24 November 1918

Dear Don.

Me me hasten to say that my delay in writing has not been due in any way as to a doubt what I would say about your question when I wrote but rather to the fact that I have two very sick flu patients and its a case of "unrest for the wicked and the righteous don't need one".

As to your teaching, Don. I have never heard anyone say or imply that your work was a fizzle at all. In fact I don't think it was one. I know as you do that you didn't do your best work, but the atmosphere was not one it which to put a young teacher and expect them to take it seriously. Things this year are so different you'd find it very easy to be "dignified"! I hope you do come back and for anything I know or have ever heard you'd be right welcome. It's just that bloomin' old bump of underestimation of self that makes you think you weren't satisfactory. I'm telling you the truth to the best of my ability! So much for that. If I were the School Board you could consider yourself as hired.

Doris & Mrs. Cotton both have the flu and maybe you think I'm not in the ??? The only reason in the world you get this letter is that I'm deliberately taking this day off preparatory to another week of ? ?? days & then some. Doris' sister has been here and leaves to-morrow so I'll be field boss tho' I guess I've been that so far. The way I have taken things into my own hands and loss everyone makes me think that I'm getting more & more like Miss Tooke!

A week ago to-night the Dr. told us Doris would probably have pneumonia by morning so I got Lucille and she and I stayed by her all night. She didn't have it but she has been a pretty sick girl. She can't get up yet and neither can Mrs. Cotton but they are really a great deal better tho I think they actually feel worse.

I meant to write you as soon as I found you had gone and tell you I was still standing out in from of Manual Arts with the Kodak waiting for you to come. Except that we later got some good pictures of the gang with it I'd send you a bill for the 20 cts. I put into a film with the sole purpose of taking your impression. I knew inside me tho' that you had not the slightest intention of coming over to M.A. That was simply a graceful way of saying goodbye without saying it.

We've had a number of letters from Rush - all from on board or Eng. She covered herself in glory in the way her nursing flu patients. Had letters of appreciation from the Colonel & Captain and everything. She hated England but was leaving for France the day after she wrote.

Miss Tooke was to report in by N.Y. Wednesday so I suppose she'll start next week.

I wrote the Y.M. and ansked them if there was any need of my saving my pennies to go ?? that the war was over and the wrote that they would be sending ??? for over a year so I still have hopes. Your coming back to teach in the spring is the only thing in the world I can think of that would at all reconcile me to having to stay home!!

My brother is back on this side in a Hospital in N.Y. He's been in one Hospital or another since Aug. 6. He says he saw France via hospitals and he is to have another operation before he is discharged. His foot is partially paralyzed because the shot in his leg severed a nerve or some such.

Well at this rate I sure won't get far with my correspondence so I'll bid you a fond farewell.

We'll be glad to see you when you come even if you didn't get a chance to kill the Kaiser.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth.

November 24/18.