Mabel & Earl: August 18-19, 1941

"I know I won’t ever be able to stay away from you very long anymore and be happy. I’m unhappy even thinking about it."

August 18, 1941

To: Miss Mabel Dixon, Box 76, Blackey, Ky.

Sunday evening

Dearest Mabel,

Did you notice how economical I’ve become in the way of writing paper? Just one of many changes. I forgot to get any Saturday, naturally enough, but this does all right. I can stick to the line better.

Sweetheart, this has been an awfully long day. I’m so used to spending Sundays with you that this one wasn’t right at all. I know I won’t ever be able to stay away from you very long anymore and be happy. I’m unhappy even thinking about it.

I’ve slept quite a bit of today so I don’t feel bad at all. I’m usually sleepy enough at this time on Sundays.

While I was asleep this afternoon, a bunch of boys and girls from the head of Kings Creek came down here and rudely awakened me from my slumbers. I might have been in bed yet if they hadn’t. That girl that I told you about that had broadcast was in the crowd, so I induced her to sing. She was fairly good, but I would much rather have heard you. I didn’t like her style.

I counted last week’s canning results a while ago and found 20 pints of huckleberries, 15 pints of corn, 7 pints of apple preserves, 5 of mixed pickles, a dozen pints of jelly and jam (I don’t remember the proportion of each) and a dozen quarts of peaches. (I had those canned before you told me we’d better use pints.) I might have had something else, but I can’t quite remember all of it. We probably won’t be able to get nearly all we plan to, but we can keep on getting a little at a time, which after a while ought to make enough to be quite a help, don’t you think?

Honey, you may think I’m queer for saying this so often, but I love you so terribly much that I can’t ever seem to tell you enough. I love you, sweetheart, and never once have I told you that yet, that I didn’t mean it with all my heart. Sometime, Mabel, I’d like to tell you just all you mean to me, and what you’ve done to my inner self. You’re such a part of me now that all the time I’m away from you, I feel that I have lost something and that I am looking for it. Without you, I could never be happy anymore. Believe me honey.

I’m going to close my eyes and then I’ll kiss the sweetest, loveliest girl in the world. Goodnight, dearest. I’ll dream of you tonight.

I love you. I’ll always love you.

Earl

P.S. Are you writing me tonight? I feel you near me.

P.P.S. Mabel, write me often this week. It’s going to be long.

August 19, 1941

From: Miss Mabel Dixon, Box 76, Blackey, Ky.
To: Earl Boggs, Flint, Kentucky

Monday night, 7:45 PM.

Dearest,

Here goes #1 of the weekly edition of love letters to my sweetheart.

Did you get rained on this morning? Just as I got off the bus this morning, it started pouring the rain. You were probably at Roxana at that time. This is the funniest weather I ever saw yesterday. It felt like spring was on its way, but this evening. I thought I’d freeze. Yep, I had to walk. Do you think I’d ride?

My order came this evening. I got everything except a sweater and the pillowcases. I’m going to reorder the pillowcases in a week or two. I ordered a dress. The skirt is too small, but the blouse is just right. I’m letting Grethel have the skirt, but I’m keeping the blouse. I’m going to make her a blouse when school is out (I can think of a million things to do when school is out).

I came down the road with Jess Collins this evening. He says he’s in a pretty good notion of going to Alabama with you and Dad if you don’t change your minds.

I’ve been working on my record book tonight, the new one. It’s slow business, copying from one book to another. Sorta back-breaking, too.

Bet you couldn’t guess what we did at school today. We made Valentines. We have a Valentine box and I think it’s almost full now.

Honey, it’s only 9 more days until school is out, then I think I can really get a good breath! Only one more weekend that we have to hurry back to school, and if you think you could be half as happy as I’ll be, well, I’ll guess you’ll just be happy.

Sweetheart, I just don’t like the idea one bit of going to bed without you because I miss you more than any other time. But I don’t see you around anywhere, so I guess I’d better go on. But before I go, here’s a nice little kiss and a big, big hug for someone I love very, very much. Got ‘em?

I love you, honey.

Mabel.