Edith Bolling Wilson to Woodrow Wilson

Edith Bolling Wilson to Woodrow Wilson

Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961

WWP14873

1915 August 9

Edith Bolling Wilson Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

English

Dansville–N.Y.
Jackson Health Resort.

My Precious One -

I was oh! so glad to get your 2 blessed letters this morning before we started – and could hardly wait to read them – but beyond just a hurried peep to see if you were still to be at Cornish tomorrow long enough to get my letter, I had to wait until this afternoon to really read them – Then I sat at my window here – over looking the most wonderful view of smiling valleys –full of ripe grain – and green hills beyond– and read and reread your wonderful words of love– and my heart was just so full of love and yearning for you I felt you must feel it. I pictured you riding along—(it was between 5 and 6) and that suddenly you would feel my hand steal under the rug and nestle a moment in yours – and then both arms would go 'round your neck and I would draw you close and say, Dearest, I have come – I could not stay away –It is so hard not to tell the Roses how I love you - they are crazy about you - but of course don't know how hard it is for me to talk about you and seem disinterested – But I am trying to put up a good bluff.

We had a really lovely ride over here– It is only about 80 miles and very good roads– Had lunch and went to the Country Club where Mr. R. & Mr. Grant played golf– They say they ar these are wonderfully good links – We sat on the porch and read or talked. Got to the Hotel– or “Health Resort” as it is called about 5– and of course I ran into some Wash. people– Then came the real happiness of the day when I could get by myself with my precious Sweetheart's letters. This took most of the time before getting ready for dinner– and I also had such a sweet note from “Nell”– as soon as I answer it I will send it for you to see – It was awfully generous of her to write me – and when you see or write to her please tell her how much I appreciate it — You certainly should be proud Dearest of these three dear girls – as I know you are – Their devotion to you and generosity is unlike anything I have ever known – and I already love them as though they were my own– They are unusual in every sense – Please give Margaret and Jessie my tender love – Thank you for the 2 enclosures in the big envelope — both of which interested me deeply. The one from Berlin is I take it the one you sent me Col H's reply to on Saturday– and the Zapata one very interesting – How splendid it will be if you can get that Mexican matter in hand– I have such infinite faith in you and your insight and control that I believe you will – if only you can depend on the A.B.C. support. and oh how proud I am of you – and all that you mean to the world–You already know you mean the world to me–Tomorrow we are leaving here about 830 to go on to Letchworth's Park which every one says is entrancingly lovely – It is a large tract of land owned by the State of N.Y– I think and containing wonderful trees and a waterfall thought by some to be more beautiful than Niagara — I don't see how that is possible but I will tell you more about it after I have been there – We expect to get back to Geneva tomorrow–Tuesday night, where my heart will be made glad by your letter of today.The letters do come, very promptly and directly Dearest– so far one every morning by the 915 delivery – and the big envelopes by the noon – or 2 P.M. Delivery. and I hope mine go to you as promptly.I am so glad, you Sweet thing, that you are beginning to love Washington – Nearly half of my life has been spent there – and, while I would follow you where ever you went, I would always be a little hurt if you hated Washington – and if you can love it because I do–and because you found me there – it will make me proudly happy – And I will do all I can to make it from now on seem really like home. Thank you too Woodrow for all the tender things you say about the little document you call the “most precious in the world” — How little we thought that day, when you were in the hammock and I by you with my writing – that you were seeing so straight into so near a future – and directing my fingers as you will, from now on direct my life.Have you tried, my dear Lord, to write our story? Or have you had time and heart to? Your letters are such love poems that I feel selfish to keep them just for myself. All though it would hurt to share them with any one – but you – So, some day I am going to read them aloud to you to let you share the real joy I have in them. I am so sorry you were so alone Saturday night – My how I wish I could have stolen in from the Billiard room– and before you knew I was there, put my hands over those dear eyes – and made you guess, who?

You will wonder why I am using this tiny paper– It is because I found these are the only envelopes small enough to go in the ones you addressed to Mr. Hoover — and when I packed this a.m. I thought I would have to send this to Washington – as I rather expected you would have to leave yesterday – But I am glad you can stay on – and have as much rest as possible – 1308 – is closed. A letter from my faithful Susan this a.m. tells me she started for Va. on Saturday –Mr. & Mrs. Rose plan to take me in the car to Ocean City– where they will stay a week–and return home and I will go with Mother & my sister – We will take 2 days for the trip down– probably leaving here about the twentieth – But of course I will tell you of that later. I did not mean, my precious One, to hurt your feelings about the trunk – and I am deeply grateful for your dear thought in relieving me of all trouble regarding it.

The Roses household consists only of themselves & Mrs. R's brother – who is a batchelor and a Dr. – We have breakfast about 830 get the mail at 915. Then we go down town about 10– and take a drive or go to Mr. R's farm about 4 miles out– home for lunch at 1 Then he plays golf – and Mrs. R & I read or talk– or do as we please. And we play Bridge every night – As the Roses are not going to parties I have declined all invitations – though I have been asked to lunches, teas, etc. and it is good to get out of such so comfortably. I will post this here tomorrow morning – and hope it will reach you Wed –

Good-night a real lovers kiss –

E

Letter

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924