Letter Written around Dec 1918

[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]

Mt. Holyoke College,
South Hadley, Mass.

My dearest, most charming and dear old Brother,

My dear how are you? I certainly have done that same old trick again, so long since I've written to you, have so much to tell you don't know where to begin. I wonder if you have recieved [sic] the Thanksgiving letter yet, which had the girl's letter in it. After our fling at Thanksgiving, which I think, I re told you all about, nothing awful exciting happened. You see we settled down to work there, of course, of course. We were to have a Junior, Senior Freshmen reception but Miss Purrington's mother died, so we did not have it. But "kid" wasn't the 17th of December, a memorable day all over again. I tell you we looked forward to the 17th ever since we came I think. Now isn't that childish? But you see, we are still young. Well you never saw such excitement in all your life. Everyone was packing up, and having a great old time. On Tuesday morning, which was the 17th all classes were set an hour ahead so that classes were over at 11.25. Wasn't that swell?

Well before I tell you about our trip home, must tell you abut the Christmas music. It was certainly swell. The Sunday before we went home, they had Christmas services and sang Christmas carols and in the afternoon the vespers were wonderful. The freshman choir appeared for the first time and all the choirs sang - all classes & mean [?] and the music was just beautiful. We lead a very short & nice talk by the minister, and then there was more musc. Just wish you could have been there "kid" you sure would have liked it. The chapel was just crowded, scarcely standing room. Then afterwards Mr. Hammond the organist played special Christmas music, and they had an orchestra '87 [?] and a forty violins, my it was swell "kid" and there the violin instructor played a couple two solos which were certainly beautiful. Every Sunday night we eight of us always gather in one of the girls' rooms and then we read some book. Just before we went home we read the Christmas Carol, but don't know what we are going to read now. Did I tell you we read "Dere Mabel" during Thanksgiving time. "Clever" thats [sic] me all over again" Mabel." Well dear as I was saying, school closed at 11.25 so that we could catch the 11.30 car, special from Holyoke. Marguerite went earlier because her classes were over at 9.30. A lot of us went at 11.30 and stopped at Springfield and got something to eat. Buillon [sic] & a Sunday, don't you know, $.25 Then boarded the train for New York. That word certainly looks wrong, but I don't know, but I think I've heard it, somewhere.

Well dear we had a swell old time on the train, with "Life" and the "McClures", don't you know. Almost forgotten how to read them, we hadn't seen anything like that for so long. - A relief, a relief to read something light. Well dearie we had a terrible discussion how we were ever going to cross New York. Finally we went with a Senior on a "bus". We took a the seven o'clock train from New York and there were several girls who came in Phila. We made the 10.06 home and weren't we glad to get there. When I saw Mary and Clay's beaming faces, it sure was swell. Well dear you know I couldn't get used to the house, everything seemed so funny, you know we sleep on cots and when I crawled in at home, though I was up in the [...] or something. Well my dear, the next day that mother of ours rushed me off to the city. Swell to see Philadelphia again. Quite different from New York, isn't it? though "kid"

We did some Christmas shopping and had a swell old time. Mother certainly is a peach isn't she? Well "kid" next day bummed around I guess and in afternoon, went to a lecture at the High school. Great stuff kid, told us all about the 6th of July in England and the Fourteenth in Paris. It mus They must have been wonderful days, though there was great suspense on the 14th in France wasn't there? Well dear made a bee line to read your letters, and they were certainly fine. Kid you certainly are swell abot [sic] writing home and writing to me too. It certainly is sweet of you, and you write so often, the kids scarcely believe your [sic] my brother! But you see they don't know what a peach you are. And kid you will be home soon and won't that be swell kid. And it would [be] just great if you could come up and see us, the "kids" would go just about wild. It would certainly be sweet of you, and kid you know, I'm getting awfully anxious to see you, but you know, as I have said before, I'm afraid I'll be terribly bashful , because I haven't seen you for so long and especially since you are a "hero." Kid be sure and wear your uniform, when you come up, be sure too my dear. You know we have scarcely seen you in your uniform and you haven't sent us a real nice picture either, of you in your uniform. Sure would love to have one. How many medals do you have? my boy. now isn't that an awful question. So scared you'll be "conceited" my dear but of course my dear. I could never think that of you.

The letters we received from you "kid" after Christmas were just swell "kid" and the postals. It is to[o] bad you can only wear your medal on dress occasions, but all the boys have them, don't they? I'm so glad someone in the family has done something noble, to cheer mother's heart. Mother & Father sure are proud of you. Your last letters were Dec. 12th and you were in Paris, and you told us about recieving [sic] your cross and about the kitchen "duty". They certainly were lovely post-cards "kid". You have very good taste. Don't you love that? Ask me who I am? I guess you would if you were home, wouldn't you? Well dear as I was about to say on Friday, Marguerite and I went to the city and in the afternoon we met some girls in the city, went to lunch, then to the Arcadia, (movies) then to the Philadelphia orchestra. Had a swell time. Music was g [sic] great, "kid". Certainly was swell to see all the kids again. Sunday went to church again of course my dear, and saw all the people. On Monday & Tuesday we were all getting ready for Christmas, and then Christmas on Wednesday. and kid we sure did miss you, but kid you will certainly be there next year won't you, and a long time before won't you?

We certainly had a lovely Christmas. Didn't expect to get anything "kid" and was quite overcome, I got so much stuff, my ear I don't mean that all, I mean, so many nice things for I surely did. Grandmother certainly did give me a swell pin, and I got some swell writing paper with gilt edge, which I shall have to give to you, my dear, for I write to[o] beautifully for such people, you know. Well dear we had the Alumnae game as usual Christmas morning and it sure was great. More fun. There were two games Boys & girls. The boys just picked up anyone they could find for the alumnae team. Alumnae teams both won. The games were great and sure were close. We almost lost but Bessie Greer made a lucky shot w just as the whistle blend [sic], which scared us. Great game I tell you. We had our Christmas as usual, after the game. Isn't funny, I guess we done that for almost five years, haven't we?

On Friday night we had the class reunion and Edna Dold stayed all night with me. We just [...] our heads off almost the night before and sure was awful, pulling out the next morning. Edna has been having a swell time at the university this winter. Practiced B B. a couple of times while I was home with the High School. On Tuesday we went into Miss Jone's for tea, and had a lovely time. She showed us some beautiful linen verses done by Belgian refugees ect., certainly were beautiful. Probably you have seen some pieces. She showed us some beautiful French & Chinese pieces too. Christmas vacation was certainly some wild rush, my boy, but did manage to do a little trig, which was terribly necessary "my boy". Soon came that fatal day Thursday when we had to go back. The parting was terrible you understand. Well dear, we took the bus 8'oclock [sic] from Philadelphia and met a lot of girls of the girls on the five o'clock from from New York, and kid this time we crossed N.Y. on the subway. We had a rare time alright. This time we were with two Juniors. and we got on a downtown car first instead of an uptown car, wasn't that a scream! When we discovered our error, you know, we got on the right car, and then of course had to change. You should have seen the jam. Of course you have seen it many times. Great life isn't it?

On the train from New York to Springfield we had a great old time. Everyone don't you [know] told everyone else about their Christmas vacations, and some of the kids, had, had [sic] a high old time, I tell you. Well we got into Holyoke, the college I mean about eleven o'clock and it certainly was swell to see all the kids again. Have had a lot of snow and saw lots of kids skeeing yesterday, bet it is great sport. Saw some kids learning. Sure was a scream. Darling to think I will have to say bye, bye now. This morning we had a breakfast party, ten of us great fun, and today we changed tables, am at the new French teacher's. Marguerite is at the matron's table. Sure was some excitement over it this morning all kids at the matron's table gave keen swearing ever since. Well darling will try to write soon. Midyears are three weeks from Thursday. Kid, I am certainly scared, honestly my brains are certainly awful, don't see why brains couldn't have been more equally divided you know, my dear. Well darling we are certainly all anxious to see you and kid I have so much to talk to you about and want to ask you so many things. Your opinions & advice don't you see my dear. Just lots & lots of love & good luck to you my dear

Ruth.

[I have two letters from Ruth, both from 1918. The only clues I could get from the two letters was that she was a freshman (therefore, class of 1922), she probably lives in Mead, her roommate might be Marguerite, she had an older brother, and he was a hero in military service. There are over a dozen Ruths in the class of 1922, but I think the author of these two letters is Ruth Walton, for several reasons. One, her sister's college letters came up for sale, which, in my experience, means it is more likely that Ruth's letters were saved and sold too. Two, I have another letter of Ruth's and the handwriting is similar. Three, Ruth lives in 66 Mead with Marguerite Smith, according to the directory for 1918-1919. Four, Ruth has an older brother, Charles Wayne Walton, a private in the US Army who was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross "for extraordinary heroism in action near Woel, France, October 6, 1918. Private Walton proceeded to a point within 15 meters of the German line to rescue the surviving member of a small French patrol. He placed the man in his car and was proceeding under fire when his car became disabled. He removed the wounded man under a severe fire to a place of safety. On the same day. in order to quickly evacuate two severely wounded men whose only chance of recovery lay in being promptly removed to a hospital, he went fearlessly through barrage on the only road over which he could travel, bringing the wounded men to a hospital alive."]