Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection

Letter from Walter Reed to Emilie B. Lawrence, December 16, 1875 printer-friendly version
	C1 B9 Willet's Point, N.Y.H. Dec. 16^th 1875. My darling, little Emilie; Although I've written you three letters already, this week, yet I can't allow Thursday to pass without sending a word to you- In your last letter, you said, "write to me, frequently, in my distress", and, bless your darling little heart, may my right hand be par- alyzed, if I forget to write, and that often. And yet I can but feel how very feeble and inadequate written words are in expressing my real thoughts- To understand
	them, they must needs have the assistance of spoken words and "eyes that speak"- Oh! if I could only fold you to my heart & whisper words of love in your ear! If I could only make the Future seem as bright & happy as it appears to me! Perhaps, at the moment that I write, your heart may be borne down with grief for your dear little nephew: he may be living or perhaps, dead, I know not; but oh! Emilie love, could I be with you, what a comfort it would be to soothe your sorrow & wipe away your tears! Oh! I do trust, ~~that~~ should the great, unknown Future have in store aught of grief for you, that it may be my lot to share it with you, my own, sweet darling! Nor do I desire aught of pleasure unless shared by you. My darling, I am a foolish boy, as yet, & sometimes I am not wise in my actions, and often I am far from being that "calm s & deliber- ate" one, that you so much admire, but could you probe my heart to its depths, you would find my pur- poses honest & sincere- Oh! I have prayed that I might be more steadfast in my resolves, not more for my own sake than for yours. Heaven knows, my darling, that I am not indifferent
	to the happiness of any living creature. And if I would not but have all happy, how much more would I seek to add to the happiness of one who is dear to me above all others! Some day, you will re- tract those words, which my hasty words drove you to- You will find that I have a kinder disposi- tion tha t n you now think I have, & you will learn to love & trust me to the end! Knowing this so well, I can pa- tiently abide the coming of that time- Write to me very soon, my own darling E. and believe me, always, your own fond & devoted Walter .

Letter from Walter Reed to Emilie B. Lawrence, December 16, 1875