Letter Index

Friday, September 8, 1916

Letter #1 from Kate Dawson

Mrs Lloyd Soper
Dear friends well how are you all I do hope you are fealing Better and also Mr Soper did he go away how is my Babie is she well have you bin out yet well my Son wife has bin Sick ever since I come home with the flu!…[read more]

Letter #2 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Edith
I arrived here all O.K. the trains where on time & Harrold was at the depot to meet me when we got home Mrs. Ozanne made me a good cup of tea & a boiled egg with toast so I felt fine after supper only a little tired but I didn’t stay up very late, I am going to see a speciliast [sic] this morning…[read more]

Saturday, September 9, 1916

Letter #3 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Sis
How are you this morning, hope you feel as good as I do, I had a good might last night, I sleep out here on a screened porch. I’m close to the bath room & water so can get anything I want without going out of doors, the change of food seems to agree with me we eat lots of breakfast food & have plenty of fresh fruit, I went over to see Dr. Teek yesterday morning he sure gave me an examanation [sic] he to my pedigree clear back to my grandfather first, then stripped me off & went after me, he’s a tubercular specialist & sure understands his Job.…[read more]

Monday, September 11, 1916

Letter #4 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Sis
I don’t know wether [sic] I can write much of a letter this morning or not, I feel just a little lonesome, but I guess that won’t do me any good to feel that way for awhile, the Dr got through with my examination [sic] all right & though he found the germs there he talked hopeful of my case, but of course like other diseases if you are not getting better you are getting worse theres no such thing as being on a standstill so he says the thing to do is to get into a sanatiroum [sic] as soon as possible…[read more]

Letter #5 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Sis
I have just heard from the Dr that I can’t get in at Davenport till the first of the week so I will stay here & I am going to have most of my teeth taken out & Mrs Ozanne told me to write & see if you could come up & spend the week end with me…[read more]

Tuesday, September 12, 1916

Letter #6 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Sis
Just a P.C. to let you know that I’m O.K. have to be at the dentist at 9 o’clock so I haven’t hardly time for a letter.…[read more]

Letter #7 from Lloyd Soper

Dear Sis
Many thanks for your welcome letters I was suprized [sic] to get two at once & thanks ever so much for that tie it will come in handy as they are a little scarse [sic] with me, I hope your cold is better you want to be carefull [sic] about that, how is Alice all right I hope, I had about an hours work done on my teeth this forenoon & have another appointment for nine o’clock tomorrow morning I am having them all cleaned up & smoothed off some will have to be pulled but it got to be done before they will take me in a sanatiroum…[read more]

Wednesday, September 13, 1916

Letter #8 from Lloyd Soper

My Dearest Sis
Many thanks for your welcome letter received this morning & also for sending on the letters from home, also Virgils card that looks about like him, I made two trips to the dentist to day one at 9 o’clock the other at 1:30 you know one can’t stand to have a whole lot done at once when I get about so much of it I begin to raise out of the chair so he’d just as well quit because I’m there no more, I believe I’m feeling better already & Mrs. Ozanne declares I’ve gained at least two pound since comeing up here…[read more]

Thursday, September 14, 1916

Letter #9 from Annie Soper

My dearest Lloyd
I have just rec’d your more than welcome letter, & am so thankful and happy, you and Edith have lived I my thoughts these last weeks, I am rejoiced to hear that dear Edith’s trouble is over & so pleased you have a little daughter. I guess the name was chosen before, Will it be Alice? It is very pretty. I hope all is still going on well. I cannot say how deeply thankful I am to hear you are feeling better.…[read more]

Sunday, September 17, 1916

Letter #10 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I was so happy, on hearing from Mother, last Saturday, that she had had a letter from Lloyd, in which he said that he was feeling better, & that you had a little girl, born on Aug 25th. You didn’t expect is quite so soon, did you? How I wish we could see her! When you write, do say exactly who & what she is like. What is her name going to be? Will you be very nice & have her photo taken, as soon as you can?…[read more]

Letter #11 from Lloyd Soper

My Darling sis
We have just had dinner & I am going to drop you a few lines but I’ve got to be back in bed at 1 o’clock we sleep 9 to 11 a.m. 1 to 3:30 & back to bed at 8 we have dandy sleeping porches & food has been good so far, I was pretty tired when I got here train arrived at 4:30 then I went to the court house Fred Wilson hadn’t phoned out to guarantee that money & that caused a little trouble but I got in all right but I’ll have to put the money up if he doesn’t do so right away.…[read more]

Letter #12 from Lloyd Soper

My dearest Sis
I must try & drop you a few more lines to let you know how I am as best I can my fever keeps cutting up last night & night before it went to 102 & this morning its below normal the head nurse had me take breakfast in bed as the main beliefe [sic] here you know is rest, its hard to form an opinion of this place in some way’s its pleasant we have a good view & look right out across the missippie…[read more]

Saturday, October 14, 1916

Letter #13 from Annie Soper

My dear, dear Edith
I have just this hour received the letter I have been so longing for, but the news it contains has filled me with deepest grief, to know that my only dearly loved boy is so ill and I cannot be near to see him nor help you my dear Edith, Oh, I am heart broken for both I know you have done all you can for him, and have been a dear good little wife, and he has always seemed to proud of you, and looking forward to busy happy life together, and I had felt happy about you both.…[read more]

Sunday, October 15, 1916

Letter #14 from Hilda M Soper

My dearest Edith
I meant to write you a few lines dear when the dear Baby was born to tell you how pleased I was you had a little daughter to comfort you but I put it off each day always busy. I am so grieved dear about dear Lloyd. We all hoped that he was really better. I felt quite stunned yesterday at the news your letter brought. It is too dreadful. I cannot say dear how grieved I feel especially for you. My only consolation is that he has you to look after him and I know he will have everything that lay in your power to do for him.…[read more]

Monday, October 16, 1916

Letter #15 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I have just received a p.c. from Nettie saying that a letter has come from you in which you say that Lloyd is much worse. We are all feeling dreadful about it, for as there had been no news from either of you for such a long while we all hoped that he was really on the mend. How I wish we could see him once more.…[read more]

Wednesday, October 18, 1916

Letter #16 from Annie Soper

My dear child Edith
I don’t know if my letter of Saturday is on its way to you, but I hope it is. I feel I want to be writing to you all the time. It is so hard to be held back. When I am longing to be with my dear Lloyd, in his weakness, and to share your anxious watching & constant care.…[read more]

Saturday, October 21, 1916

Letter #17 from Clifford H. Brown

Dear Bro. Lloyd
Mrs. Ozanne phoned us up day before yesterday and told us the severe character of your illness and that you were confined to bed. Mrs. Brown and I have been bearing you up before the Lord and I thought perhaps a line might be of help and cheer to you. More and more am I beginning to realize that it is not the Lord’s was to bless His people now thru prosperity, but rather thru adversity and tribulation. I know that with my own case my nervous breakdown of three years ago has been for my soul’s blessing.…[read more]

Thursday, October 26, 1916

Letter #18 from Charles & Annie Soper

My dear Edith
I have not yet received any news since that sad letter you wrote just a month ago, I am watching the post every day with a sadly anxious heart. I so long to hear of our much loved Lloyd. If only I could help, relieve or comfort…[read more]

Letter #19 from Elsie

Dear Edith
511 E 13th StDes Moines Ia[postmark Oct 26, 1916]Dear Edith,Just a few lines to let you know why none of us came down. Mother Norman & Clifford Brown started down @ 6.20 this morning & got to Indianola all right……[read more]

Letter #20 from Norman and Ethel

Dear Friend Edith
511 E. 13 StDes MoinesIowaOct 26, 1916Dear Friend Edith:I am very sorry to hear that Lloyd has passed away, but Dear little woman Lloyd is Happy now and is with his Saviour and all his pain and suffering are over……[read more]

Letter #21 from Mrs. Henry Ozanne

My dear Edith & Little Alice
511 East 13th StreetDes Moines IowaOct 26th 1916My dear Edith & Little AliceI was on my way today to your home to look on the face of dear Lloyd once more in this world, but the Lord surely ordered otherwise……[read more]

Friday, October 27, 1916

Letter #22 from Annie Soper

My dear, dear Edith
In heart I am with you just now—altho’ so far away. This is the saddest day of my life. And oh; How is it with you?…[read more]

Saturday, October 28, 1916

Letter #23 from Eva

My dear sister Mrs. Soper
By this time you will have had our Cable-gram and letter’s telling you of your dear sons death but Oh to know that he is absent from the body and present with the Lord and as he said to Clifford Brown when he was up here, Clifford said well Lloyd if you die how is it with your soul he answered that all right Clifford, C. then said on what ground Nothing that I have ever done.…[read more]

Tuesday, October 31, 1916

Letter #24 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
Perhaps by the time you receive this you will be getting just a little bit used to the thought that dear Lloyd has gone home, but it is very early days wit us, only four days since we received the sad news, and it is quite fresh in our minds. Sometimes I cannot realise it at all, I look at his photos and try to make myself believe that that is all I shall see of him on earth, but it is so hard. I had always hoped that he would be able to bring you over sometime to see us, but now that is part.…[read more]

Wednesday, November 1, 1916

Letter #25 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I ought to have sent this off sooner, but I feel so powerless to say all that I would like to, that I hardly know how to start about it. Your poor little soul: I expect you are just done up with all you have gone thro’! It is a blessing that you have Baby, for she will claim a lot of time, attention & thought, & in rousing yourself to attend to her, I hope you will be able to throw off some of the sorrow, which, I am sure is enveloping you. It is just a week ago to-day since Lloyd passed away.…[read more]

Sunday, November 5, 1916

Letter #26 from Hilda M Soper

My dearest Edith
I have tried hard to write to you all the past week to offer you my sympathy dear as your loss is almost worse than ours. I cannot realize yet our dear Brother is gone home so soon cut down just as he was reaching a ______ life my heart aches for you dear and our dear little niece that will never remember her Daddy…[read more]

Tuesday, November 7, 1916

Letter #27 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
Since writing to you a week ago I have received a letter from you written on Oct 16th, and you may guess how it upset me to see dear Lloyd’s name at the end with yours, knowing it must be the last time, but I am writing this to tell you how very grateful to you I am for writing that letter, because I know from that he thought of me, dear old boy I was always thinking of him, but he couldn’t know it. I do hope he got my letter all right which I write at the end of August, and that you had one which I sent about four weeks later.…[read more]

Wednesday, November 8, 1916

Letter #28 from Mrs. Henry Ozanne

My dear Edith
It seems strange in heading this letter not to put it thus (my dear Lloyd and Edith) But the one “is” the other is “not,” only gone before and I certainly trust you too will be with dear Lloyd some day and that we can say of you…[read more]

Monday, November 13, 1916

Letter #29 from P. B. Sherriff

Dear Madam
We wish to respectfully tender our services to help in the selection of a memorial that will be most appropriate to the memory of your loved one.…[read more]

Thursday, November 23, 1916

Letter #30 from Jamie C. Price

Dear Edith
I felt I should like to write a few lines to you, just to express the sympathy of my sister & self with you in your sad loss, we know how lonely you must be feeling, but can only pray our Heavenly Father to sustain and comfort you, I should have written before but was not quite sure of your address, until I had heard from Mrs. Soper in Guernsey. I had made some little booties for your dear baby & am sending them on, hoping they may be useful for her. I do not know if you get it very cold where you are living, but most little folk wear them over here.…[read more]

Tuesday, November 28, 1916

Letter #31 from Mrs. Henry Ozanne

Dear little Alice
As this is your first Thanksgiving Day I’m sending you a little reminder that I’m thinking of you and Mama…[read more]

Letter #32 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Your letter, dated the 12th, arrived this evening, & I’m hastening to answer it. Mother sent me on a copy of the beautiful one you sent her, with all details in it of our boy’s illness, death, & burial. You expressed yourself so nicely in it. We are so grateful to you for telling us everything; Mother sent the letter off to me on the 22nd but it was delay’d on the way, so I only got it late on the evening of the 25th.…[read more]

Thursday, November 30, 1916

Letter #33 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
I have been wanting to write to you for some days past; but I really haven’t been able to find the time, I have been so busy.…[read more]

Monday, December 4, 1916

Letter #34 from Annie Soper

My very dear Child Edith
I have received both your dear letters, and can never thank you enough for all those letters contain, all which I so much wanted to hear. But I know dear, what heartache and tears it cost you to put it on paper. I have been longing each day to reply, and feel unhappy until this is on its way. But the days are short and seem so full, nearly all my friends have called since hearing of our sad loss, others have written, and these letters call for replies. But when writing to you dear, I want to be alone and feel that I can get right away to Iowa, with my poor Lloyd’s much loved wife and sweet little baby.…[read more]

Thursday, December 7, 1916

Letter #35 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I meant to have written to you on Tuesday, but couldn’t manage it, then I was going to do so last night, but had a feeling that the parcel from home would arrive this morning—which it did–& that I had better wait & write about it. First of all, I intended to send my little frock home for them to include in the parcel, but Eva decided that, as I wanted to pay the duty on the parcel, it would be better to send all their things over to me, so that I could see them, add mine to its collection, & post it all from London.…[read more]

Wednesday, December 13, 1916

Letter #36 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
I shall only be able to write a few lines this time, otherwise I shall miss this mail. I would have written earlier in the week but I wanted to read your letter again first and it was at home so I had to wait till I could fetch it, which I did to-day. I have just read it; and shed many tears both for our dear boy’s sufferings and your sadness and loneliness. The more I hear of the way he suffered the more thankful I am that he is free from them, especially before the cold winter weather came on, but one cannot help grieving over his loss just the same.…[read more]

Thursday, December 14, 1916

Letter #37 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I daresay that, by the time you get this, the New Year will have started. I do trust, dear, that 1917 will have more happiness in store for you than you can think possible! I am sure you have been going over the ‘New Years’ of the last 3 years: the first one when you must have been so happy, looking forward to your marriage, & the 2 succeeding ones when you were so happy with Lloyd. And now he will have been spending his first New Year in heaven & you are left down here with his dear little girl to love & care for.…[read more]

Wednesday, December 20, 1916

Letter #38 from Annie Soper

My dear Child Edith
I wrote to you a fortnight ago, but felt I had not said nearly all I wanted to, and meant to. I thought of writing again last week, but some way it got crowded out. I hope dear you are feeling better than when last you wrote. No doubt the strain of nursing and the grief of losing what you held most dear has told upon you. But I long to hear you are feeling stronger, not only for ours but for your dear Baby’s sake, she will need all your love & care, I am so thankful you have her to love.…[read more]

Thursday, December 21, 1916

Letter #39 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Thank goodness, this is the shortest day! how nice it will be when they begin to lengthen. We are having very cold weather, with a great deal dirty fog. An enormous amount of Christmas shopping is being done this week: the shops are crowded & everything looks so nice. I am doing less in that way, than I have done for a long while, & of course, being in mourning, am sending no cards, excepting to the trenches & 1 or 2 children. I sent to your brother & sister last New Year: but never heard whether they received them: do you know whether they did.…[read more]

Thursday, December 28, 1916

Letter #40 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
My last letter to you was such a short one that I am going to write you a few lines to-night to make up for it. Mother received another letter from you last week, she was so pleased to have it, even though it made us sad as we red of Lloyd’s sufferings, & tried to picture you waiting on and caring for him. Whenever you come to Guernsey you will find plenty [of] friends already made for you, for everyone to whom we have spoken of you think you must be one of the best girls in the world, and they are right.…[read more]

Thursday, January 4, 1917

Letter #41 from Amy

My Dear Edith
How quickly the weeks pass by! It doesn’t seem 7 days since I last write to you. I have written to you each week now, for some time: I hope you are getting the letters. How are you, my dear? & how is Baby? is she growing nicely? I expect she takes up a good deal of your time & attention, but probably that is just as well, for you can feel that you are caring for one who belonged to Lloyd, as well as to yourself. Are your brother & sister very fond of her? I hope that all your people are well.…[read more]

Friday, January 5, 1917

Letter #42 from Annie Soper

My dear, dear Edith
This can only be a hurried line not a letter. Just to say your letter with three photos of our darling little Alice arrived to day. We are all delighted, how sweet she looks, and as you say the very picture of my dear dear Lloyd. I just wept over it, and felt I wanted to take her out of the picture and hug her. Her dear little arms look so inviting. Even the neighbours said, “How like Lloyd,” and all say what a fine child for that age. I am so thankful dear you have her to love, Just to comfort you in your loveliness.…[read more]

Saturday, January 13, 1917

Letter #43 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I am a day or so later with my letter, this week. I waited purposely, just in case I might hear from you, as, in your letter to Mother, you said you were also sending Baby’s photo to her & to me: 3 of the photos have arrived in Guernsey, those for Eva, Hilda & Nettie, but not the ones for Mother & I. How good of you, dear, to sent to all of us; we are pleased. Nettie sent one of hers, for me to look at & return. I am longing to have one for myself. My dear, your baby is a perfect darling! I feel I want to take her out of her photo & hug her, ever so tight. She is certainly very like Lloyd. She looks so lovable & sweet. How Lloyd would have loved his little girl!…[read more]

Tuesday, January 16, 1917

Letter #44 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
Your nice letter arrived last Friday, so I am rather glad that I had not written earlier as I had thought of doing. I put it off because my photos were promised for Saturday, and I wanted to enclose one for you, which I very much hope will arrive safely. Will you please let me know as soon as possible if it has done so? Do not bother to write to me on purpose, a message to any of the others to whom you happen to be writing will d just as well, as I daresay you find it rather a strain sometimes to have so many to write to, though if you knew how we appreciate your letters you would feel repaid for what it may cost you to write them.…[read more]

Sunday, January 21, 1917

Letter #45 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Once again I am writing to you. I do hope that, in a day or two now, I shall hear that you have received our parcel: it ought to have got to you somewhere between Xmas & the New Year, but, being sent at the busy time for post offices, it may have been delay’d. The family expect that you will acknowledge to me, as I did up the parcel & sent it to you. Please tell me whether you had to pay any more duty on the parcel.…[read more]

Letter #46 from Annie Soper

My dear Lloyd's Edith, & Mine
I have to-day received your dear letter, and the touching photographs of my dearly loved Lloyd—in his last Earthly bed. My poor boy. I can see the resemblance, but oh, so changed; It has brought the sad reality of his sufferings & death—so vividly before me, and yet my heart cries out, Can it be my bright, good-looking Lloyd? It makes me weep afresh—every time I look at it, but when I think what it must have been to you my poor child, who had watched him all through that wasting sickness, ‘who looked to you for loving help and sympathy,’ you—who heard his last words & received his last kiss.…[read more]

Sunday, January 28, 1917

Letter #47 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I am writing this today (Sunday) but will not post it till to-morrow. We get no postal delivery in London on Sundays, so I like to wait till one or two posts have been in on Monday, in the hope of there being something from you, before I close down the envelope. I know that they had a letter from you at home, last week, also the photos of our dear boy in his coffin. Mother always writes to me once a week—I do the same to her—but she had influenza last week, so Nettie wrote instead: she said that, when you wrote, you hadn’t yet received the parcel.…[read more]

Thursday, February 1, 1917

Letter #48 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
Thank you so very much for your nice long letter of Jan 5th. I didn’t expect another from you so soon, so it came as a pleasant surprise. And then enclosed I found the photos of my dear brother, but not the brother that I remember, so dreadfully changed, poor boy, how he must have suffered! But he will not look like that next time we see him, Edith, it will be with a glorified body like his Saviour’s.…[read more]

Friday, February 2, 1917

Letter #49 from Amy

My dearest Edith
Your nice letter came yesterday morning: as things go now, it wasn’t long on the way, was it? I am answering quickly dear, in the hope of getting this thro’ to you, before anything definite happens between America & Germany: if it does! If our correspondence does get interrupted for a little, dear, you will know that we are thinking of you & praying for you, just the same. Yesterday, after receiving your letter, I went round to the Post Office, from where I sent off your parcel. They said that there was no need to worry, & that you might not get it till the middle of February: all parcels are kept back to be censor’d before they leave England.…[read more]

Wednesday, February 7, 1917

Letter #50 from Amy

My dear daughter, Edith
I received your loving letter dated Jan 10th, on Friday. Just as you say, I feel very near to you when reading your letters, and as you speak of your past happiness & present loneliness, My heart is full of love & sympathy for my Lloyds loved little wife, and his darling babe. I just long to hold you both in once [sic] embrace. I want you dear to share the hope that we may yet meet, and how am I ever to see our sweet little Alice, except by your bringing her to us?…[read more]

Sunday, February 11, 1917

Letter #51 from Annie Soper

My Dear Edith
When I wrote to you, 10 days ago, we all felt that after Germany’s last insult to America, diplomatic relations would soon be broken off between the two countries, the ______ soon came, didn’t it? I was afraid that there might be bother & delay about getting letters to & fro; but they are arriving here quite safely, so I will go on writing, on the chance of your receiving my correspondence. I wonder whether the parcel has reached you yet! Mother has sent me on the photos of our boy in his coffin, & the coffin open & closed.…[read more]

Letter #52 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
I will write you a few lines this afternoon as I am not going out for my usual walk. If Nettie was here I expect we should be out together. I miss her very much, but am glad to say that she seems to be getting on very well & likes the new life better than at first, so we are hoping that she will stay there for a time, as it is nice for her to be doing something to help in this great war. By the time this reaches you we will know what America is going to do. Only one course seems possible, but the thought of more bloodshed than is already going on is dreadful.…[read more]

Sunday, February 25, 1917

Letter #53 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
I made up my mind that I would write to you to-day, so, although it is very late, nearly 11 P.M. I must do so, even if it has to be a short note. I particularly wished to write because it is the anniversary of yours & dear Lloyd’s wedding-day, & I know it has been a sad day for you, but I feel sure you will have been helped through it, for I, and the rest of us as well I expect have prayed that you might be specially comforted to-day.…[read more]

Letter #54 from Annie Soper

My dear, dear Edith
You have been in my thoughts so much to-day that as I cannot speak to you and tell you of my deep sympathy I must do so with my pen. Oh; I know dear—how more than desolate you have felt to-day. Only three short years since you and my dear Lloyd started life together with fair prospects, happy in each others’ love.…[read more]

Monday, March 5, 1917

Letter #55 from Annie Soper

My dearest Edith
This is only going to be a line. As I wrote & posted a letter to you last Wednesday, saying no letter had reached us (except Nettie) since you received the parcel, and I felt sure you had written, The very next day (March 1st) your letter came which was written on my birthday—Feb 4th—in that you spoke of the little boots, which fitted so nicely those dear, wee feet–& c, also of other letters you had sent, I concluded at once these were lost, But on Saturday—3rd—your letter of Jan 25th, with enclosures for Mrs. Hamon & Tostevin, Cousins Priscilla and Netherton—came all right. (The former was censored.)…[read more]

Letter #56 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Many thanks for your nice letter. I am so glad that the parcel has reached you: altho’ it was a good time doing so: I had begun to wonder whether anything had happened to it: had the contents been tossed over very much? I tied each little garment up so carefully: Mother left all that to me: I did so hope that it would reach your hands in the same condition as it left mine. I hope you did not have to pay any more duty on it! Did you find Dad’s little offering?…[read more]

Thursday, March 8, 1917

Letter #57 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
If dear Lloyd had still been with us I should have been writing a few lines to him for his birthday about this time, so I will write to you instead, and I am very glad that we have you to write to, as that fills the blank which otherwise we should feel so much more even than we do. This is his first birthday in heavenwe will be thinking of him & of you on that day.…[read more]

Wednesday, March 14, 1917

Letter #58 from Annie Soper

My Dearest Edith
I received your ever welcome letter last week, and two days after the Memorial card for my dear Lloyd (can it be?) Oh; it is hard to realize. But harder for you, my dear Edith, who was with him to the last. The card is altogether nice, so appropiate [sic]. The words as from your own heart! I was pleased to have it—and thank you very, very much, for your kind thought for me all through our sorrow.…[read more]

Letter #59 from Amy

My Dear Edith
First of all, will you please note my address & put a ‘1’ after the ‘W.” The P.O. authorities are trying to simplify the sorting arrangements of letters; so have divided London into numbers; ours is ‘1.’ In your last letter home you spoke of the intense cold: I do hope that you & Baby have both kept well thro’ it, also that it is warmer now: it is a bit better with us: tho’ we never had such a winter.…[read more]

Sunday, March 25, 1917

Letter #60 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I haven’t written to you for the last 10 days, so daresay you will be looking for a letter again. I have been feeling very sad since yesterday week, when I received the news of the death of my special “friend:” he was killed in action on the 7th of March, at Salonica: letters take 3 weeks to come from there: I had received one only 3 days before. I am sure, when he wrote it, that he had no thought of immediate fighting taking place. The news gave his parents & myself an awful shock, as we didn’t know that the British troops were in action.…[read more]

Thursday, March 29, 1917

Letter #61 from Annie Soper

My dear daughter Edith
I felt I must write you a line on this date—for I am sure there has been transmission of thought between us to-day. How I wish we could have spent it together. It is of you I am thinking most hear, for our dearly loved one is spending his first birthday in heaven.…[read more]

Letter #62 from Hilda M Soper

My Dearest Sister
I have been trying to write to you dear Edith for so long but I always get hindered in some way. I think of you so much, I never go to bed without you on my mind, to-day dear I have been thinking of our dear one’s Birthday had God spared him he would have been 28 to-day and it is 10 years to-day he first landed in New York. Little did we think we should never see him again.…[read more]

Monday, April 2, 1917

Letter #63 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
I am sure it must be three weeks since I have written to you, I wanted to get a letter off last week, but I was very busy, and was obliged to write to Amy and Nettie. We haven’t had a letter from you lately, so we are wondering how you are getting on. I do hope you are better, and that little Alice is well. She will soon be beginning to have her teeth now, won’t she? I hope she will not have any trouble with them.…[read more]

Saturday, April 14, 1917

Letter #64 from Nettie

My Dear Edith
At last I am writing you a few lines. I hope you have not felt hurt at not hearing from me since our dear Lloyd died. As Mother & the girls all wrote, I thought that would be sufficient. But be sure I felt for you in your deep sorrow as the rest did. It was terrible for us, yet worse for you dear, as you were so used to having him with you & saw all his sufferings.…[read more]

Thursday, April 19, 1917

Letter #65 from Annie Soper

My dearest Edith
I received your most welcome letter 4 days ago. It was quite a relief to see it, I also received one from a friend in New York, both of them had been censored. However there was nothing to repay their trouble. On the whole I think we have been very fortunate. Excepting those two photos of our darling Babe everything has got through. You will have seen in a former letter that the memorial card of our dear Lloyd reached us safely, we all think the words & verse so good and most appropiate [sic]. You have done everything to shew [sic] loving regard for his memory, and kindest thoughts for us.…[read more]

Sunday, April 22, 1917

Letter #66 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I haven’t written to you for a fortnight: quite a long time isn’t it? How are you? I hope, now that the better weather seems to be coming, (with us, anyway!) that you will feel more cheerful; try to put the sorrow behind you dear, both for your own sake, & for the dear baby’s, as well as for your people’s. You were a good little wife to our Lloyd, now you are the Mother of his baby, & presently, in God’s own good time, you will be reunited, never to part again, thro’ all Eternity.…[read more]

Tuesday, April 24, 1917

Letter #67 from John

My Dear Mrs Soper
Just a short note to thank you for the scones you put in Mother’s parcel they were very nice and I and my friend enjoyed them very much. We always share our parcels so do very well. We are getting very good weather just now but it has been a terrible winter these fine days seem to put new life into one.…[read more]

Monday, April 30, 1917

Letter #68 from Eva

My dear sister Edith.
I was very disappointed at not being able to write this letter last week. I quite meant to, but I was so busy at the beginning of the week and then it was too late for that mail. I received your very nice letter, written on April 1st, on the 21st, thank you very much for it. I feel quite ashamed of the short letters I write you when I receive such a long one from you. It doesn’t matter a bit about being written in pencil, you write equally will [sic] in pencil or ink, but I write a dreadful hand if I use pencil, even worse than this, which is pretty bad owing to a crooked nib!…[read more]

Sunday, May 6, 1917

Letter #69 from Amy

My Dear Edith
I haven’t written to you for a fortnight, &, during that time I have received 2 lovely long letters from you, one dated April 5th, the other, the 15th. Many thanks, dear, for both. Those were beautiful verses which you sent me “The Legend of the Easter Lily”! I am so glad that Baby is better again; you must have felt very anxious while she was bad: that sort of thing is so weakening, too. She must be a darling!…[read more]

Monday, May 21, 1917

Letter #70 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Many thanks for the nice letter I had from you last week; also for your kind words of sympathy; I appreciated them very much I can assure you. I am getting more used to the thought of his death now, but it still seems like a dream: he was his Mother’s favourite son, she is terribly sad about it still. I went down to his home on Friday, such a pretty riverside place;…[read more]

Tuesday, May 22, 1917

Letter #71 from Annie Soper

My Dearest Edith,
I feel as if I am slighting you, tho’ most unwillingly, for you are never long absent from my thoughts, I was so goad to get your last dear lettr, but was very sorry to hear our dear wee pet, had been so poorly, Amy sent on your letter to her—a lovely one—where you explained about dear little Alice’s sickness. It was very necessary to get the doctor’s advice. You must have been anxious, I am so thankful she has got over it, she is such a comfort to you, and we all think so much of her.…[read more]

Monday, June 4, 1917

Letter #72 from Amy

My Dear Edith
A fortnight has gone since I last wrote to you: I quite meant to have written before. How are you, my dear? & how is the darling little niece,? a big kiss to her from me: if only I could hold her in my arms, I think I should nearly eat her! I wonder whether you are back with your people again. I do hope that the whooping-cough has vanished from your district. I had such a lovely surprise, about 10 days ago: I had a letter from Eva, & in it a lovely copied photo of Baby!…[read more]

Letter #73 from Eva

My dear sister Edith,
I think it must be three weeks, if not more since I last wrote to you. I wanted to do so last week, but was, as usual, too busy.…[read more]

Wednesday, June 13, 1917

Letter #74 from Annie Soper

My dear Child Edith,
Your dear letter dated May 20th reached me yesterday, and one dated May 11th came ten days earlier. I had just sent off a letter to you, so now I have two of yours to answer. How good you are to me, those letters are so precious. You are the one living link, not the only one,–you and our sweet little Alice—between me and our dear Lloyd. Do I think of you in your loneliness? My poor child: when do I not think of you?…[read more]

Monday, June 18, 1917

Letter #75 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Here I am, once again writing to you! One of our housemaids called me at 6.0 this morning, as she, also was getting [up] early. The days are so overpoweringly hot, that I thought, if I got up in good time, I might write my letters before breakfast: it is now 6.45. I am sitting here, clothed only in my nightdress, so as to be as cool as possible.…[read more]

Saturday, June 23, 1917

Letter #76 from Myrl

Dear Edith:
Was so sorry I did not get to see you again before leaving but perhaps can again this fall. Suppose you got the picture we left for you with Mrs. Eaton. Hope all are well. Tell Faye to take good care of my little Alice.…[read more]

Saturday, July 14, 1917

Letter #77 from Annie Soper

My dear child Edith,
I received your very welcome letter nine days ago, and meant this to be well on its way to you by this time, you would hardly believe dear, how many interruptions I get, Neighbours & friends, (all friends) know I am alone, and just now resting a good part of the day, so they kindly call and talk and the time goes, for I can’t write, of course. I do get off the most pressing letters, then when once I am about I find a lot to do, Lately it has been picking fruit & making jam, ours is only a small garden, but the fruit has been abundant.…[read more]

Sunday, July 29, 1917

Letter #78 from Eva

My dear sister Edith
This is really a birthday letter for my dear little niece, but as she is too young to understand it yet I will write to her Mother instead, so please give her a kiss from me and lots of love as well as the little socks. I wish it was possible to send her out something in the way of toys to play with, but I am afraid they would get broken on the way, what a pity it is you live so far away.…[read more]

Wednesday, August 1, 1917

Letter #79 from Hilda M Soper

My dearest sister Edith
I am writing these few lines dear to put in with the little Bonnet—with my very best love to darling little Alice in hopes it will be in time for her Birthday. I am afraid it is too large for her but it will do for another year instead, won’t it. How we long to see you both, dear, especially while Baby is small as they are so sweet while they are babies. Did you get my last letter dear. I hope you did. I am so glad you have been staying with friends lately I am sure it has made a nice change for you.…[read more]

Thursday, August 2, 1917

Letter #80 from Annie Soper

My very dear Child Alice,
I received you dear, affectionate letter yesterday, and wept over it quite a lot and just as you say, these letters bridge the distance, and bring us very near each other, and the memory of what was passing not a year ago, crowds in, and I am overwhelmed. It is more real to me now than it was six months ago. But what must it be for my poor Edith? Yet I must not make you more sad, you have had such a large share of that. And I know the memory of our dear One will ever be in your heart. Your letter was very sweet, and every word full of interest to me.…[read more]

Monday, August 13, 1917

Letter #81 from Blanche B.

Dear Cousin:
We arrived home Sat. 4.20 A.M. came home in afternoon with Gladstone. My but weather is cool up here. Bruce was binging and Fell shocking when we got home. Crop is O.K. I learned to ride Fell’s bike this morning.…[read more]

Letter #82 from Blanche B.

Dear Alice:
There was quite a surprise awaiting me when I arrived home. I have a new nephew haven’t named him yet can’t find a nice enough name. Ha. Ha. He was born on the 9th weighed 9 lbs. hope to hear from you soon…[read more]

Sunday, November 18, 1917

Letter #83 from Eva

My dear sister Edith.
I received a letter from you last Tuesday, the 13th. I was so pleased to get it, and it was such a nice one. I am so sorry that you haven’t been well, but I can quite understand how it must have upset you to part with Lloyd’s house, he loved houses so much. When he was a boy it was just the same, and even a toy one was such a delight to him. I remember buying him one when he was getting quite a big boy in his teens, and he was so pleased, we used to tease him about it, but he didn’t mind as long as he had a house. I can just picture the sad scene of you taking “Little Maude” to his bedside to say “Good-bye.”…[read more]

Tuesday, December 4, 1917

Letter #84 from Jamie C. Price

Dear Edith
Many thanks for your welcome letter of September 25th last, I was glad to hear you had received the little petticoats safely, also that you are pleased with them & that dear little Alice will be spared to wear them out, she looks a darling in the photograph you sent & which I thank you for sending to us. No dear, do not dream of returning the petticoats but after Alice has outgrown them, pass them on to some needy child, for there must be some such even with you.…[read more]

Wednesday, December 5, 1917

Letter #85 from Amy

My dear Edith
Just a few lines in answer to your very nice letter which came on Monday—my birthday!–, we were getting anxious about the money, & wondering whether you had received it: from the date you gave for its arrival, & the date of your letter, it came 11 days before you wrote. I thought it ought not to take more than 3 weeks to get to you; that was what happened.…[read more]

Sunday, September 8, 1918

Letter #86 from Amy

My Darling Little Niece
Your grandma who lives in Guernsey told me that you thought I ought to be ashamed of myself for not talking to you for such a lone time, so, to show you how sorry I am, I am sending you a little letter all for yourself, also a pussy-cat. I am afraid he doesn’t look very sensible! We have one—a big tabby—in this house where I live, his name is Peter don’t you think that is a funny name for a pussy?…[read more]

Wednesday, December 10, 1919

Letter #87 from Annie Soper

My dearest Edith,
I was ashamed to send you such a short letter last week, but I hope it is well on its way to you by this, and I guess it is having a very rough journey. The weather has been dreadful, almost ever since I returned, and I am more & more thankful for the nice crossing I had on Nov 30th, and for the happy time I had & the kindness I received whilst in England.…[read more]

Letter #88 from Nettie

Dear Edith
I owe you one & meant to write ages ago but somehow I have not managed it, every day seems full up with one thing & another so please forgive me this time.…[read more]

Friday, December 19, 1919

Letter #89 from Amy

My Dear Edith
Just a few lines to wish you a “Happy Christmas” & a “Bright & Prosperous New Year.” I am sending you both a small remembrance, yours being much the smaller of the two. I hope the little set will be suitable for Alice: please give it to her from Auntie Amy, with my very best love: the little collar is for you my dear, I hope you will like it. How are you both? I hope you are keeping well, & that you will have a happy time this Christmas.…[read more]

Tuesday, December 23, 1919

Letter #90 from Amy

Dearest M.
Many thanks to you & all for the correspondence I have received & for the lovely cards. I haven’t time to write more than this, but, as soon as Xmas is over, shall hope to write properly to each one. Alma’s photo came yesterday: I am very pleased, & have put it into a nice frame: everyone is admiring her! Eva’s p.c came yesterday. I have had cards from all of you & from quite a lot of other people: my room is looking gay.…[read more]

Wednesday, December 31, 1919

Letter #91 from Annie Soper

Miss Alice Soper
To wish Dear little Alice a very happy Christmas, and a bright New Year. With much love, From Grandma Soper, Guernsey, 1919-20…[read more]

Thursday, January 8, 1920

Letter #92 from Annie Soper

My Dearest Edith,
I intended writing to you today, so was very pleased when the postman came & brought the photos of our pet for Hilda & the Price cousins. I am writing to them also & sending it on. I know how pleased they will be. It was a good thought of yours to send one of those taken with yourself. They have not yet got possession of their little house, as the tenant cannot find another and as the laws of England now are; you cannot turn a tenant out under a certain time, which would be next New Year.…[read more]

Friday, February 20, 1920

Letter #93 from Annie Soper

My dearest Edith,
Your two dear letters to Dad & myself reached us last Sunday, 15th. Poor dad was very touched by your loving sympathy, & desire to minister to his comfort, he knew this was genuine, altho’ you are prevented by distance from carrying it out. You will think this response, a long time in coming, but I could not get it off earlier in the week, I hope tho’ that it will leave by American Mail on Saturday. I received your other letter addressed to dad and self, on the previous Sunday, and it was very welcome, for it seemed long since we heard from you.…[read more]

Sunday, February 29, 1920

Letter #94 from Annie Soper

My very dear Edith,
I know you are thinking of us at this time, and wondering how it is with dear Dad? And now I have to tell you that with him All is well! All his pain & discomfort is over. He is as he longed to be, With the Lord. If Nettie’s Postcard written on Friday evening reaches you before this, you will be prepared for the change, for he passed away the same night, or rather at 4-40, in the morning.…[read more]

Monday, April 19, 1920

Letter #95 from Iva & All

Dear Cousin Edith, Alice and all,
Rec’d your letter the other Eve The folks sent it up. Was glad to hear from you. How is Alice now & the rest of you. We are well. Lyle has some cold but not very much no wonder though we are having such damp Rainy & cold weather It was nice yesterday Wed. & To-day It is raining like every thing. I just got through making a pie for dinner (Custard). Do you like them we sure do & I think it is hard to find any thing to make pie of now & hard to find any thing to cook. Sugar is so high & they say its going higher Su guess we’ll haft to quite [sic] buying it.…[read more]

Monday, May 3, 1920

Letter #96 from Mary

My Dear Sis
—as it really seems to me you are my sister you know. I never knew the love and companionship of an older sister but am sure one would mean a great, great deal to me if I trusted her more fully than I do you, for Edith you do mean so much to me for sometimes when I feel like no one really cared for me much or was interested in my welfare, I know you do think about me, or at least I feel like you do.…[read more]

Monday, October 11, 1920

Letter #97 from Annie Soper

My dearest Edith
Your welcome letter reached me on Saturday, And I am answering quickly, because after the news you told me you will, I think, like an early reply. It certainly was news, and I read it with mixed feelings, and you will not be surprised that I shed some tears as you spoke of my dear Lloyd. But dear, I will tell you, “When speaking of you to a friend a short time ago, she said, “Perhaps she will marry again,” I answered—“If Edith had a good offer, I shouldn’t say one word against it” And that is just how I feel about it.…[read more]