To Lees Breckinridge, 13 October 1919
digitized, transcribed, encoded, and annotated by Hayley Harlow
In this letter, Breckenridge writes to her sister, Lees, who is expecting a child the following Spring. She expresses her excitement and anticipation, listing items of hers, such as maternity clothing, that Lees should have. Additionally, Breckenridge conveys her hopes to come home to be with Lees later in her pregnancy, giving us insight into Breckenridge's efforts to balance her work in France with her family in America, and ultimately emphasizing her desire to care for expectant mothers.
VIC-sur-AISNE, le 13 Oct.,1919
My darling little sister,
I have just heard definitely that our
hopes are real and your precious baby comes in March. He will be
Breckie, won t he, if it’s a boy? I did not think I could take such
happiness in the thought of anything. I think of it constantly
and with such anticipation as even you can hardly excel. All of
Breckie's little things, and they are numberless, must go to him
so don't prepare any. There are plenty even of the short dresses and
rompers.I have written mother about sending you also, or bringing
when she goes to you, my maternity dresses which were laid away
cleaned and are quite ready. One oiis a crepe de chine smock which
will become you very well. Do see a good doctor at once as that
should never be postponed. I am so glad you are just giving up to
the situation and not making any effort to write or keep a model
houssee or do anything else which could tire you a fragment. You need
all the strength you have left for baby. I am going to love it just
as much if it’s a girl.
I am going to try to get home for your
confinement so let me know through mother whether it is early or
late in March. I cannot leave here until my work is established and
running smoothly in all four counties and the backbone of this
second hard winter is over, but I think I can plan to be with you
for March either in Fort Smith or SWWilmington as you prefer. I want
above all things, and you want me, don't you?
I loved your precious good bye note from
Brest and the stamps you slipped in it, but my letters to mother
are all I have time for in news and you must share them when she
goes to you and know they are for you too. I have been in Paris
twice lately and Nicell is making me a beauty new uniform. What do
you think, M. Zeno is back and he sent you all his amitiés. It really
was jolly to have the old circle again and we talked of you by the
half hour and only a big gap out of all proportion to your size was
in among us. They still call your room Madam Dunn's room, always. I
slept in it last time. Madame Bernny is coming down to spend a few
days with me the last of the month. She has already spent a few
with Dr. Kinney at Blerancourt just while I was there organizing my
work and she was thrilled and saddened ovweer all she saw. They do
speak of you with such love and are so dear to me when iII go up.
Dr. Kinney sends you her best of all love and she was wild with
joy over your news, when I told her.
I enclose the only letters which came about
your box, evidently lost for good but don't worry about it or
anything.
Devotedly your sister, Mary