  What do you think of the Japs & their terrible atrocious. It’s just too horrible I hope we bomb off the face of the earth. I can’t help but believe it for I read that magazine you had on their treatment of the Chinese.

  I have to take the certified copy of Carol Ann’s birth certificate back to the City hall for they didn’t put down her name. Anything to delay me getting it sent in to the Army. And I’ll need that extra money too.

  Boy I’ll sure be glad to see a change of environment I think they are rather tired of me too. I guess I can hardly blame them for I’ve stayed longer than I ever should have. But as John says I really have learned a lesson sometimes I think my lessons will never end.

   Well Dad I should try to get some sleep & I haven’t taken my exercises I have to keep them up if expect to get my figure back. I don’t weigh what I did in fact I weighed myself today, I weigh about 132 ½. I’ve lost my big behind, I hope I can keep it down.  But I have a tummy to lose too. Really feels good tho no to have that extra weight I really didn’t need.

  Well I’m gonna close and will write again Thurs.

  Thanks a million again Dad for the gift. They are perfect.

Lots of Love

Elaine & Carol Ann

NOTE:This is a two page letter handwritten on both sides, envelope addressed to Mr. F.L. Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle 11, Washington. The return address is: Mrs. Paul Moore 3117 So 52 St., Omaha 7, Nebr. mailed on Feb 2 1944.

February 3, 1944

Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Dad,

  Well I just put the baby to sleep. She’s been good all day but was a little fussy tonite she’s really growing and I believe she’ going to have brown eyes. I’m feeling fine and will be glad when I can go downtown.

  Paul called me long distance last nite and reversed the charges. He was very upset for he hadn’t heard from me since last Fri. But when I told him I hadn’t heard from him in 11 days while I was in the hospital he kinda pulled in his horns. Then to top it off three days have gone by this week & I haven’t heard from him. He told me to keep planning on coming to see him???? he seemed worried he wouldn’t be there. He put a deposit on a house so he would have a place for us to stay.

  He hasn’t written to Aunt Marg yet and I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t. If you write to him try to explain the necessity. Will you?

Evelyn & Johnny were over yesterday to see the baby. Evelyn gave me a dollar for her. Then Shirley came over too.

  I had a letter from Aunt Gladys but she didn’t have much to say except to congratulate us, said C.J. boyfriend was operated on for appendicitis.

  Then I also got a letter back from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Dad they don’t have a record of my seasonal payment on file. I wrote them all the details about it buy they can’t seem to find it. I don’t know what I’ll do if I have to pay it again. You know I sent a money order but like a fool I didn’t keep the stub. Like I say my lessons will never cease, seems like I have more thinks to worry about I should be getting my next check this week. I’ll have $100.00 but that won’t last long after I pay for the telephone call, the telegrams & any my train ticked I’ll also have an express bill too when I send the trunk.

  Haven’t heard from Junior for a while but suppose he is busy. Grandma called today saying she had a letter from you. By the way don’t you think you’ll be able to come see me on your vacation no matter if I’m with Paul or in W. Va.? I’ll be planning on that for sure.

  The baby was crying so Ken Jr. felt sorry for her so he goes in & pat her for a while & shacked her bed & finally quieted her for awhile. He feels pretty proud for he figured he had the right touch. ????? she’s at it again guess she’s really going to bawl – he’s in there again. I’ll have him experienced I imagine her crying nerve racking when they aren’t used to it. The all take their hand at it except Uncle Ken.

  Did I tell you I was going over to Uncle Chas Sunday. They were coming over here but dumb Mary doesn’t care to have Aunt Loretta here. So I had to change plans. I hope they don’t have any brawls till I leave for I don’t want to be implicated. It all dates back to when Beverly was up here & her going over there. Aunt Loretta said something to me that I don’t understand nor take the way Aunt Marg said it was intended. If I had I never would have told her but I just told her what Aunt Loretta said about Bev causing so much trouble & saying thinks about Betty which weren’t true. Things are too confusing & ??? to me but I don’t want Aunt Marg to get me in bad with them.

  I can hear Kenneth giving Bob heck for stomping up the stairs while the baby is asleep. The men are the only two who show any consideration there. The rest figure she should get accustomed to noise. It make me awfully nervous but there’s nothing I can do.

  You know its sure funny but since I’ve had the baby I can hardly keep warm at nite. I woke up & I’m just soaked with sweat & then get the chills. Maybe I lost too much blood.

  Well Dad I’m gonna close fro I’ll have to get some sleep for I never know how long the baby will keep me awake. And after I feed her at 9 in the morning I’m up for the day regardless. And I have several things to do.

Lots of Love

Elaine

Write soon.

NOTES: This is a two page handwritten letter on both sides. The envelope is addressed to Mr. F.L. Cummings, P.O. Box 178, Seattle11, Washington. It was mailed Feb 4 1944 the return address is Mrs. Paul Moore, 3117 St. 52 St., Omaha 7, Nebr.