1941 6 24 Beatrice Camp to Olive Schnack

To see the relationship of the people in the letter, please go to the Names page.  In order of their first appearance in this letter are family members:

• 'Olive' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack
• 'Flo' was Florence Alice Rose Lawlor
• 'Harriet' was Harriet Julia Camp Baird
• 'Miltie' was Milton George Camp
• 'Aunt Lu' might have been Lulu Peck Louden
• 'Aunt Lu' might have been Louella Rose
• 'Walt' was Jochim Walter Schnack
• 'Lena' was Lena Mae Carrington Rose
• 'Len' was Leonard George Camp
• 'B.' was Beatrice May Rose Camp

Laurens, N.Y.
June 24, 1941

Dear Olive,

I was pleased to get your note from Mr. Lalot.

I know you are very thin but you will soon gain.  You are thin and I'm fat.  I weighed 120 1/2 pounds when I came home.  Is your stomach better?  Maybe you have jaundice again.  I wish I could come see you again.  I don't see why Carson didn't come in to see you Sunday.  He was in the hospital when I was.  Flo said you were better yesterday.  I'm so glad!  I can't wait for you to get home.  I wish you were here, too.  I could stand some help but if you were just here to look at Harriet once in a while and tell me she looked good, I'd feel better.  I get awful nervous sometimes.  I know she must be all right, though.  She eats like a pig; her bowels are good - not watery - she sleeps good - of course, like all bottle babies, she has lots of gas and sometimes regurgitates with gas.  She weighed 5 lbs 3 3/4 ounces Sunday a.m.  I haven't weighed her since.  This darned typhoid business makes me nervous, too.  I still

haven't heard from Miltie's specimen.  The one that was supposed to go today, I got out too late for Sam.  I have to step on it a.m.'s.  I thought Aunt Lu was going to help me a couple days but she hasn't shown up.  Dr. Murray was awful afraid I was going to roast her.  She didn't like my outing flannel diapers.  She wants me to get heavy cheese cloth.  Aunt Lu said she'd get it and make them.  I get awful tired.  It takes all my time to feed both, wash clothes, and fix formula.  I haven't got organised yet.  Dr. Murray was swell.  One of the nurses had knitted her a white bonnet.

I haven't heard from you or Walt today.  If I weren't so tired, I'd go down and see Walt and call Flo.  I was glad to see her last night.  She was in an awful hurry.  She made the basket, that Lena had and left torn and dirty, look like new.  I was glad as Dr. Murray made me bring it right up to the nursery.  I want you to see Harriet.  I think she is awfully cute.

Yes Olive, I have realized all too well that we have needed each other.  I have felt so helpless.  I have

had to practice good psychology.  I couldn't help you and I didn't want to hurt by baby.  If you were only better, how happy I'd be now.  So please don't worry; don't eat the food that you know isn't good for gall bladder and hurry up and come home.

Do you enjoy your radio?  Flo is good isn't she?

I must close now.  I have to put up Len's lunch and feed Harriet.  She gets fed 10 - 2 - 6 at night; 9, 12, 3, and 6 daytimes.

Would you like to have me come see you again?  I could come between the 12 and 3 feedings if you would like to have me.

Please hurry and get well.

Love,
B.