28 March 1944
Evelyn, Dearest,
Yesterday, after waiting most anxiously for a letter from you, the mail brought me nothing. This was too much. It left me in a black mood that allowed me no room for thoughts fit to put into a letter That is why I didn't write last night.
This afternoon, at long last, I received a letter from you (10 March), and one from brother Jack (22 February). I had expected more than ten letters when the mail did come thru, but though I was disappointed with the solitary letter of yours, it did serve to snap me out of the blue funk I have been in for days now, Jack's letter, too, was most enlightening. He devoted four full pages to answering some of the questions I had posed for him in my last letter. Enclosed was the New Guinea newspaper "Guinea Gold". He seems to be in very good spirits, and his circumstances (living conditions, etc.) could be much worse. Altogether, he isn't having too bad a time of it, but you probably know all about it, since you say in your letter that he wrote to you, too.
Your mention of Jack's gift brings to mind something that Red asked me to ask you. Remember the clothes I brought home one day last summer when I was at Ft, Dix? I told you then that they were Red's and that you were to hold them for him until such time as he might need them, I don't remember all the items, but Red said there was a khaki shirt among them; also, some ties. With Spring upon us and Summer in the offing, he would be able to use those things to good advantage, and would appreciate it greatly if you would be good enough to send these things off to him at your earliest opportunity. For myself, I can't, for the life of me, remember whether or not I had any khaki shirts at home. I rather think not. If, in the course of your searching, Chippie, you do find one, please send it along.
About the increase in Mom's allotment: Swell. I want to congratulate you, Chippie, on squaring our long-standing debt. I know how long this has bothered you, and to what extent it made you uncomfortable, so I can appreciate how good you felt when you handed Mom the last of our indebtedness, Everything considered, I don't see how you can have any financial difficulties to speak of. Quite a difference from those meager days of ’41, eh, Sweet? Since your contribution to the expenses of the household has increased, I don't see how you will be able to save very much, but don't let that worry you - better days are coming. Besides, I hope to have a few dollars of my own by the time I regain your side (sweet prospect!) The important thing to be accomplished in this "waiting period" of my absence, is that you rear Adele as best you know how and with every advantage you can possibly provide for her. I don't have to ask you that she be inculcated with the knowledge and the instinct that she has a daddy "far away" who loves her very dearly and misses her very much indeed, a daddy who will return to her long before she is consciously aware of her lack of him. I know you are doing your utmost in that direction, Baby, and although I am skeptical of your occasional assertions that the punkin "knows" her daddy, I am not convinced, on the other hand, that her evidences of affection for my likeness are entirely meaningless. If, on my return, she associates my person with my picture, which she has come to learn is an object to be treated with affection, then my task of making her realize that the newly-arrived "stranger" is something more than that will be much facilitated,
The other prime consideration at this time, is that you, my darling, take the best possible care of yourself. You were always disposed to overtax your energies, and I can't help worrying on that account. When I was home, I was able to curb that proclivity in you to some extent. In your letter received today, you confess that you were "dead" when you got back from Miss Hahn's. How do you suppose I feel reading something like that. If working tires you to such an extent, and you don't make any bones about it, then why on earth do you do it? Fortunately, you are no longer in a position where those few extra dollars mean the difference between "doing without" and being able to live comfortably. I've asked you time and again to put first things first, and you promised time after time to give up this senseless job if you found it inconvenienced you. If you don't consider coming home "knocked out” an inconvenience, then I most certainly do, and I am hereby asking you to live up to your promise. Please, Chippie, for your health's sake, and for my peace-of-mind, give up this in terminable running about for the sake of a few measly dollars every time Miss Hahn calls you. My wish to find you exactly the same Chippie I left you is more than that - it is an ambition amounting almost to an obsession, Hard work always showed unfavorably on you, and if you persist in your present attitude, I will come back to see the marks of it on your person, and I will have lost a great deal. If you have my feelings at heart, Sweet, you will do as I request. Don't force me to use stronger language in this matter.
Again you make reference to your new sport coat - and I'm still in the dark as to when and where you got it and how much you paid for it. You say it is a bargain and a beauty. No one is a better judge on both counts than you, Honey, so I'll take your word for it. Wear it well and don't wear it out until I have a chance to see for myself. How's about a picture of you in the new coat?
You presume to "inform" me that Adele will be a pretty girl. (As if I didn't know) Reminds me of your mother's classic rejoinder when I "informed” her of the fact. She said "and why shouldn't she be - you had the model right in front of you!" (Little did she know that my eyes were closed at the time). However, there is some merit in what she said, since I'll admit I couldn't have done better had I looked. But then, I always did know the "feel" of you better than the look of you, did I not?
Still nothing to report from this end, Baby, and because I am typing this in the Orderly Room and I don't want to keep the C.Q. up, I'll sign off now with all my love, A kiss for my punkin. My love to all.
Your adoring
Phil
