First, something from the Heartmelting Files:

Me: Poppy, I’m glad I get to be your Mommy.
Poppy: Mommy, I’m glad I get to be your sweetheart.

Me too, kiddo.

And now, on to today’s letters:

Nov. 11 1942

Dear dad,

We arrived here O.K. all except we were awful tired. I’m leaving Friday for Texas and Annis is coming back [home]. She is going to stay with Mrs. Higdon until I get her a place to stay in Texas. I can’t say much at this time except I hope to see you agan soon and tell Rebecca we are O.K. and I’ll write you agan soon. So good by for now.

Your son
Cornell

Just a few days later, Cornell writes again. And once again, the poor guy is broke.

Nov. 16, 1942

Dear dad,

I haven’t time to write but a few lines. I have a lot to do. We are in hard luck here. We have to buy a lot of suplyes, and I haven’t got a cent. So if you can get me $10 dollars it would really come in handy. I’ve got to have at least ten dollars. So I don’t know anyone who can spare it here. So if you can get me ten dollars, I’ll send it back when I get paid. Well theres no news so I’m going to close for this time. Send the money real soon.

Cornell

A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. This is one of them. Here are some others.