Ethel to Lester, September 9, 1936

Sept 9. 1936 Cleveland O.

Dearest darling hubby:

How can you ask me if I want to see you bad? Honey I want to see you so much, that I’m afraid it is making me ill. I feel like hell. What I wouldn’t give for a feel of your arms. Honey couldn’t you get off the boat for a trip? Leave it at Buffalo and then catch it on its way back. Let me know first if you do it so that I won’t come up there to see you and you are gone, cause I’m coming the next Sunday you get to Buffalo or if you telegraphed me and let me know where and if I’m feeling O.K. I’ll be there. And please honey don’t go to any floozies cause I don’t think I could stand it. Darling I’m sitting here crying like a fool. And sweetie when you get home for good I’m going to try so hard to good and not fight, cause we have a lot of heavy loving to do. Darling down in Zanesville they coaxed me to go to a fortune teller. I don’t believe in them, do you? Well this one told me you are going to get a swell job being a boss over men, and you are going to win some money. And that we are going to move far away. She told me that I was going to inherit a lot of money, and that we are going to be rich. And she said that we are worried that a gray haired man was going to make trouble for us, but he isn’t and that we should be nice to him.
Darling how long does it take the boat to go from Detroit to Buffalo, I could come on a Saturday, if I only knew for sure. And be damn sure about this, I won’t let you go next summer. If I thought for sure you would go looking earnestly for a job and found one, I would tell you to tell the boat to go to hell. I guess maybe you should have takened the job with dad. Isn't it wonderful to be in love and let’s always stay this way. And honey I felt bad after I read your letter.
Well how about some news? I don’t know anything much cause I can’t think of anything but you. Wirt got some pictures made of Grace and is bringing one over some nite. And is he anxious to meet Betty Pratt, and he is worried cause Miss Ropell is getting too fond of him and he isn’t that way about her. And besides he is married and left her husband an hour after she married him.
I’m going over to Charlie’s and mattie’s Saturday nite to give them the money.
Darling I had a rotten time in Zanesville. Do you remember Julia and her husband Ambrose and they brought those 2 kids and my Aunt and Uncle? Well Julia is going to have a baby and she is 4 months gone and is big as a house. I don’t know what she’ll be in 9 months.
Well honey, I got to go to bed, but will write again in a few days. I’m sending this to Detroit cause I don’t know if you are going thru the Soo or Mackinaw. I must go to bed and every nite I pray for you and kiss you picture, then hop into bed and squeeze a pillow pretending it is you. Not much good cause you are so strong and big. And please honey, if I can’t come to you, you come to me, and remember I’m loving you with all my heart and miss you like hell. Loads of love and kisses from your adoring wife Ethel XXXXX