1898 Cautiously romantic letter to an almost-sweetheart
Nannie McCall to Mr. T. C. Russell, December 5, 1898. 3 loose sheets of paper, 8.75 x 5.75 inches, with five pages of writing. A charming and cautiously romantic letter from Nannie McCall to Tom Russell, who is temporarily away. They appear to be sweet on each other, but maybe not officially sweethearts just yet.
Tom you need not be uneasy about me going to any dances....
Letter transcribed through dictation and lacking the orthographical idiosyncrasies of the written letter (best read through photos when possible):
Mr. TC Russell
Dear friend, I received your kind letter, and Shirley was glad to hear from you and oh how I would like to see you, Thom tomorrow I am well and hope you are getting along all right. It seems to me a month since you left, but I want you to stay until you think you will be all right maybe if I can stand it, you spoke that you wished that I was there to take care of you and I surely have wished the same. I thought yesterday was the longest day I ever spent I caught myself two or three times looking for you when never, I hear the bell ring then I think you will come Thom you need not be uneasy about me going to any dances for you know that I would not for anything unless you was here to go with me when you come back then we will have one and I know that you will be so you can enjoy it. They are going to have a Christmas tree at the church, I was at Sunday school Sunday doctor was teasing me said that I could come now they want me to help sing the practice Friday night but I am not going for. It would not be any interesting to me knowing that you cannot be there. Shorty still reminds me of your Pike and says that he is going to keep it to remember you. He has had two jugs since you have been gone. It is awful cold here today. Nobody is at work and you can imagine what kind of a time they are having we have six men here now, I fixed Willow’s dress for her. I saw her Saturday and she was well. She told me that she was going to Beverly when it got warm. She seemed to be enjoying herself in the kitchen by myself where we have spent many a happy hour and oh how much I wish you could be here tonight. Todd says to tell you she is saving lots of coal, but she is afraid that we will burn More when you come back for it will take us too long to make up last time she has your mittens done for you. The big meeting commences the first Sunday in January you will be back by that time and I hope before well I will close and will write soon again, please excuse me for writing with a lead pencil as I had no ink and to be sure I wanted to answer your letters tonight and I will be prepared by the next time I will write tomorrow or next day and you not right as often and you must write as often as you can, I know it is a great pleasure to hear from
Yours Till death Shall part us
Nannie McCall