Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, January 9, 2017.
All letters in the McNutt collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by the donor. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
You must excuse me for not answering sooner, for busy is the word again. I received the nice present you sent and I think it is lovely and thanks many times for it. S. C. wasn't as good to me as he was to you, for he didn't bring me much, but I forgot to write him a letter and tell him I was in New York so
I suppose he left most of the things at home in Va. For sure.
We had great weather up until about three weeks ago, but it sure is paying up for it now. I can't see that it is any colder here than at some so far. I don't mind the cold weather so band the worst I hate is getting up in the cold. I think I like the cold weather better then (sic) the warm and the "skeeters" in the course of it all.
I had some pictures taken the other day and will send you and Cousin Vola one in a few days. I will send a large one and a small one. I think the large one is real good, but the other one is awful. I can't take a good picture and don't think I well ever try it again. The smaller one has an awful sickly grin and looks like an opossum. I look like I was sick for and couldn't go or wanted to and couldn't. I am also sending one that you especially asked for and when you get this letter if you would
do what you said you would I am glad I am in New York and not in Tenn. Well my dear I guess if I marry a New York girl the chances are she will be a Catholic for about all the girls I know are Catholic and the little $60,000 girl is a Catholic too. "But it's not your religion it's simply you." I love Catholics, suffragists or anything just so they are girls.
Now Myrtle dear I told you I would tell you why I ask that
question about that and don't know if you care to know or not, but I am going to tell you anyway, for I think it best. You remember I told you over a year ago that I loved you. Well I still love you, but nothing like I did then. You know there is such a thing as love dieing and my love for you is fast dieing and has been since last Christmas a year ago and especially so since I came to N. Y. Myrtle love can not survive forever without response. If it lives and lasts it must feed upon love: it has to be responded to, for if not it soon dies. My love for you is fast passing away and if you do not respond to it, it will
soon be dead. This is the last time I will ever mention this subject to you. If you do not care whether it loves or dies just let it alone and it will soon be dead and dead forever. After you pass from my heart remember you can't ever enter again, for I will close and bar it against you so it is impossible for you to enter again. I will forget you and you will be just a simple cousin.
So my dear little girl I leave it to you. keep it burning or let it die. Which shall it be? Are you sure you don't care if it dies my dear my love would have died long ago, but I still believe you cared a little for me and I still think so. I think if you love me just a little bit, a little more than a cousin's love. Now really don't you? There are a number of girls I could love, but I kept them out because I thought you cared. So if you dont I will open up my heart to them and if they want to stay alright. Myrtle dear you may not realize it now, but some day you will know the value of a true love like mine. It is worth a lot to have a love like I have had for you and you will realize it some day if not now.
Now Myrtle girl as to us being cousins I think that should have a good deal to do with it. I wish we were not any kin at all, but you know we are not very close it's pretty distant and it isn't enough to count very much. As for myself I wouldn't let it bother me or change my mind, but you know your own mind or at least you are old enough to know. If you love me why should we sacrifice our happiness just because we are distant cousins. Myrtle do what you think is best. Study yourself well and then act accordingly. Be sure you know your mind dear for if you don't care this will be the end. We will just simply be cousins and I don't [know?] when I will see you Myrtle maybe never. You know May is a long way off.
With lots of love,