Letters exchanged between Lila and myself before and after we were married. (1939/1940)

Semans, Sask.,
August 10th 1939 (Thursday)

My Darling David,
Well honey! how are things going? fine I hope. How is "Toots" making out? Hope your Mother is feeling better. Sweetheart things are not as bad as we thought. Did not get to Nokomis Monday as it rained so left it until to-day' (Thursday). Dr Rennick says I have infected Appendix which has caused all my stomach trouble. He said my stomach was perfect also my heart; and my legs ache from a strain of some kind. But I won't have to have an operation for possibly a few years. Boy! that sounds good, Eh? Well! sweet-heart, I've sure missed you this week. Wait! I have new for you, Gordon (Amor) has not been going with Gladys (Blyth) since the picnic; I haven't heard much yet as Gordon is still at Copelands. I saw Mr. McBride a few minutes ago & he says a man in Prince Albert wants a girl, one who can take full charge & they have no children; so what do you think? you know I can't come back there because of what everyone will say. I have lots more news but will leave some for next time. Will close with love and kisses your Ever-loving Dorothy. Give my love to all. x for Clarence.

Dafoe Sask.
Aug 15th 1939 (Tuesday)

My Sweetheart Dorothy,
Well, Dear, here I am, I sure was glad when I received your letter on Sat. night, it really was a life saver for me. I was glad to hear that you were not as bad as you thought you were. Were you surprised, sweetheart, when your mother told you I had been over on Sunday night? I bet you were wishing you had of been home to see me at least. The reason I went over was because Mother asked us if we would go & see if you would come back, seeing that you knew what was wrong. Mother is coming home on Thurs. with the Dr. when he comes out. She has been tapped twice so there isn't much they can do, at the present, for her but she might have to go back again later. Toots isn't doing too bad, altho' no more than necessary, read mostly I think., So you see if Mother is home it will upset her, because Toots don't know how to do anything unless she is told. Aunt Nell said if you came back, she would take Toots as she needs a girl for harvest. The Dr. said the less Mother had to excite her the better so that was why we thought you would be better than a strange girl. I was really disappointed Sunday night when your Pop told me you were away. I really thought I was going to give you a surprise. I didn't get away from your place till about ten to midnight. I think your Pop & I get along pretty good, for a start, anyway. I never thought to ask you, sweetheart, but will it be the 27th of Aug. that I will have the pleasure of coming over after you, once more? Write & let me know, will you, dear? Jack came back this morning. He went to Wynyard for some medicine for his arthritis & happened to get on a freight that took him on to Lanigan. Excuse the scribble as I am out of practice & so is the pen, I think.  I'll think I'll say toddle-doo for now Sweetheart & hope to hear from you soon. With loving regards. Kisses & hugs. oxxxooxxox Forever your sweetheart Darling David. P.S. I sure missed you this past week sweetheart. I thought I was going to die on Mon. after you left.

Semans, Sask.,
August 23rd. 1939 (Wednesday)

My Darling David,
Well sweet-heart, here I am again. Sorry to hear about your mother but hope she is feeling better.  Hope you are K.O. & Clarence (my twin for a few more days). Bet you haven't quit smoking yet; have you? I want to see those shoulders back too. After all I went to see the Doctor; didn't I? You know when you were up home that Sunday nite I was only 3-1/2 miles away at Hollis'. Mrs. Early, Slim and myself took Jim back to work. How is harvest going? Have you started to thresh yet? Nearly everyone south of town are through. Is Jack still with you? Tell him that when Mrs. Early lived down east their farm was just 4-1/2 miles north of New Market. Well darling if you can afford to pay $15 for harvest I'll come back but I can't otherwise as my folks are all hailed out & I'll have to help them.  If you can pay that much come on Sunday 27th & I'll be ready. With love & Kisses. Come for dinner. Yours, Dot.

Dafoe, Sask.
Dec. 11th 1939 (Monday)

My Dearest Sweetheart,
I'm just writing this note in a big hurry, so I can't take time to say much. I am writing this to tell you that I will come up and bring you back from the hospital if you will phone me & let me know what day you will be able to come home. I told your mother they would likely see me on Sunday so they won't be expecting me to bring you out of the hospital. If you want me, dear, to come up just phone me (on reverse if you like) & let me know, for I'll be right up. Hoping you are feeling fine when you get this. Best of luck. With all my love xoxoxo from Gordon Hatton

Nokomis, Sask.,
Dec.12th 1939 (Tuesday)

My Dearest Sweetheart,
My! darling, but I was tickled to get your sweet letter. You know dear I couldn't sleep Sunday night or last nite either. Must have been lonesome darling after you left. Eh? What do you think? Had to laugh at Miss Neely she came up to take my temp. after you left & teased me a little but she said she thought you likely wanted a break seeing the other folks stayed up here so long. That little boy is doing fine. Dr. Renneck says he will have as easy a time as I've had. His mother died three weeks ago so I sure feel sorry for him. That was his sister here. She has been to see me quite a few times dear, and a very nice young lady. Got a letter from Mrs. Crane today also. But darling your letter was sweet. of course I'd rather be with you but I won't for a whole week, maybe longer dear. It all depends on how long it will take mother to fix my dress. How are Clarence and Mabel (Downing) getting along? Fine I hope. Sweetheart I can't forget your dear face. Really believe I'm worse than before Sunday. I've just been able to eat your oranges today, you know the ones you brought for me Wednesday nite you dear. Gave some to Mr. McLean. You know the man with the broken leg. Well darling, I'd better close for now hoping with all my heart to see you Sunday. Your sweetheart Darling. I'll always love you. Lila xxxxxxxxxx ooooooooo

Nokomis, Sask.
January 3rd 1940 (Wednesday)

My Darling Sweetheart,
Well, darling I'm quite well again & hope you kids are the same. Hope Mabel's cold is better. She wants to be careful, as there already is a patient in the Nokomis Hospital with the "flu" and it's very contagious. The Weiss's have been very good to me. I only had to take one treatment a day so it wasn't as bad as the Dr. thought. I phoned Mother this morning & dad is coming for me, so if you like your won't need to come for me until on Sunday or week from Sunday. I've met quite a few very nice people over here. Hope you had a very Happy New Year. If I stay home a week maybe Mother will be able to fix my dress. Tell Mabel I really haven't run away with her sweater. Have you heard from Aunt Carrie, I'll have to write to her when I get home. Everyone was surprised to hear I was back here (The ones I knew before). Thought I had ruptured myself & what not. Sweet heart I'm not going to say any more just now & I'll have that much more when next we meet. So I'll close with "Love" to all. Your Sweet heart Lila. P.S. Remember me to the "Cranes". xxxxxxxxxx

Dafoe, Sask.
June 13th 1940 (Thursday)

My Dearest,
Well Darling, how is everything? Fine I hope. Everything is going fine up here. Clarence & Mabel are going to Saskatoon tomorrow so they will mail this letter for me I hope. Clarence has been getting the car all fixed up so I guess I won't have that to do. I guess their' not getting "hitched" because he hasn't been to the doctor yet. I have just finished reseeding about 12 acres, that was all weeds & no grain, to oats yesterday. So I'll be plowing summerfallow while they are away. They plan on being back about Sunday night. About that picnic, darling, The admission is 40 cents for picnic & supper & then extra for the dance so I hear, so you folks may as well come up for the day if Syd. can get somebody to do his chores. I guess I'll be there all day anyway so I'll be looking for you. I can't wait darling till the time rolls around, it seems so long coming, the anxiety is terrific. I'm trying hard to remember everything I have to do, so I'm anxious to get started at it. Nobody seems to know much about it yet, at least, not that I have hard so far, (yes but just wait, maybe will hear enough on Wednesday!) I'm not worrying about it though. So I guess Mabel hasn't said much to anybody. Tell Evelyn that if she doesn't promise to get another girl for the summer that I won't steal the one she has now, so she won't be having her holiday! We are getting a nice rain at present darling from the cloud that came up about 9 o'clock. Did old Mark hear me leave last Monday morning? I suppose, being an old bachelor, He wouldn't expect such a thing. Well, sweetheart, I must go to roost as it is 11 o'clock now & I'll be looking for you Wed. afternoon. Supper generally starts about 5:30 or 6., I'm not just sure. So "Adios, my sweet Till we meet again", None too soon On the 19th June. Lovingly yours. Gordon David P.S. (Do you know what these mean?) ooOooOooOO xxxxxxxxxx

Dafoe, Sask.,
Oct. 31st 1940 (Thursday)

My Darling Sweetheart,
Rec'd you most welcome letter yesterday afternoon. John very thoughtfully waited for the train so he could bring my letter from my darling hubby. Well dear how are you? You don't know how much I miss you. The house seems terribly dull and quiet dear. Joe went home this afternoon dear and said to tell you he hopes you get a job soon and also wishes you the best of luck. Gosh darling I don't know what to say now dear except. I love you so much dear (and miss you an awful lot too) it hurts. Loreen (Amor) is busy here playing cards with herself & is having quite a time trying to beat the "devil" (as she calls it). Darling please excuse me as it is very hard to write this letter darling when I miss you so much. I will send up your thing to-morrow if I can catch anyone going to town. Clarence has been trying to get some "B" Batteries for Radio so I won't be so lonesome. But has been unsuccessful so far. There isn't much news here dear, except dear "I love you", and "miss your loving arms around me dear". I do hope and pray that you will get something soon dear. How is Eva, Cliff & Family? is Gordon coming home? when? I suppose he will be coming up here to see Gladys. Maybe he still loves her. Eh!what? Everybody that knows you are away are saying you will be having a flirting good time up there. But I told them you were not dear because I know. I did not get my washing done until yesterday as it rained Sunday nite and part of Monday & again Monday nite so everything was kind of wet. I will try to get that money from South if at all possible. I may not be down that way so think I'll write about it Eh? Things are going slow here on the farm & now with Joe gone I think at times Clarence is going to be "darn" good & sorry you are gone. He is going somewhere to-nite, but had the chores to do before leaving & I don't think he relished that so much. What do you want me to-do with your fur coat & robe? I gave Joe that black coat (at least Clarence said to), you know that one I was going to make over. If I can get that money from South maybe I should use some of it to get a coat as my grey one is kind of cool now. What do you think dear? Well darling I guess I better close for this time dear hoping and praying for the best. So good nite my darling until we meet my darling. I will always be (my sweet darling) your loving wife Lila Dorothy Hatton. P.S. Dear take care of yourself dear because after all; you are all I have in this world now. So nity-nite my love. remember dear (I love you). xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dafoe, Sask.,
Nov. 1st 8:30am (Friday 1940)

My dear Gordon,
Well dear I'm writing again this morning as Mr. & Mrs. G. Fennemore are going up to Saskatoon about 10.am. so am sending your things up dear with them. You will have to go down to the Aunt's for them. Sweet-heart I miss you terribly so hurry up and find a job dear as I would like to be with you. I guess some kids were around last nite because this morning the buggy was in the garage and the mower just outside of it. When Clarence came home from Lowens' (that's where Mabel is working now) he said the doors were shut. The steel barrel was in the pig pen. So they must have been having some fun. I had better say toodle-loo for now dear with loads of Love & kisses your ever-loving wife, Lila Dorothy Hatton. P.S. write soon dear. I love you and always will my sweet Darling. Lila xxxxxxxxxxxxx oooooooooooooo

Dafoe, Sask.,
November 2nd 1940 (Saturday)

My dear Gordon,
Well dear as I haven't heard from you I don't know what to do. If you do not get a steady job by 25th you had better come back here for the winter as it costs so much to live in the city when you have everything to buy. I am not coming up until you have a steady job unless you want me to. I sold your sheepskin coat to Gordon for $5. Is that enough? Of course if you come back Gordon says he will give it back. That was the deal. We have had quite a lot of snow here, so they did not have the Red Cross Supper. I'm not sorry either as it is so cold to go out. Syd. sure bawled me out. I have been saying things about him, so I won't get any money until he is good and ready to give it to me (maybe in the Spring). That's the kind of a guy he is. He has been saying that we made him pay for the cottage at Watrous and that we tried to beat him out on that trip. So as far as I'm concerned he can keep it. That's the kind that he is. Margaret told him everything that was said up here even saying we tried to keep her up here after her time was up. And so I am not going home again. I'm through. Jessie (Thornton) is going to bridesmaid at the wedding on 21st so hope you have a good time. I guess I'll get myself a job as soon as they come back. It is kind of tiresome hanging around, so I might just as well do something. You seem to be getting along better without me. Let me know by return mail what to to about the coat as Gordon is going home Friday and wants to take it home with him, and they are so funny at home they won't let him give it back and if you are coming back then I'll keep it. I guess I had better close, news seems to be scarce so Good Luck dear. Your loving wife Lila. P.S. Let me know by return mail about he coat before Friday, also if you want some bedding I will send it wit Clarence. Am sending a coupon for those stocking will you give it to Eva & tell how to get 8 pair for ($1) with the coupon. Thanks.

Dafoe, Sask.,
Nov.4th 1940 (Monday)

To My Sweet Darling,
Rec'd your dear letter sweet-heart on Sat. night and was very pleased to hear from my darling husband. How are you my dear? We are all quite well as yet. Clarence decided I was getting pretty lonesome so got the "B" Batteries on Sat. night, but I still miss you even though I have the radio. Clarence misses you just as much dear but of course he wouldn't admit it. They are having a Red Cross supper on Friday night, a play called the "Spitfire" from Semans & dance after so I guess I'll have to go as they went & put me on the Dance Committee again. Dear I wish you were here or else that I was up with you my sweet darling so the sooner you get a steady position I'll be there. But write to me dear as usual or else I will have to come up and see you sometime. I think dear if I do come up I'll just pack enough dishes & things that we need & leave the rest here packed away. I'll get the curtains dear up there. Gordon is here with us & Loreen has not been taken home yet. Oh? yes, Mrs. Miles called on us Friday & Loreen got quite a laugh also the Reeve's called yesterday & stayed for supper. I think they came down to find out where you had gone & what you were doing, etc. Alec. Blakely came down by bus on Sat. night & we brought him home with us. He said he was only one hour in Saskatoon. It snowed quite hard all the way down too & also here but the next morning it had all disappeared. I guess you have had quite a lot of snow. Mabel called Clarence tonight & over he went to see her. Well dear there doesn't seem to be very much new so I will close for this time my dear with love and kisses. Your ever-loving wife Lila Dorothy Hatton. P.S. Darling I want  see you without that cold when I do see you my dear sweetheart. I love you dear. Give my love to everyone and tell them I hope to see them all soon soon soon. Lila Hatton xxxooo

Nov.5th (Tuesday) (same envelope)
Well darling, here I am again but not so good dear as I have burned two fingers to-night & my foot. Just my luck & I haven't washed yet this week. Clarence & Mabel are getting married either 20th or 21st of Nov. & Clarence wants me to wait & go up when he does. I guess dear maybe it would be better. But darling I still love you my sweet darling. I'd better close for now dear hoping you have taken care of your cold for my sake dear as you are all I have my dear. Toodle-loo my sweet from your sweet wife, Lila Dorothy Hatton. xxxxxxx ooooo

In 1939 stamps cost only 3 cents, and postal codes were not required as they didn't exist yet.