Mar 10, 1918
Dear Helen,
     I received a letter from you today and though a good
bit of it was taken with scolding me, I was sure glad to
hear from you. It seems as though I have the whole family on
me because I asked them to let me hear a little more often
how they are getting along. You see once Chas. received mail
from home I asked him what several times what the folks had
to say, and he only replied; Nothing, and didn’t even offer
to let me read the letter. So I would rather have a letter
to me once a year than have it that way. I will admit that
my mail from Dids is, as you say, more to me than anything
else in the world, but because I am married is no reason why
I should think less of my own people or want to hear from them less often.
     Now Sis please don’t worry about Chas there isn’t a
thing in the world the matter with him. He only had a cold
and as we were going to move the Captain thought it best for
him to go to the hospital rather than be exposed too the
cold and snowy weather that we had. You see the hospitals
are a little short of men so they kept him there working. I
think that he was very foolish for writing about it as he
might have known that you would be worried silly. He had
some pictures taken and has or will send them home and then
you can see for yourself that he is just as well as can be.
I sent some to but only because I know you wouldn’t like it
if I didn’t. Mine turned out fine and I want you to throw
yours away. I promise I will have some others taken and send
just as soon as I can.
     I sure am glad that Check is making such good time now
as I know what it means to you both. Helen I think that old
Mr. Winter is just about over now as today is supposed to be
the first day of summer. A prettier one I have never seen.
You talk about your annoying weather, but this is ideal.
Chas and I were talking yesterday and he said that he sure
did wish that he was back so that he could start another
camp up the river. That feeling come stealing over me once
in awhile but I think I had enough camping the last two year
we were up there to last the rest of my life. Unless I go
for about two weeks and take Dids and stay until it is over
and then come back. But no more camping parties such as we
had for mine.
     Little Sis you spoke of the way you would feel if Check
were drafted. I know this isn’t a pleasant subject but you
don’t want to feel that way about it. If he does have to go,
you ask Dids to tell you the way I told her to look at it
and I know that everything will turn out all right. You two
have been together a whole lot longer than we have and it
will be harder at first but I know that you are just dear
and sweet enough to stand this as you have other thing. And
I know you will if the time comes.
     Now? Helen I don’t want you to tell me that I am
priggish again. And if you do I am going to tell my little
wife and then you want to look out because when she gets
started you will think that she is the biggest 102 lbs you
have ever seen. Of course I don’t mean hair pulling I mean
when she starts to give you a piece of her mind. I found out
that much in the last three years.
     Well there isn’t a bit of news and as you can see I
just been trying to fill up space so I think I had better
close.
     Give my best wishes to Check and tell him to scratch a
line and put it in with your letter. I know his cold will be
quite well by the time this reaches you but I am going to
say I hope it is better anyway.
     With much love to every one.
     Fondly.
     James.
Pvt.1st Cl. Lewis J. Matthews
165th Field Hospital
117th Sanitary Train

Mrs. C.M. Maddox
633 Elliot St. N. E.
Washington, D.C.
U.S.A.