Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930

720 Paru Street

Dear Edward:

True to my word. I am going to write you a few lines even though I have no news, for I know when one is away from home any old letter is acceptable —

Well it is pretty lonely around the old farm on Paru St, since you left, and I guess we did not

appreciate how nice it was to have a noisy boy like you around.

Saturday night we had dinner with your mother and father, and we both said when we got home, that we had not had such a pleasant evening in many a moon.

If I tell you they miss you I suppose you will feel badly, but if I were to tell you they did not I guess you

would feel worse.

I remember when I was married, I was desperately home sick, and some how made my self more miserable by thinking mother did not miss me, and as I had seen her cry at each meal after Myrtle was married, I felt quite abused, but then when Annette Hall told me she had seen mother and she cried and said she would never get used

to it, I felt about as unhappy as any one could and live.

Your mother said they had only heard from you once, and wondered if you might be ill or in quarantine or perhaps which I hope, were just so busy you did not get a moment to write.

Now Edward, as soon as you find out if men in your calling wear scarfs, let me know and I will set to work

at once and weave you one, also the color — and please just do it on a card, for I do not want my letters to be a burden to you, when you have every minute taken and you mother will tell me any news of you.

If you could get the dementions [dimensions] of the scarf it would be better, but if not I could get them them from the Red + [Red Cross] and trust to luck.

The Lions are expecting