Letter from Juanita (my grandpa's aunt) to Ethel (my grandma) 10.28.41

This is much harder to read than I anticipated. I skewed it a bit but it's still hard to read. Hmmm. I'll type out the letter I guess.

My dear niece,

Greetings, my dear!

What a thrill to have a new niece, as I have never had the joy of being Auntie to a a niece before and am really looking forward with a great deal of anticipation to meeting you, although I really feel that I do know you from Ernest's report about his new sister-in-law and PAul's delightful letter describinh his "little wife," of whom he is so proud.

Dear, I am so ashamed of myself for not having written you long before this. I fully intended writing even before I received Paul's letter but haven't had a minute to devote to letter writing for several weeks, so please forgive me and I assure you I will try to prove myself to be a better "Auntie" then I have started out to be.

We are delighted that Paul has found such a charming companion and I know you are both going to be very happy. He was wonderful to his mother and I know he will be equally as thoughtful of you and express his devotion in many ways that will afford you comfort and happiness.

I have never had a niece and am so thrilled at this joy which came so unexpectedly and I do hope to have the pleasure and privilege of meeting you real soon. The latch string to our door will always stang open to you and Paul (and, of course, Ernest too) and I sincerely hope it will not be long until we can personally welcome you into the family and until then you both have my sincerest good wishes for everything that will mean happiness. "God Bless you both."

We had such a lovely surprise visit from Ernest and Mrs. Holzsher week before last and I do wish that you and Paul could arrange a similar event but I realize that his time is fully occupied at present and suppose it would be impossible for him to leave long enough to make a trip to Baltimore, but, let's hope he will soon be released from the service and then we shall expect you often.

Tell Paul I will answer his interesting letter before long but felt I must write to you first.

The weather down here has been perfect this Fall although it is very dry and we need rain badly. It did rain a littel eysterday but ot sufficiently to eliminate the scaricity of water in various sections.

I took a lovely trip to Williamsport, Pa and up through the mountains, the week end of Oct. 11th and enjoued the scenery immensely.

I went to remember you and Paul in the way of a gift but will wait until you are settled permanently and then you can tell me what you want.

I sincerely trust that we will be drawn to each other in love fellowship and that your presence in our small family circle will help to bridge the gap that has prevailed, incident to my dear sisters' passing away. I look forward with a great deal of pleasure to the time when we shall meet and in the mean time would love to hear from you. Should you and Paul find time to pose for a picture, please send me one.

If it could be arranged for you, Paul and Ernest to spend Christmas with us this year (we enjoyed having Paul and Sister Bessie so much last year) we would love it, so think it over and see what can be done.

Give Paul a big hug and kiss for me and keep one for yourself. Mother joins me in this message.

Most sincerely, Your new Auntie,

Juanita

************************************************************************

This letter actually reveals a lot.

It tells me that sometime between December 1940 and October 1941 Paul (my grandpa's) mother Bessie passed away and that Paul took care of, and was very devoted to, her.

It speaks of receiving the "unexpected" news about the marriage.

Juanita Snyder lives in Baltimore (though this letter doesn't tell me who "we" is).

"Auntie" is in quotes. Which makes we wonder if she was actually an Aunt or a friend or really Bessie's sister. I am unclear about this relationship.

Well this was the earliest dated letter I have found thus far in the box. I found the cartoons and looked at a couple of them the other day. I'm really dying to post them now, but they don't really come into play in the story for another few years.

What's my progress you may ask? Well for some reason I decided to read all of the letters from 1942 and then thought I would decide what to post, what to scan , etc. since there are so many. The problem is that I got so wrapped up in the story, that I didn't take very good notes about each letter. So I have a feeling that I will need to just go back through the entire year of letters and scan and note each one all over. Which is fine with me really, I think I'll find even more things than I caught the first time through. To many the story probably isn't very exciting, but to me, and hopefully to the fam! it's really pretty interesting.

I'd love to know your thoughts!