Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-18
NURSE SENDS THANKS
TO DO YOUR BIT CLUB

The following interesting letter has
recently been received by Mrs. Har-
riet Knowles, Route 4, Augusta, from
her sister, Lydia A. Weber, who is
now stationed at the Base Hospital at
Mineola, New York, having charge of
the surgical ward.
Mineola. Long Island, New York.
Sept. "a, 1918.
Ny dear Sister:
I want to thank the Do Your Bit
Club through you for the scrap books
and property bags they sent to me
for the boys. Yes. l have received
both lots of property bags.
The boys were very much pleased
with the books, passing them from
one to the other and exchanging I'M
til at last they disappeared alto
gether to some other ward.
AT that time they had nothing of
the kind, but now the Y. NJ. c. A.
furnishes scrap books made up by
people outside for them. And the
property bags come very handy as
boys are always coming and going.
The day the last lot arrived one of
the UOS . Sdiu, ->uiSC. nave YOU Ouc
Of those property bags 1 could have
to put my things in and keep?'
Well, sure was glad to tell him I
did have and that it was furnished
by the Do Your Bit Club from Au-
gusta, Maine.
You asked me if there were any
cases of Spanish influenza. Yes, in
deed, we are having a real epidemic.
don't know just how many cases
but l believe over 200, eight or nine
officers and l think tonight seven
nurses. But they seem to be hand
ling it we'll.
Poor boys, my heart goes out to
them. But our death rate is very
small and we are sending them out
every day.
am in the surgical ward and
have been there ever since l came. in
June. And do you know we haven't
had one death of surgical patient
yet. That is a good record, l think,
and we have operated on as many as
a dozen cases a day. That is not
usual, but we have done it.
Yes. dear, l also want you to know
how much 1 appreciate that box of
food you sent me. Good? Well.
should say. 1t sure made me think Of
home and those near and dear to me-
And l would just love to sit down at
the table with you tonight, but that
cannot be. But you know l am happy
in my work, oh, so happy We are
doing our part just the same in camp
as though We were overseas. And I
am satisfied until that time comes
when I get my overseas call.
Why, my heart gets SO big it near
bursts when I see a bunch of our
boys marching out with their rolls on
their backs ready for overseas duty.
And to know that we have done our
part to get them well and send them
along with the rest. Although we
must send nurses to take care Of
them. 1t is not fair to ask France or
England to take care of our boys and
their own too.
The other day Major Pratt was
operating. in one of the operating
rooms when one of the nurses told
him that the boy who was to be
operated on in the next room was
begging to see him before he took
the anesthetic. And so jor- Pratt
said to have him come to the door
and he would speak with him from
there thinking 1T was some important
message he wanted to send home).
And when he came to the door he
asked him what he wanted. And the
boy said, Nothing, Major Pratt, only
wanted to ask you to send me
across just as soon as you can" and
tears were running down his checks.
Now dear sister, can you blame me
for wanting to do my part to get
them well and ready to send across :?
That is only one case. There arc
many more, but you would have to
be in the work to understand.
The nurses who are keeping back
an not volunteering are missing
more than they know. 1t is filling a
vacant place in my life. And hope
everyone is as happy in their work
us | am.
Now don't work too hard and get
sick. because / realize you arc doing
your bit even though you have to
stay at homo.
Well. dearest sister. write as often
as you can, love to hear from you
and friends.
Your loving sister,
LYDIA A. WEBER.
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