12/04/44 Ltr. to EC:
Dear Edgar:
I have wanted to write you ever since the baby was born - I
have so much to tell you, but am just beginning to get my
strength back and the little while that I can be up it seems
I'm doing something for the baby and by the time I do that,
I'm ready for bed again. We have a practical nurse looking
after us but I just can't resist doing the things for him
that I can while up. You know how 'tis!!!! Anyway I was
determined today that I was going to drop you a note.
First of all we want to thank both you and Gertrude for the
darling napkin ring you sent the baby. That was so sweet and
thoughtful of possessions. I'm so glad it is something that
he can always keep. Also received your sweet letter today
and when the baby woke up I gave him that big hug and kiss
from you. I told him about the letter and who the hug and
kiss was from and he looked at me like he understood every
word of it. Am going to save the letter too for him and
mount it is his baby's book - I know he will receive many
pleasant moments reading it when he is old enough to
understand. However, I think they understand more when they
are just born than we give them credit for. Someone told me
they can't even see until they are five weeks old and the way
this baby looks you over from the top of your head to your
shoulders, you know darned well they can see. I wish you
could have seen him when [
2784] brought us both home in the
ambulance. The nurse put him in [
2784]'s arms and he didn't
take his eyes off [
2784] the whole way, nor did [
2784] take
his eyes off him. He talked to him the whole way home and
it was really a picture to see them both. When [
2784] took
the baby in the house the ambulance drivers came out to get
and said they had taken many new babies home from the
hospitals, but never had they seen anyone as proud and as
happy as [
2784] was with that little fellow. And indeed he
is - He just adores him, and you should see him when he hears
[
2784]'s voice. If I'm feeding him and he hears [
2784] when
he comes in the house, he stops and listens and watches for
him to come in the room. And when [
2784] talks to him and
plays to him, he is so perfectly contented. He is a tiny
baby, but as strong as he can be. I wish you could see his
little muscles, and he can already raise his little head.
Oh, listen to me rave - I'm going to tire you out talking
about this baby!
Well, anyway, what I wanted to tell you was that you were
right again on all counts, even when you were awake and said
you had a hunch it was going to be a boy. Right up until the
last minute my doctor said it wouldn't be before November 30,
and you will recall that the reading said "A near normal
birth the first weeks in November". And it was a near normal
birth and I got along just grand. Everyone has been so
wonderful - I expected nothing in the hospital because a
friend of mine had just been to Sibley and said how awful it
was, and I was simply amazed at all the service the nurses
gave me. As a matter of fact I couldn't have had more
attention in normal times. And the people that came to see
me and wrote me - Even Dr. Waters as busy as she is came in
one noontime on her lunch period and brought me the most
beautiful bouquet of flowers from her yard. I will never
forget her for doing that and she probably never will know
how much I appreciated it. She went up to see the baby too.
She said she felt she had a part in bringing him into this
world and she wanted to see what he looked like. Now wasn't
that the sweetest thing you ever heard of? She told me she
received a letter from your doctor and he said you were very
much on the improve although it was slow it was sure, and she
was so happy about it. She said she knew that would be very
good news for me too, and indeed it was. Oh, another thing
that touched us very much - Mrs. Wolfe, whom I have never
even met, sent the baby the most adorable bonnet with the
sweetest note to him. We just couldn't get over it. And
[
2533] and [
2390] sent him a beautiful cup to match the
napkin ring you sent him. Wasn't that sweet? Oh, I could go
on and on for hours and still not tell you everything. Mr.
[
3178] came down the other night and brought the baby a
Toidie seat from [
2898] and Mrs. [
2970], and he said they all
can hardly wait until the baby has his reading. It seems
more people are interested in knowing who this baby is and
they refer to him as "Our Baby". [
2898] told [
2784] we were
going to have to share him with a lot of people. Ever our
colored girl, Martha, refers to him as "Our Baby" and she
just adores him. You should see him look her over! Well,
needless to say, we sure are anxious to know who he is too,
but feel too that he is someone very wonderful and precious.
I can't thank God enough for him and we both are so very
grateful. I only hope and pray that we will have the
knowledge to do the right things by him and teach and give
him the opportunities that he came to us for. We are both so
very anxious for him to see you and you to see him. You will
just love him the minute you see him, I know.
We are so glad you are home again and that you are continuing
to be on the improve. I never fail to pray for you, even
when I was in the hospital and felt too bad to pray for
myself. It sort of helped me just to pray for you. I felt
God would take care of the baby and me. If I can get [
2784]
to relax now, I will be happy. He has so much to do and even
insists on making the baby's formula and getting up with him
nights. This woman we have has the baby in the room with her
and she gets up with him, but [
2784] feels he has to get up
too. Someone in the hospital said [
2784] looked like he had
that baby instead of me. He was worn out from excitement and
lack of sleep. Then too he had so many things to do to get
ready for us. He had to work every day too, which gave him
no time for himself. So I'm hoping he will be able to relax
soon and get some rest.
I must quit for this time or I will tire you - Do be so very
careful and continue to improve every day. We do so want you
to be well again. Will write you again real soon and again
thanks so very much for everything.
Lots and lots of love from the three of us,
P.S. [
2784] told me to tell you that he hasn't forgotten
about the Philip Morris cigarettes. He has tried all over
Washington trying to get them, but no cigarettes anywhere.
However, a friend of his in Del Ray has promised to try to
get him a carton, and if he does, you shall have them. You
shall have them anyway because if he doesn't get them, [
2784]
will find a way or someone who will get them for him. He
didn't have any idea how scarce they were not using
cigarettes himself.
P.P.S. We'll always be grateful to you for giving me that
reading and putting me on the right track. I feel that if
it wasn't for you and Dr. Waters, I wouldn't have this
precious little baby now. Words could never express our
appreciation, but I'm sure you understand how we feel.
See subsequent correspondence under
808-18, Life Rdg.
Reports.