I love you,
Kathy Sue
****
Camp Halle
Wednesday, August 1, 1635
Dear Kathy Sue,
I just got your July 22 letter and package. Thank you so much! I don't know if this will make it through or not. It's completely quiet here, but there have been skirmishes elsewhere. We didn't get any supply trains from Grantville or Erfurt on Saturday, but one made it through Sunday night. It's been crazy busy.
If you're sure you're okay? Please ask my parents if you need anything. Be careful, but try not to worry. No use both of us having nightmares. I started having the one about the big open-field battle again.
Sounds like you're on top of the finances. Yeah, the original mortgage being canceled was a blessing. I'm glad we could pay it forward and give the girls a place to live.
That's great news about the Bible study. Church is going pretty well here. A few more people have started coming.
I'm still looking for those … grid squares. I'd swear it was just an Army legend if I hadn't seen the paperwork myself. You know I'm supposed to watch for stuff like that. And another crazy thing—this little shipment of paper and ink shows up out of nowhere. It's not on the manifest. There's no requisition. It's just there. Addressed to an infantry regiment, no less. And then it was gone. You see the darnedest things in Supply.
Yep, I found a picture. I should have figured you'd put one there. I'm tempted to send you 4:5.
A memory: Since you mentioned running … I remember when you first came out for cross-country. You were putting your hair in a ponytail. Not the ditzy kind way up on top of your head or the I've-got-an-attitude kind right at the neck, but the girl next door kind of ponytail. I remember thinking, I need to keep an eye on this girl.
A verse: Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
Hi, kids! Happy Birthday, Thomas!
Love you, Sugar.
Reed
****
Our House, Grantville
Thursday, August 16, 1635
Dear Reed,
Voice of America broke into their regular program to announce that there's been a big battle at Zwenkau, and that we won. They said Mike Stearns' division was in the thick of it, and something about Polish cavalry, but that's really all we know. You're okay, right?
Don't worry about us. Some people are a little panicky about the Saxon border being so close, and now this Polish cavalry. Well, attacking Grantville seemed like a good idea to the Croats, too. We had a defense drill last week. I put Mary in the baby carrier and grabbed my deer rifle. Lydia held both her brothers' hands, and we went to our assigned building. Your parents met up with us there. Your mom took the kids while your dad and I each set up at a window. Way smoother than in '32. Safer, too—it'd be much harder to get into Grantville now. I'm not supposed to write down what I know about that.
Being back at a window with a deer rifle sure did bring back the nightmares, though. Watching men go down and not knowing if I was the one who hit them. It's worse than knowing for sure, because sometimes I can almost convince myself I missed. Except I don't miss shots like that, not under fifty yards. Mary has settled into a routine of waking up at 1 AM just about every night to nurse. That gives me a chance to calm down. Stupid Croats.
Lydia is ready to start first grade. We bought school supplies. That's … different. She's met a couple other girls who will be in first grade, hopefully in the same class.
Thomas had a very happy birthday. I gave him a couple of my books, and your parents gave him a big old plastic baseball bat and a wiffle ball. He's mostly hitting off a tee, but he's also very impressed that Mommy can pitch.
A memory—After I figured out you were slowing down to run with me at practice, I spent two weeks trying to decide if I had the guts to ask you to come to church. And then you said yes right away.
A verse—Since it's starting, Ephesians 6:12 and that whole passage. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
I love you, Reed. ♥
Kathy Sue
****
Zwenkau
Friday, August 17, 1635
Dear Kathy Sue,
I'm fine. As far as I know, everybody else you know is fine. You probably already heard there was a battle here at Zwenkau. We won big. I wasn't actually anywhere near it, but I've been doing my thing since then. It's … pretty bad. The field here is kind of like in my nightmare. That's probably as detailed as I should get.
If you see Jimmy Dunn, Charlie McDow, Bruce Reynolds, Hans Moschel, and Alexander Ebenhöch's families, they're all okay. We're all working together. I ran into Voss Gordon and Cody Jones, too.
I'm not sure what I'm going to preach Sunday. Things like this, I just don't know what to say. We'll be praying for the wounded and the families. Appreciate it if Grantville was, too. I think I better make sure everybody has a chance to believe in Jesus. Not much else I can do.
Anything you've written since July 22 hasn't caught up to me yet. I hope you and the kids are doing well. Daddy loves you.
A memory: Meeting you at the bookstore. Thank you for taking your break late so we could have lunch together between my last class at Fairmont State and my shift at the hardware store.
A verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."
Love you, Sugar.
Reed
****
Our House, Grantville
Saturday, August 25, 1635
Dear Reed,
Your August 1 letter arrived today. It's so good to hear from you. I've been listening to the radio news and reading the papers when I can. It sounds like there haven't been any more big battles. I 'spose the little ones are just as dangerous. Stay safe!
Lydia likes the school bus. First grade is the most exciting thing ever—so far. Thomas wants to go, too. I'm trying to set aside some time each day to read a book with him and work on the words. Mark likes exploring. It's a good thing we've got that gate to put across the stairs. Mary is getting big. She slept through the night Tuesday.
We had a dozen ladies at the Bible study this week. We had a lively discussion—by which I mean there was some hollering until the Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, and the rest of us all had a chance to explain what we really believe. I think it cleared the air a bit. We'd been dancing around it for too long.
The kids all say Hi. Hi Daddy! From Lydia
A memory—Continuing from my last letter: The first time you came to church with us. All the old bats All the dignified older ladies decided to give you a hard time. I almost died of a giggle fit when you told one of them, "Bless your heart."
A verse—2 Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
I love you, Reed. ♥
Kathy Sue
****
Dresden, Saxony
Monday, September 3, 1635
Dear Kathy Sue,
Your July 30 note just showed up at mail call today. To be fair, it had further to go. I'm pretty sure it came overland. Hopefully anything you've written since then will come most of the way by rail.
The fighting along the river was pretty minimal compared to Zwenkau. There hasn't been anything major since Zwenkau, either. Not sure what's coming up next. I'm running around trying to get supplies to the right places. It'd be a lot easier if people wouldn't "help" us with the supply system. It's more broken after they fiddle with it.
Tell everyone in Grantville not to worry.
Yesterday I talked about how God knows
everything including what's going to happen. Or maybe I should say what He sees happening in the future. Including the Ring of Fire, however that fits in. It's the sort of thing that can give you a headache after a while.
A memory: Our dads taking us hunting. Nothing like getting used to each other's hunting styles while everyone's trying to have a non-awkward relationship discussion. Good thing our dads are both sane.
A verse: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."
Love you, Sugar.
Reed
****
Our House, Grantville
Saturday, September 8, 1635
Dear Reed,
I'm so glad you're safe! Stay that way, please!
I'm glad your letter arrived today. The kids have just about worn me out this week. They're passing around a cold, and whoever doesn't have the cold at the moment wants to run around full speed ahead. Not really at my best.
There's nothing like being a touch under the weather and generally feeling inadequate when the doorbell rings, and it's a couple public health people on a let's-not-overpopulate-Europe kick. They may have made one or two snide remarks about having four kids before I went from feeling inadequate to getting a good mad on.
I asked them if they really thought limiting the number of descendants of up-timers was such a good idea. Seems to me that's a good way for us to die out. They gave me some nonsense about overpopulation and somebody named Malthus. So I reminded them how many times I heard my dad and his buddies complaining about how the government used to pay farmers to not grow food back up-time. And then I told them "Bless your hearts" and showed them out.
Well, that ended my pity party right quick. I can handle four kids. In fact, if you would hurry up with the war and get home, I could handle five.
The garden is keeping all of us busy. Thomas likes helping Grandma pick beans and peas. Hopefully that will last.
Bible study is going well. Elisabetha says that I ask different kinds of questions and that she would like to send them to her sisters. I really don't think I'm doing anything special. But I asked Sister Claudette about it, and she said that up-timers and down-timers have different approaches to interpreting the Bible. So I started writing out a couple extra copies of my questions and notes, and we're sending them to Elisabetha's sisters.
A memory—Aw, I miss the bookstore and lunch breaks with you, too. And going to home football games with you. It's starting to get cooler here, and I got my letter jacket out the other day. I had to explain what it was to Magdalena. She said, "Oh! It's livery, for your school." Which got me thinking. I called Calvert High, and they still do letter jackets. They're different, of course. The secretary said that some of the kids remember how their older brothers and sisters used to wear them with the hood unzipped down the middle so the two halves could lay over their shoulders. I agreed that was the style and that I didn't see any reason somebody couldn't put a zipper in. She asked me if I'd be willing to try it. I said sure, as long as somebody brings me the jacket and the zipper. So there's a Class of '36 varsity jacket next to the sewing machine right now. Wow, that got out of hand for a memory. Hopefully this year's high schoolers will have as many good memories as we do.
A verse—Psalm 46:7 "The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge." And that whole Psalm. It's the one "A Mighty Fortress" is based on.
I love you, Reed. ♥
Kathy Sue
****
Saxony
Wednesday, September 26, 1635
Dear Kathy Sue,
I just got two letters from you, dated August 16 and August 25. Don't know what caused the delay, but we should have a pretty good system in place now.
I'm so sorry you're having nightmares. I wish I were there to hold you. Not sure if it will make a difference, but the Saxons are not going to be attacking Grantville. General von Arnim still has an army, but they're sitting in Leipzig. I don't think they want to tangle with us again, and they've probably heard the news: Duke John George and his wife are dead. Their carriage got blown up. It's like something from Beirut or Northern Ireland. Please pray for Saxony. A lot of people are shocked and upset. Captain-General Gustav—Captain-General Vasa—Captain-General Gars? What's the proper way to say it? Anyway, he's ordered Duke Ernst Wettin, the prime minister's brother, to Saxony to be the provincial administrator. Most of the men I've talked to from the regiments that marched down to Ingolstadt last summer say the duke is all right. But he's supposed to bring General Johan Banér with him. Banér doesn't like the Committees of Correspondence, and they're basically running Dresden right now. Good thing, too. They may be rough around the edges—no more than West Virginians, really—but Dresden's still standing. No fires, no epidemics.
We're … not going to be here to keep the lid on. I guess the generals have other things for us to do.
Hi, Lydia! I'm glad you like school. Hi, Thomas! Mommy says you're reading books. Hi, Mark! How high are you building the blocks? Hi, Mary! I bet you're getting big.
Thanks for sending Ephesians 6. When you've got no shortage of firepower, it's hard to remember that. We're seeing attitudes and beliefs that are different from the rest of the USE. Well, not different, but a couple years behind—like when we first got to Wismar. But truth, righteousness, faith—I can talk with Saxons about those, and after a while we understand each other.
A memory: Our parents blindsiding us with that sit-down talk about how they wanted us to join the military, go to college, or have steady jobs before we got married. Looking back on it, I see why they wanted us to wait. If I'd known the Ring of Fire was coming, I probably would've joined the Army. But then we would have gotten married three years into a four-year enlistment, and I might have stayed in, and we'd have missed the Ring of Fire. But we're here, so no use worrying about it. And having those three years to become best friends first was a pretty good idea.
A verse: John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
I miss you.
Love you, Sugar.
Reed
****
Our House, Grantville
Tuesday, October 2, 1635
Dear Reed,
Your September 3rd letter arrived today. It's late, and both Mark and Mary are awake and fussing. Mary's teething. So I'm holding Mary, occasionally rocking Mark, and writing.
Grantville's fine. Just about everybody has figured out that the Saxons aren't actually going to attack us. The radio makes it sound like the USE pretty much controls Saxony and Brandenburg, so I hope you can come home soon.
Things are going pretty well here. Some kid was being mean at school and asked Lydia if Burroughs were for rabbits. She doesn't actually understand he was being mean and has started signing her work "Lydia Bunny Rabbit". Mrs. Reardon was a little concerned, of course. I explained to Lydia that for worksheets she has to use her grown-up name, but when she colors or paints she can use Lydia Bunny Rabbit as her artist name if she wants to. So everybody's happy.
Letter jackets are tricky. So are down-time zippers. But I've finished two and have a third to do.
I'm having to really work hard preparing for Bible study because Elisabetha and the others ask such good questions. I went to ask Pastor Green if I could borrow a couple books. He even said he'd see if the Bibelgesellschaft could look up some more information for me. And that's how I met a really neat bunch of high school girls. I'm still getting to know them, but Clyde and Bettina Rice's daughter Alicia has already offered to babysit.
While I was waiting to talk to Pastor Green, I overheard some things that I don't think I was supposed to. Some folks at First Baptist are not happy with Green. It's not where we chose to go before the Ring of Fire. I miss our church in Fairmont, but I think Green's doing as well as can be expected. Some people …
So we could use some prayers here. You know my dad. He thinks we ought to have a hous
e church, but he's in Erfurt. Not sure what to do but I did find this:
A verse—Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
I hope everything's going well. I miss you, Reed. How are you doing? Really doing? Package on the way.
A memory—Go pull your rifle rounds out of the box. I'll wait.
Swimming at summer youth camp.
The kids all want me to tell you, "We love you, Daddy." Well, Mary is mostly just blowing bubbles in your general direction. She's a cutie.
I love you, Reed. ♥
Kathy Sue
****
Swiebodzin, Poland
Monday, October 8, 1635
Dear Kathy Sue,
I'm so sorry people were giving you a hard time about having kids. I wish I were there with you. You handled it perfectly.
I hope you're all feeling better. Sounds like you've been pretty busy. Don't overdo it, okay?
I'm sure you noticed I'm writing from Poland. The censors were going to take it out, but word came down from Headquarters not to go overboard. We invaded Poland. It's not much of a secret. I'm sure you've already heard. And trust me, the Poles know, too. There was a battle here three days ago. Medium-sized and vicious. Kathy, HQ actually told us to put this next part in. Some of our guys from a couple units went off the deep end and started committing atrocities. Mike Stearns killed them dead. That ought to make sure there's no more of that crap. I mean there's really not going to be any more of that crap. Stearns formed a new unit to prevent it. It's called the Hangman Regiment, and he put Jeff Higgins in command of it. I've read my guys the riot act, just to be sure.
Grantville Gazette, Volume 64 Page 3
