On 1st 76   12/16/08
My Own Sweetheart:

I think you are the best person in the world and I am growing to love you more and more all the time.  But you certainly did stab me to the heart last night.  Every time I think of it I want to grab you and smother you with kisses.  You were just trying me to see what I would do or say.  I realize you think more of some one else than you do of me, and when I think of it, soberly and with the calm judgement necessary, the question presents itself "why shouldn't you?"  for look who I am.  Nothing, absolutely nothing and have nothing but my pure and untarnished love for you.  I love you more than all the world.  You are my Queen.  For me you are on a high pinicle (sic), elevated above this common herd and I want to keep you there.  You shall be to me as a queen on her throne, your will law.  Your pride keeps you from wanting to marry (yet you want to marry, too).  I know you have worked a long time and you think should you get married 'twould be acknowledging defeat.  Such is not the case for I believe if I were your protector, I could be of more service than everybody else could posibly (sic) be.  You could pursue such studdies (sic) as you like or even hold you position as opr and I would be in position to resent such insults as was offered you by Wms.  I shall call him down any way if I ever see him.  There must no man offer you an insult as it is and my know of it.  For I will certainly call him to account to me personlly for it.

Your lunch was mighty nice and I enjoyed it immensely.  I verrily (sic) believe plain corn bread would be good if fixed by you and you know I don't like corn bread a little bit.  Today is a dismal dreary old day but every cloud has a silver lining and when I see you tomorrow, the sun may be shining brightly and your countenance have, that radiant expression on it which makes me so happy.  We are poor folks and can't afford a big display.   So if your pride will allow you we will quiely slip off one day ere long, have the knot tied and nobody know any difference until after it is all over.  2 witnesses is all that is required and that is a plenty.  If it were legal I wouldn't care whether there were any or not, my love for you is sufficient and now sweetheart don't you love me some any way?  You are noble, grand and I love you best of everything in this world and should I yet loose (sic) you, my love for you will remain the same and you will still be my queen, my ideal, my light, my life.  But what are empty words.  There is nothing I can say that will prove my love for you it will take time and time alone to prove it.

I must bring this to a close and get back on to my job before the job leaves me, however I don't want to, would like to write on and on until I see you again.  Then would like an opportunity to plan our future.  There is no bliss like being with you and if I did not love you I would not care even for your society.  Yours with 50 millions of passionate love kisses and until death do us part
I remain
Jas

On 76   2/13/09
My dear Sweetheart:

Your littel note received this morning.  I know you must have been tired indeed for you are practically on double duty.  No dear I did not delay to avoid seeing you instead I hurried as quick as i could to try and see you but I was most sure you would be gone when i got there.  I hated awful bad to miss seeeing you and did not feel right all day yesterday in fact I was sick and failing to see you made me more __stless.  Kinser on the 256 delayed me at the coal chute and I did not have time to turn aside at Wilton or I would have come up to the house for a moment any way.  I am not very well and it has been raining every (sic) since I left Selma last night.  Fortunately i haven't got wet so far but if any little old petty accident were to happen I would get wet without fail.  I don't mind working in the cold but I certainly do hate to work in the rain.

I saw a notice in the Age Herald where the manager of the Majestic Theatre was offering $20.00 for a couple to be married on the stage in view of the audience last Thursday night--and I wondered if you would be game to undergo an ordeal of that kind.  I was afraid to say anything to you about it for fear of insulting you-- if I hadn't have been afraid I would have made that proposition as an easy way around our dear friends.  Would have been quite an effort for me but I would have put on a bold front and went ahead.  I know I would not have been the one to back down after I got started.

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