Authors

Edith Speert

Document Type

Personal Letter

Rights Management

All rights retained by Bryant University

Transcription

[Transcription begins]

Wednesday

10/4/44

Dearest beloved,

Today seemed to rill [sic] very fast at our observation nursery! However, today was the first day I found a “bed wetter” or any kind of wetter, so today marks the first day I have changed a child’s clothes since April. Oh me!

At this observation or training nursery school we have two Jap.-Am. children—a girl & a boy. Both children are very appearing [sic] & both parents seems [sic] to be very nice. What we “hold against” the Japanese shouldn’t at all be held against these Am. children of Japanese descent. Both these kids play well with the others & are very well liked by the other children.

On the other hand we have Bobby Lemon, aged 2 ½, Am. child whose father was a Ranger killed in France. His mother’s & grandparent’s grief have left a marked affect [sic] on the child. He constantly cries, & wants all the attention. The mother of course is acting unwisely in “pouring her grief” on the child who, otherwise, would be a very normal child. This is a shame that war tragedies must also react on the very young.

Today I wpoke [sic] to a head teacher who had little or no training in the field except 8 mos. of actual experience. She said that they tell you there is no chance of becoming a head teacher, but that teachers come & go so fast that if you just “hold tight” you get there! Well, I’ll “hold tight[“]: until you get back.

My little Jap-Am. boy, Wayne, 3 ½ yrs. was very cute today. He had to go to the toilet & was “fishing around” in his pants. He said, “Teacher, the thing is very slippery.” Also, when he was through, he said “I’m all peeed out.” Believe me, I could write a book on “children’s sayings.” They are adorable.

My sweetheart, how are you?—Have you gained or lost weight? Dearest one, I love you so very much. You know, honey, I thought I loved you after our honeymoon; I knew I loved you about the time we were in Chanute Field; & since then, each day I’m sure I love you, & as the days go & come, I love you more & more. When you come back, let’s go on another honeymoon & start our life against [sic] without any military interruptions.

Your folks[‘] car “broke down” so we won’t see each other tonite as planned as neither of us have a car!

Heard from Helen today. She won’t hear from me—just as long as I didn’t hear from her. Rec’d a letter from Al Altman. Martha went home, and Al is still at Camp Gruber hoping for his discharge.

Look for both letters eventually in the mail.

Tonight the Rosens, Shermans & Mrs. Axelrod are over. I sat around for awhile, but made a hurried exit as I have to be up at 6 a.m.

Hon—Ukie really has been meaning to write you, but she’s busy with sorority initiation, homework & dates. The kid really likes you & I’m tickled because for a long time she didn’t care for you,—anyhow, not until she spent some time with us in Kansas.

Sanf called Mort today—what they arranged I don’t know, except that Sanf wants to talk to Mort.

Good-night, my beloved—until tomorrow!

All my love always,

Edith

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