Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-21
STEAMER LETTER
MADE BOYS HAPPY
Fourteen Different Missives
Written by Miss Hamill
Welcomed ON Transports

The Telegraph herewith publishes
one of a series of what were known
during the war as steamer letters
These letters were distributed among
the soldiers on army transports pS
war workers in order to amuse ana
divert the doughboys on their lre'
some trip over. This particular one
called the Small Sister" letter, Is
one of the fourteen written by Miss
Lila A. Hanill. of Harrisburg'
Dear Brother Bob:
The family is in the library writ
ing you steamer letters. l am or
dered out cause sister Anne said
you are too young to write O
steamer letter and hear family COM
ments."
~ am in the best room in the
house-your room. And have your
dictionary. Now / am ready to spell
anything. Daddy promised to en-
close my letter. That's one on Sis
Anne will not censor 1t. She Is crazy
about correct English and you know
after she would read my letter there
wouldn't be any letter.
Heaps o. folks come before Peggy
but I. too, have some important
things to write you.
Jack and Ned and sister Betty
are now in France and you Will
soon sail. Mother Is very well. Her
head is very high-the American
way-while her heart is aching for
her four children in this CHASTITY
(isn't that a great word BobO war.
Then father-all can tell you. he is
the proudest Dad" in Pennsylvania
Anne is q jewel in everything she
tackles. She is too much for me.
/ will never reach her. So l can't
write about her. You see l am num-
Der seven in family valuation. But
your Peggy has some things to
write, dear to you, to give you happy
thoughts.
DO you remember how you could
make better soldiers than the other
fellows? You could take a piece of
wood and with your penknife make
soldiers that would sicken apd chill
even old Kaiser Bill. You will make
the best human soldier know. You
and 1 played toy soldiers-and now
it's not playing. 'Tis real war. l
want to be big and do big things.
And I know l can when / have a
loyal brother Bob. Every time that
old lump comes up in my throat
since you are gone-I say Peggy,
swallow and swallow until 1t goes
down somewhere.
Listen had the best fight with
my chum Teddy. He said his
brother Bill would go over the
Top before my brother Bob. !
wrecked his face. 1t looked like that
berry pie on our last fishin' trip
You bet Anne punished me. but
am glad trimmed him cause his
remark was a slam on you.
81 am knitting for the soldiers
like a machine gun. Anne rips out
but 1 rip in and I hope to finish
a scarf and sweater soon. Are you
proud of Peggy? But the best I an
doing constantly and can do as sin
cerely and almost as devoutly as
mother,-praying for you, Boi
dear.
Don't worry about your dos
Racer. You know l will care TO
him-perhaps too tenderly. When
need you heaps, ! close my eyes
neck and hug him until 1 almos
wreck him. And your chickens
'Spose I'm too attentive to then
since you are gone. 7 stuff then
with feed (war prices too) unit
they roll. And all your old pipes
l cleaned them. Gee whizz, Bob bu
they were strong. But cleaned
them like a soldier cleans his boots
"Dorothy's brother was home las
weekend from Washington. Doroth
said "he cannot go to France 'caus
he is needed in office" told Dor
othy (after he was gomez he is
Chair Cootie." She thrashed m
until 7 was crippled for two hours
| You cannot blame her for beatin
me and you cannot blame me 70
! telling her the truth. OF cours
Anne punished me and said 'twa
an ignoble (whatever that is) re
mark.
my heart is so full of love an
] honest pride for you Bobsie, that
fear 1t will soon explode. We prom
+ ised to not let you see tears in on
| eyes at parting, but you could nc
| see the tears in our hearts.
| Here's a Peggy hug and here
| love-real love. Your own rompin
, rippin', lovin' PEGGSIE.
/ Last word-Heavens, Bob, you
! be rich man when you return
! You own a flood of chicks Al
rived to-day. Can't count 'em.
PEG"