W.G. Meggs and Son Dry Goods, abt 1924

Postmark July 8, 1899

*Note* This is the last of the letters I received and transcribed. Nellie and Glass were married on August 10, 1899, in Ocala, Marion County, Florida.

Tuesday am

My Darling Nellie

I am feeling very badly this am & hope visiting to you will bring about a change for the better.

I guess I did to much driving Sunday am & it was very warm too.  But hope I’ll feel better ere the day begins by.

And for us all a treasure his.
Buried deep from human eyes.
In the hereafter angels may.
Roll the stone from the treasure away.

Nellie you are the treasure and I feel that it was an angel’s hand that brought you to these desolate woods to me.

A treasure!! Yes! I value you more than I would Silver & Gold. Something that I’ve always valued more than anything on earth save my dear Parents.

I only wish I could see you today then I know I’d feel better.

I don’t see how I can see you this week as we’ll be very busy the whole week.  Only one order so far in your direction & that goes to Daisy & guess we’ll send that up on boat.  However providence may provide that I see my darling before the week glydes by.

I have thought of you since Sunday & the more I think of you the more I love you.  There isn’t a doubt in but what you are the girl for Glass.

Hope no one has caused you to loose confidence in me this week as you did last by remarking to you things that cause you to imagine I don’t love you.

Just let the people do the talking  & we will do the balance. Can’t we dear!!  I don’t see why you need let what they say tease you for you know you don’t care what they think or what they say about it if you’ll only stop to study it out.

Nellie I could write more but it’s no use to cover 14 pages with the only one meaning that I could get on one line.

I love you best of all –

So I’ll just [leave] it & say good bye write me a good long letter.

Lovingly your boy
W. Glass
4/25

[postscript] Are you coming Saturday!

Postmark June 29, 1899

Wednesday aft.

My Darling

Deceived!! Yes I do believe I am deceived in you.

Well dear I am surprised at you.

And truly is it possible that youv always looked for & prayed to find one like myself!!  Well I am sure I am deceived in you for I surely though[t] your aspirations were based on a higher platform & that I had found a girl looking high up in the world for something.  This is how I am deceived & well I am certainly proud that I am deceived for you are all on earth I am looking for.

You often hear me say I feld sure Id never marry & I did!!  Not because I didn’t think it best for me.  Not because I didn’t have a number of friends to tell me it was better & ect & I would at times wish I could find a true good girl & then Id marry if she was willing.

This I had long since given up finding & this is why I would always think I’d never marry.  There are so many girls that are so weak in more than one thing.  Consequently when you put all their weak points together there isn’t anything left only nice girls for company & ect.  When I would think of marrying any one of these girls I would think marrying was a horrible crime & Id be miserable until such an idea would vanish from my mind entirely.  When I met you I could realize that you were more than worthy of my love & that I was not worthy of you for a wife but I made my mind to tell you all & let you decide & praise to my God youv considered the matter & consented to marry me.  Consequently I believe my miserable life will turn out to be a life of pleasure.

When I stop & think of marrying you it seems as though it will be a pleasure rather than look upon it as being a horrible crime.  I never think of anything but to marry & then what are we to do & of course this will be to decide later.  That is one reason I could assure myself at first that I loved you because I meant to marry you from the beginning.  Then not until this day have I found a fault in you.  Now darling as to what I said about believing Fitz was dead.  I was sure you understood it.  You are always guying me about being stingy & I was merely joking thinking youd think I was to stingy to feed the poor fellow.   Yes I can still say Il love every thing Nelly loves.

Realy you have time to write every day but thought I didn’t.  Now darling who failed to keep this up even after we agreed to write every two days.  Ive been writing every day except this one.

Now then you haven’t done this.  So lets write every day.  I mean to write you every day & if I am busy Il only write a short note & let me beg of you to do like wise as surely I get lonely without your letters to read as you know they are all I look for nowadays.

And you like long cheerful letters do you?  Well I must say I have been felling much better since I returned home.  A few days rest (tell Uncle Paxton) did me lots of good & I am more able to keep up with my work.

I feel sure had I tried to have worked another week without rest I would have had to have gone to my bed as I was near broken down the day I left here.

Now Nelly I fear what I have said to you about the people of this place that youl learn to dislike them from the beginning (& so you may if you wish) but I want you to greet them all with a friendly (Smile).  It doesn’t matter to me about the young ladies or the old ones wishing Id come back here.  They all know I love Nelly & they all know I haven’t confidence enough in them to be influenced by them in anything.

Nelly I love to write it: Yes We’ll Marry no matter what they say & praise to my God if he led us in such a way as to cause us to meet as you seem to think.

You must come by all means next week.  I can live this Sunday all alone but the next I must see you.  One more Sunday is all I can stand so try & arrange to be at old Klondy on Sunday week as it’s a better more [illegible] than Folkstone.

I am not hurrying the wedding at all & if youl come & Sister Burnice cant come we could wait a few days until she can come home so we can be together.  Nell if I could only be with you this lovely evening Id be the happiest boy in this old town & you can have your [illegible] sent on by express & honey I’l pay the express to get to see you but wouldnt spend that much for anything else.

Yes if we are ever rich (we) can have a nice horse cow & dog.  Also cat if you wish but darling don’t be disappointed if we are never rich!!  Miss Godson came in today to stay a month with Mrs. Livingston.  She & Miss Clark live near each other & are best of friends.  No other visitors yet.  Mrs C Thomas & a croud I guess from (Pine) Greenwood will be here next Saturday to Picnic under the oaks.

If it was & affair of ours Id send out for Miss Kate & the others but don’t know just who will be here.

Why do I put two 2¢ stamps on some of my letters.  Well I guess youl know time you finish reading this one as I know it will take 4¢.

Do Darling be at home by Sunday week.  You know dear I love you & want to see you.

Love to all

Glass

Didn’t you say you liked long letters!!

Postmark June 26, 1899

Orange Springs

June 23

My Darling Nell,

Your long letter recd today & strange it is that we were thinking of the same thing.  You [remember] that I had written you on last night that our little affair had opened my eyes too.

Yes dear I’ll [illegible] you & from this out we will both lay down our willfulness & learn to be affectionate to each other.

Yes dear those words pierced me to my very heart however I have always been of a nature to forgive & in a short time over come such feelings.  I felt sure when you wouldn’t take the ring we were done with & in 30 minutes after I reached the Hotel I would have followed you to the new world or had another talk with you & so nice in you to come after me which you said you were had I not come.

No I’ll never regret my trip to Folkstone though it cost me the $16.  [illegible] why is it such trip always cost me more than any one else.

I’ll venture any boy in this place could have made the trip on less.  Now suppose I’d gone to some city but we are not on that subject are we?

Nell I realize every day I love you better thinking all the time too it’s impossible for me to love you any better.

Darling I didn’t think of Fritz’s until I was near home.  Darling was you realy meaning for me to bring the poor fellow? I am realy ashamed of myself because I was only teasing you & would have been glad to have brought him for you. But its to late now.

The first thing Sister said to me was Did you have a good time!! Now guess the second. = = =

The second was “ Well have you guessed & what did you guess before you turn over.

Write me what you guessed.

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The second was I have a Pitcher of Ice milk. Do you want it

Of course I said yes & gave it a fair test too because I had not eaten anything except a 5 cent lunch in Pol & couldn’t eat that.

Dear one!! Do go to the Hotel & eat one biscuit for me but for Heaven sake don’t mention it as I thanked the lady 3 times for her kindness of taking such good care of me.

Nellie it’s late & I’ll have to retire as I am a little bit tired.  After this week I won’t have so much to do. I could write a whole book but no use.

I love you & you only.

Lovingly your boy,

Glass

Postmark April 11, 1899

Monday Eve 10:00
Orange Springs
Miss Nellie Lang
Ft. McCoy

My Dear Miss Nellie,

Shall I address you as mine!! Yes indeed & until you give me a more tedious job than you gave me Sunday I’l call you mine & you’l be mine.
Of course I might find it hard to gain the Old Gents consent but you only said that if I would ask him for you you’d be mine. You didn’t say any thing in regard to his giving his consent. Now my Dear Girl I am ready to broach him on the subject any time you suggest.

Miss Nellie you seem to doubt me but here it is in black & white. You can keep it for reference if you wish.

I want you for mine & mine forever. You & you only. I’l gladly give my heart for yours & at any time you wish we’ll make the exchange.

While I don’t feel that I am worthy of a good true Christian girl for a wife yet I feel that I have found it you the girl I want & one I can love forever. You told me Sunday that if you could only believe me & know that I meant what I was saying that you would be a happy girl. If this is all assure yourself that you are happy & tell me you’l be mine forever. Then I too can say that I am happy & can feel as though I have some thing to live for & hot have to live such an aimless life. And too if my Dear old mother knew that I had given my whole heart & some to a true good Christian girl as you she would one more we could add to our happy list for I fear as I have oft told you she admires a true Christian above every one else for her baby & boys associate much less for his life long companion.

Miss Nellie with your love & influence you might bring me to your ideas of a true husband while I must admit that I am not good enough for you as I am.

Now if this is any proof to you of my love for you, you can have it to keep in black & white & unless you change we will someday [illegible] each other & live & love each other in some lovely little Cottage which we can call ours (if we wish). And at most any time when you are ready youl find me waiting & ready for you.

I’l certainly expect you at church Sunday. In case it rains & you can’t come I may get out in time for S.S. Any way I’l be there & do please come right home after S.S. is over because I’l be there waiting for you. Can we go for a drive or a stroll? Maybe you’l prefer a stroll after so much droning as you have on your programme for the day.

You may be sure if I get there first Sunday p.m. I’l do all kind of nice talking to Papa C.

Miss Nellie yes I’l gladly give up all for you.

Do please write so it will leave your office not later than Friday am & give it a start Thursday if possible for it will seem an age until I get your letter.

With much love

Your own
W. Glass