Monday Evening

                                                                                                                        Feb. 4^th 1918.

 

My dearie—

            My own little dear daughter

 

We rec’d the letters Jan 31 & Feb 1 today and I’m writing right away to tell you lots of things First of all to tell you how much I love the little daughter who seems a little homesick—did the tan colored dorm get on her spirits, and did the exams worry her?—Dad is sorry dear—but you keep a “stiff upper lip” as Grandpa says—Vacation time will soon be here—and the grades will be done and the little white bed and the blue walls waiting for you. and such lots of love go always “to youward” that I am sure will cheer you up if you remember it or them.

 

            The Feb 1 letter did not look so blue—The visit to the / Whites will be nice—will it not? They are really nice. We enjoyed their visit so much. probably Mama told you all about that. I dont know all the rules but should think you might write them a little before Easter telling them when the vacation comes and so arrange the visit. That will be a nice change for you.

 

            Im greatly pleased over the solo. Just wish I could have heard it. Im so proud dear—

 

            Clare and the minister’s brother havn’t showed any signs of mutual interest as yet. He is several years younger than she—and a little bit of a schrimp—Maybe she won’t be attracted and on his part there may be various / things—he may not be moved in her direction and perhaps there may be some where some previous attraction &c and so on—I am told he may be called in this next draft His brother told me that he did not mind going but that he was sensitive about his diminitive proportions. Thinks he will look puny beside the husky six foot made to order soldiers—

 

            I learn that the Hughes-es are Welchmen like Mr G. W. Jones Sara Williams &c Good stock

 

            He is taking hold very well. Our congregations run over into the S. S. room every Sunday morning now. I must crow just a little here— [small picture]

see? about the young married peoples bible class—me—teacher—we had 35 out Sunday and a delightful time with the lesson. After this we / are to meet in the S. S. room in a row or two or three rows of chairs arranged back of the sliding doors. so the doors may be closed after the opening exercises. See—like this

                                                                                                            We had

            [seating diagram]                                                                    330 at

                        me x  see?                                                                   the time of

                                                                                                            the sec’y^s

count and 377 counted a little later. Good wasnt it. last 3 Sundays were all over the 300—

 

            I am playing and getting on fairly well and hope to do better every month and will do as well as I can so as to save most of this money for Myrna’s expenses. We will try to arrange for this and another year and see what comes along after that. “Stiff upper lip and keep a tryin” that’s what we will all be doing—won’t we ducky-daughter-dear? /

 

Many of the church folks say they are pleased over the work. Mr Hughes led the choir last Sunday for the first time. We do not know yet what he can do. Grandma says he hasn’t any pep—Maybe he has only it didn’t show very much. We sing a good deal at the evening service and I make them swing along at a good speed and they—the congregation—seem to like it—Sang our old Anthem out of the gray covered book you likely remember—and it went very well in the morning but the evening selection was new and our soprano’s were afraid and I guess if I hadn’t shifted to the melody think they might have failed but we got through with it. Today I met Mr Penrod—he’s on the Music Committee, you know—and he said “Wall—I havnt a word of fault to find—Im satisfied” just imagine! /

 

Folks often ask about you. I tell them you are doing fine. Do you suppose I could learn to play your accompaniments so you can sing some nice solos next summer? Ill try awful hard to do ‘em well.

 

Hope we can get some other voices soon. We probably cannot have Sarah S. very much. Mrs Laughlin came back last Sunday Edgar Miller & Florence are to come & John Barnes. likely we will find others but have no good leading soprano at present

 

            Today they had a “thrift” parade by the School children. The Cadets led and the children of all grades marched & were in Autos—my goodness! such a lot of them. Didnt suppose there were so many. The Constabulary did not march /

 

I am kept pretty busy as you may imagine. Went down to the church tonight to begin practicing for next Sunday and worked until 10 oclock so you may see I’m writing pretty late and I’m pretty tired with another busy day tomorrow and Constabulary drill at night. However I’m too nervous to keep still and I guess its just as well that way as any.

 

            I dont think of any thing else just now and think I’ll go to bed—it is 11.30.

                                                            Good night—

                                                                                    Dad.

 

[verso, in another hand]

C E Willoughby

            to Myrna Willoughby

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