May 22, 1908 The Idan-Ho Hotel Boise, Idaho My dear wife, I got here early this morning, and just as soon as was possible, called at “General Delivery” for my news from home. Got your letter of the 16th inst. and two forwarded letters from you from the house. How glad I was to hear from you, and that Hanson was doing so well with the measles. I do hope he will continue to improve, and get over it alright. I am very anxious to see him and Carol and also their “dear mamma.” You poor dear. I do wonder what next will happen to you. I would never have suspected that you would have had a “game leg.” I knew you are “game” alright, but did not first think of it affecting your “limbs.” However, since you explain the cause of the “game” symptoms, as a ruptured vein, I assure you I am thoroughly sympathetic and hope you may not be seriously inconvenienced by the trouble. But certainly you have more than your share of bodily ills, mental worries, etc., and when you wrote me how alone you felt when dear little Hanson was taken sick with the measles, I could hardly withstand the temptation to hurry to you, and all that kept me from it was your assurance that you would keep me posted as to developments. I have been extremely anxious to hear from you as to his progress, and was greatly relieved this a.m. to have the good news that he was doing so well. Glad too to hear Carol is so well. Now if I could just have such good news from you as to your own good health, how happy I would be. How anxious I am that some good turn of the wheel will place me again in a position when I can be with you more. Oh, how I do miss my dear wife and all the little attentions she so ungrudgingly shows me, bless her dear heart! After all, it is our dear love for one another that makes life worth living, and I feel that we might be able to make some sort of a deal whereby we could enjoy this priceless jewel you and I have found, each day of our lives. Just to think, now we have been married eleven years, and I love my wife more than I did my only sweetheart! Why, my dear, I can hardly think of any other theme than you, and the longer I am away from you, the worse I get. I am frank to tell you, I do enjoy the “going some,” as you put it, with all the interesting things I see and hear, but somehow it don’t just satisfy an undefinable something that I feel always absent from my life when I am away from the one nearest and dearest to me of all others, my dear wife. I am so glad that the test of time and many trials has only proven our love to be of just the right kind, and that the years only bind us closer together. Oh, I shall be so glad to see you again, not many weeks hence, and would be so happy if I could feel that this homecoming was to be of long duration. I have now just about covered my territory here, and am likely convinced Washington is my choice of the states I have visited. I am glad I came, and hope conditions may be such that we may tarry a good while. Now my dear wife, with my heart’s fullest love to you, and lots of hugs and kisses for thy dear little ones, I am longing to see you and counting the days over and over until I can see you and “tell you all about it” — the dear old sweet story of old — our priceless jewel. Lovingly your husband, Geo. A. D.