The Nurses’ Home
The General Hospital
Birmingham
Nov 27th 1914
Dear Love
If this letter is badly written you must excuse it as I am writing after getting into bed and it is difficult to write in a half reclining position. I had a 7 to 9 pass and being rather tired, having been on duty 12 hours at a stretch, without sitting down, except for dinner and tea, I came upstairs, had a nice hot bath and had some supper in my room of hot milk, Sladden patties and cake, leisurely did my hair etc and am now chatting to you on paper.
I have been thinking of you constantly today and wondering if you are at Sydenham, and also have had several pangs of envy of Kathleen and Jack having you, but I have tried not to give way to these envious feelings, because I know they must want to see you almost, not quite I’m sure, almost as much as I do.
I would just love to be with you now, sitting beside you on the Chesterfield – it would be such a rest from strain and tension that this war brings just to lay my head on your shoulder and forget.
Do you remember how I used to tell you that when with you, held close to your heart, that I forgot everything and everyone else? We used to, so to speak, lose ourselves in one another – “your soul spake to my soul and we kissed”. I simply yearn, dear, at this moment for you to kiss me. I am sure though that this discipline will be good for me in the end but at the time it is difficult to submit cheerfully.
I try very hard to live my life, temporarily, for my patients, whom, I am told are very fond of me. Of course, if your patients like you, you always have more work to do, as they want you and no one else to do things for them. The men say they find me “understanding”. I must say some of the nurses here do not understand human nature however much anatomy they have read up, and some of them are really quite unkind to the patients.
I had my hair washed yesterday and it looks quite fair now that it has had 5 or 6 weeks of hospital dust and fluff removed. It makes me wish you were here to tell me how nice it looks! Are’nt I vain? But, really, the reason I like it to look nice is because I know you like it when it is bright and shining and wavy.
It is so comfortable, having some nice new stockings to wear, now that you are on your feet so much yourself you can understand what a difference good stockings make. But you’ve no idea how difficult it is to walk all the time on polished boards – you can no grip, so the consequence is we patter along like Japanese girls and when we first come we have many a fall!
The flowers Mustoe sent me are still beautifully fresh and the two roses are on the little table the girls gave me beside my bed. The latter adds a great deal to my comfort. I think I shall ask someone to give a deck chair for Xmas, most of the nurses possess one, and I also need a watch with a minute hand for taking pulses. I really ought to get one of these cheap 5/- ones when I can afford it, they are quite good enough for me in the wards.
Well – my Sweetheart – I am getting very sleepy so I will finish this letter tomorrow.
Goodnight – Beloved. Some day there will be no necessity for me to write letters to you at this hour of the night – if God wills.
Sunday
I had intended staying in to finish this letter but have changed my mind and am going for a brisk walk to work off the dreadful longing I have to be with you at Sydenham.
I am so glad, dear, you have this opportunity of meeting so many of the home people. Betty must have been delighted to see you.
I got your letter this morning.
Yes. May and Ethel told me your Aunt Lizzie died a few days ago. I am sorry for her friends and relatives for she seemed to be very much beloved.
I will write again in a day or two but will end this letter now.
We get no off duty time in Xmas week, not even our usual two hours a day, all our time is devoted to making the patients happy.
We are having days off next week I think and then do not get any until January.
With best love, I shall be interested to hear all about your 2 days leave.
Ever your own
Mela
PS
Nov 29th & 30th - As usual dated my letter incorrectly!
