Since Gardie Was Taken From Her

Ruth’s brother, Bob

Summit, N. J.
Dec 31, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My own Dearest Ruth:

This paper is not very large, but sufficiently so for my purpose in writing to-night, for if I am to see you to-morrow I must be prepared for quite a stay, and for the necessary preparation tonight is all I have.

I truly hope by tonight your cold is entirely a thing of the past and that you are
feeling very well.

What I want specially to say is that Dave couldn’t make the 5:40 last night, but came
out on the 6:00 with a very large package of timetables and miscellaneous railroad
literature and I find it here to-night. It is a mixed up lot and will need some sorting and weeding out. The problem is how to get it to your home. Walter tells me our rolling stock is somewhat out of gear, horse and all, so I thought I would write you on the morning mail and that perhaps Bob could come over and get the package. This I suggest, knowing Ethel’s stay is short, and her desire to accumulate as much of this stuff as possible before returning to Albany. If it weren’t quite a bulky package, I would take it out with me in the evening, but there is too much of it for that. If Robert can drive over it will be ready for him. 

 

Off In Dreamland Tonight

Summit, NJ
Dec 29, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruthy:

Supper over, some water pumped and now for a restful little talk with you. I hope
and am led to feel that your cold is much better today, for I noticed it seemed to trouble you less Sunday afternoon. I will be very glad to hear that it is all gone.

I didn’t hurry home yesterday, for besides having something to carry (a precious
load), I was reluctant to separate myself from you. When I went to get this paper, I took my pretty handkerchief case from the drawer in which I had placed it and spent some time in silent admiration of not its beauty alone but my sweet Ruthy’s sweet personality in its every pretty tuck and fold. I could almost see your deft fingers working in and out and watch the development of the dainty embroidery. Along with this I could picture too myself near you and reading aloud while you worked. All this seemed so clear and realistic that I would not have interrupted so soon, but to write to you and tell you how silly I am. Yes Ruthy, in that Christmas present I have an excellent portrait of you, nothing lacking but your actual facial likeness, and my mind adds that. 

 

Maybe We Can Build A Snowman

Summit, NJ
Dec 21, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Since supper we have been singing some songs old and new and having just sung
“Juanita” I thought it a good place to stop and have a nice little talk with you, my love. I’m afraid I won’t be able to write you a very thoughtful letter, for David is singing and yelling like a crazy man and the noise is not conducive to pretty sentiment.

I wasn’t disappointed in my expectations tonight, Ruth and found your very nice
letter awaiting me, for which I thank you ever so much. I hope, Ruth, taking time to write me doesn’t make it necessary for you to hurry in your work. In that case, I should try to do without your letters however dear they are to me.

I’m sorry your Mother has taken cold and that Bessie is no better for they are
disagreeable things, at the least. I hope you will keep up your good record and not have any this winter, as well as all winters to come. As for mine, it still worries my head, and tonight I have a slight headache from it. 

 

I Often Wish I Could Be As Strong As Hercules

Summit, NJ
Dec 20, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

It is now a few minutes past eight and I must, before retiring, send you the good
night kisses I would have given you had I remained with you. Besides as this is Sunday evening, my thoughts are of course more than most any other time upon you and writing these few lines will bring me as near you as is possible without actually being at your side.

It is too lonesome a time for me just now as unusual it is to be away from you on this night as it is the one in seven we have always depended upon for each others company. I’m sorry it had to be so tonight for I love to be with you at the evening meetings and without having accompanied you to Christian Endeavor Service I feel that my entire duty now toward you has not been completed for the day. 

 

My Thoughts At Times Like This Travel Far into the Future

Future Will, as President of Gray Envelope Company, 1925.

(Two letters from this day….)

NY
Dec 13, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

I am going to steal some of the company’s time and stationery, also the use of their
typewriter, while I write you a few hasty lines. I have a lot to do, so must not take long.

Tell Bessie Christian Hahn, whose list she gave me this morning, has been dead for
several years and has no successor. I found one taxidermist in that locality who kept
artificial eyes, but he was so stiff in the price that I told him to keep them. I went to a
couple of other places, and not finding them in the last, asked if they knew of where I could get them, and was directed to Demuth Brothers, 89 Walker street, where I got some, but whether they will do, so far as the color is concerned, I don’t know. They told me the yellow ones were correct for most owls, but thinking they ought to be darker, I took some brown ones as well. Not knowing anything about it myself, and being confronted by a box full of all the colors in the rainbow and a few more besides, it was a rather difficult problem to solve. I sent them to Bessie by this mail, and if they are not right in color, tell her to describe to you the exact color and you can let me know what it is, and I will secure the proper ones and exchange the others. 

 

Distance Never Changes Your Position In My Heart and Thoughts

Summit, NJ
Dec 8, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

I have just a few minutes to spend talking to you, Love, for I have some things to do
before going to bed, and that you know must be early to make up for last night.

Well Ruth, how do you do tonight? A little sleepy, aren’t you? I am not very. Would
be glad to be near you tonight to spend a few pleasant hours in your company, but must make now what preparations necessary to remain with you Saturday for as I told you, I am going to Queens tomorrow and will not be home again until the next time I see you.

I am wondering if my last letter turned up yet and whether this one will be subject to the same delay.

It was 9:15 o’clock when I reached the office this A.M., the fog delaying the boat
about fifteen minutes. Luckily for me, owing to the fog also there was a rear end collision on the L road which delayed my employer and made his appearance at the office very much later than mine, thereby saving me from the bad impression my tardiness might have caused. 

 

Hours In Your Company Would Be As Minutes

Summit, NJ
Dec 7, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My own Dearest, Ruth:

I owe you a hundred apologies for not having written you before this and the only
reason I can offer for not having done so is the almost constant rush I have been in since Monday morning, which seems to have been like one long day interrupted by a couple of intervals of sleep only.

Ruth, my Dear, sympathetic Love, I am better thanks, got up at 5:20 A.M. Monday
morning feeling still a little tired but without aches of any kinds and cold seemingly much better.

I came home last night feeling assured of a letter from you awaiting me. Something
told me you had written, and when I found nobody had called for the evening mail, retired feeling very much lost without having received what you intended for me last evening.

So Ruth, your two letters came to me today and O how grateful I am to you for them.
I am always at a loss, on occasions like this, for words to express all I feel in return for your thoughtfulness and love for me. Is there anything you can do for me, you ask. My own, don’t you do more than anybody else in the world could do by just loving me as you do? I ask no more and can never repay you by all I can do in return. My life long, O, if I could but be with you tonight, to thank and kiss you for all your goodness to me. My walk home Sunday night was a very lonesome one to me and seemingly so much longer than usual. Each step seemed to take me farther from my Love, by whose side I love to linger, more perhaps at times when I am not just well, displaying the human weakness of wanting the caresses of the one I love best. I am afraid, Ruth, were I with you tonight it would be very late before I could give you up, for I know the time would go its fastest and as I feel, hours in your company would be as minutes.  

 

The Doctor and the Snake

Summit, NJ
Dec 6, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Unfortunately, I did not receive either of your letters the day you intended I should
for the same old reason of nobody having called at the P.O. for the afternoon mail.
However, they arrived in good time, so long as they reached me finally and very grateful I am to you, my Dearest, for them.

How glad I would have been tonight to have come home to be met at the threshold
by you, Dear, and to have had in prospect one of those happy evenings together, of which we have had so many.

But setting aside the imaginative; your loving letter awaited me and I found in it, if
not Ruthy herself, the very truest exemplification of her admirable traits.

In reading about the soldiers, I longed to have been with you when you made your
inspection of the ranks. Am sorry the sharpshooter on the turret of the fort succumbed in the weather of the last few days. I hope you were his guardian angel to the extent of restoring him to his dignity and position. It was rather cruel of you, and short sighted to try to drown a couple of the gallant fellows. The idea of thinking such a thing possible with wooden soldiers. In this connection, I cannot help thinking of “ivory soap.”  

 

Getting Out Early Is Not Without Its Rewards

Summit, NJ
Dec 1, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest, Ruth:

Supper over, I am going to write you a few lines tonight before retiring. Was pleased
more than I can tell you to receive your letter last night, and would have written then had I not some things to perform that could not very well have been postponed. My programme last night was to read your letter, eat supper, and read your letter again, and in anticipation of catching the 6:20 next morning, taking a hasty shave and to bed.

Well Ruth, I have the honor of addressing you now our first communication of good
old December. So far it has done very nicely for us in the line of weather. I hope it keeps up. Tonight’s paper says snow for tonight, colder weather tomorrow. I wonder if this will have been realized when you are reading this letter. When I left home this morning everything in nature seemed particularly beautiful for this season; dawn had just commenced to break in the east while the western sky was still studded with stars. One of the planets stood out in the East, I don’t know which, but seemed very large and bright. I watched this Eastern sky from the train all the way to South Orange, and it was a continually changing panorama of colors for the entire distance. No sunset I have ever seen could compare with it. It seems to me Ruth, a sunrise is most times prettier than a sunset. Of course the latter may have the most inspiration for poets in the fact that so much has been written on the setting of night, but to me a beautiful sunset is followed by night, sometimes of the blackest, while on the other hand, the beautiful eastern sky of the early dawn becomes the herald of another day of opportunities. Getting out early is not without its rewards.  

 

The Way Some People Enjoy Their Wealth

New York
Nov 24, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Good morning, Ruth, how is this for Winter.

I scribbled a few poor lines to you last night, but could find no envelope to enclose
them in. I didn’t lose any time in walking across town this morning, for it required hustling to keep warm. Don’t forget what I said about skates.

One of the men of the office is absent today. He is to be married tonight. The only
son to an only daughter. His father owns this building and several others, I believe. In fact a millionaire, yet Mr. Cary, the boys tell me, will be back to work Friday morning. This is the way some people enjoy their wealth.

Must get back to work now so will say goodbye until tomorrow, A.M. With very best
wishes for your perfect health on this Thanksgiving Eve, and that you will enjoy scores and scores of just such, I am lovingly yours,

Wm. A. Gray

 

What Great Big Silly Children We Are

Ruth presenting the turkey many years later- Thanksgiving, 1931

Summit, NJ
Nov 23, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

I read your two notes, ate supper and I note that it is 3 minutes of nine by the
cuckoo clock. Through carelessness in getting away from the office promptly, missed the 6:00 train, got the 6:10 to Summit, and walked home. I tell you there is no resemblance to Indian summer in this night. I had to rub my ears and almost run all the way home to keep from freezing.

My Dearest Ruth, I seem to make myself more of a worry to you than anything else.
I think one of the last things I told you Monday was that I am not the one to consider all the trouble I give you and your family in my frequent visits to you, for I am too humanly prone to overlook all the impositions, in my single desire to be near you. Ruth Dear, I didn’t think of any such thing as your thinking I spend too much time with you. I never think such things of you. In connection with you, I think of nothing but that you are the purest noblest loveliest of girls, and that the best I can do for you and the most I can love you, will never be quite enough to make me feel that you are receiving all you deserve. I love you with all my heart now, and perhaps what I mean in loving you more is that time when I shall have a chance, by acts, to show my love.

Ruth, when I think of last Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning and how happy I
was with you, what a delightful picture comes to my mind of our future, when being with you always cannot be questioned.  

 

All in Anticipation of A Very Pleasant Afternoon With My Love

New York
Nov 13, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

It is now 9:30 and not long since supper, for work detained me in the city so that I
didn’t get home until 7:50.

Well Ruth, I didn’t get your letter until tonight and very glad I was to have such a
very pleasant terminus of a long day.

Must go down on the 6:20 tomorrow in order to enjoy a ride with you in the
afternoon, and if through any possibility I am not on the mail train, will be on the next, but by going down early and hustling I think there won’t be any danger of my missing the 4:20.

Would very much like to write you a nice long letter, but must shave and do some
other things before going to bed, all in anticipation of a very pleasant afternoon with my love tomorrow. 

 

Tonight Even the Separated Will Be Together

Will’s sister, Hessie

22 Cliff St, New York
Nov 6, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Just a few lines for you to receive tonight, and then to hustle.

I don’t expect to get through today until late and then I am to meet Mama and put
her safely on train for Queens, L. I., where she is going to spend Sunday with Hessie. So when I get to Summit it will be after dark and too late to go to your house. In being away from you this afternoon I sacrificed my greatest pleasure, but I was the only one to pilot Mama to 31st St and in consequence will have to wait until tomorrow to be with you.

I notice that this is going to be a perfect day and I hope tomorrow will be its
counterpart. Will see you at church or after church if all goes well, and with your
permission will spend the remainder of the day with you.

If not with you tonight will be very near you and tonight even the separated will be
together as my thoughts will be divided between recollections of last Saturday and the good times of our future.

Goodbye my Dearest until tomorrow.

Ever your own

Will

 

My Dear Innocent Ruth, Don’t You know Me Yet?

Summit, NJ
Oct 28, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Here I am again, all the work of the day over, comfortably seated to have a nice little
talk with you before going to bed.

I found your letter awaiting me and notwithstanding its threats, (!), thank you for all
the pleasure found in it reading.

I hope Ethel’s next letter will be more hopeful of everything and that it will reassure
your Mother, who I’m afraid is not very easy in mind about Ethel’s health.

I see there is really nothing I could do for the dear girl that you at home could not do
ten times better by being in New York daily. I thought perhaps there might be something I could get, not obtainable in N. P.

I wrote her a lot of nonsense last night and expect she will be ready to punch me the
next time we meet. 

 

Pardon Haste, Will Write Again

Summit, NJ
Oct 26, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

I have just about time before retiring to write you about three words and as I have
exceeded that number already will change the limit to “less than 1000.”

Our horse Billy was let out this afternoon to graze in the neighboring lots and his
habit is to return at nightfall. This evening proved an exception; he did not come back nor could he be found upon making a search.

So, after supper, Dave and I had to go out and take our turn in the hunt, which like
all others, proved unavailing. With lantern we went down to St. Theresa’s gate through the long entrance and made a detour of the cemetery and came back by other paths, but no Billy. His whereabouts is now a mystery.

I tell you of this because it took the time I wanted to devote to writing you and now
shall have to curtail my letter.

I am never so busy Ruth, but that I have time to think a great deal of you. To just
stop working a minute or two, look at the two pictures I have above my desk is by far the pleasantest diversion I have and I would not give up the privilege or the use of it for millions. While your thinking of me so much has a tendency to make me conceited, I can’t say just how you may be effected by it. 

 

A Long Story About Little Or Nothing

Summit, NJ
Oct 22, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

It is now just 10:30 P.M. and I have only been home long enough to read your very
nice letter which awaited me. You will wonder why I am so late in getting home and even more when I tell you I have been on my way since 6:30. Well, I left the office shortly after 5:30 and knowing my hair was crying out for a barber’s attention, concluded to visit one, and take the 6:30 home. The barber did not work as fast as I calculated, or else I underestimated the size of the contract; at any rate, I missed the 6:30, so as the next best thing went and had supper. There is a train which leaves NY at 7:30 but which doesn’t stop at NP and not caring very much to walk from Summit, concluded to wait for the 8:30 which arrives here about the same time as I would, had I taken the earlier train and walked from Summit.

The time between I filled in by visiting an old shoemaker of ours who has a store on
Washington St, Hoboken. Caught the 8:30 all right, got to Summit on time, was ready to hop off at NP when, lo and behold, the train didn’t slack up a bit on nearing that station and noticing this, rushed back to the conductor, who was in the baggage room and without my saying a word he jumped up and pulled the cord, saying at the same time, “Why didn’t you remind me that you wanted to get off at N. P.” This I had done and he had the nerve to say he didn’t hear me. Not caring to waste any words, I asked him where we were, and he told me “Just this side of the bridge.” That being the case I did not care so much, for the distance back was not very far so I started back stumbling along between the rails as best I could in the dark. 

 

It Does Not Take One Long to Set Aside the Awfulness of Death

Will’s brother, James Garfield (Gardie) Gray died unexpectedly in 1897 at the age of 16.

Summit, NJ
Oct 21, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

I am going to devote a few moments before retiring to a nearer conversation with
you than that of this morning, at least twenty two miles nearer, and within surroundings and circumstances that will permit my talking to you, as I like best to, in letters.

I know you are worrying about me altho I should like that you wouldn’t, so will say
right here that I have felt quite well all day, ate heartily at noon and evening and was able to accomplish today’s work and what was left undone of yesterday. While tomorrow is my chilly day, I feel tonight that it isn’t going to be that way, and it is safe to say that I won’t have any more of the trouble this week, and if I can prevent it, ever.

Ruth, Dear, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed your last letter. I read it, but all the
pleasure it brought me wasn’t revealed until I read it over again. Ruth, why shouldn’t I love your letter next to loving you. Aren’t they the written impression of my Ruth’s thoughts, which I so love to listen to when in her company. 

 

Have Not Been Able to Collect My thoughts

Summit, NJ
Oct 13, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

It is now nearly 9:00 o’clock and I have just finished my evening meal, having had to
work a little later than usual today.

I found the letter which you so kindly left here on Monday and Ruth dear, I cannot
tell you how much comfort I found in your loving and sympathetic words.

There was much you said that I would like to have written about had I an
opportunity, but Ruth, I have been so very busy that I could not take a single minute of office hours for writing and to do so at night was impossible, as I have not been able to collect my thoughts sufficiently to do anything but go to bed. 

 

A Supernatural Intuition of All My Needs

Summit, NJ
Oct 4, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

Your letter was handed me upon reaching home tonight and even tho I was with you
as late as this A.M. was very glad to have something which at least brought me very near you. Ruth, you seem to have a sort of supernatural intuition of all my needs. Just the times when I most want a letter from you, I always have it.

I reached the Doctor’s office about 8:40, only to find that he left his home about
7:00 A.M. on some emergency call and I was informed would not be back until evening. What an unfortunate destiny mine seems to be shaping to. However, I will try him again and the third time certainly ought to land the fish (excuse slang). I’m afraid I cannot try to see him tomorrow, for I have already been very late at the office two successive mornings and I really can’t take another this week, work has piled up so that I can’t seem to make any headway in getting through it, and I either have to close my books at the end of the month, or give up and let them get someone else to do it. Am determined to see the Doctor tho, and will take the very first opportunity to do so.  

 

Klondike! Land of Gold and Ice

Summit, NJ
Oct 4, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

I want to study stenography some tonight, but before doing so must write you a few
short lines to express my best wishes for your health when this reaches you and hope that you have fully regained your usual good health and spirits, that were suspended over Sunday. As I have no means of knowing just how you feel, it will at least afford me some relief of mind to write you these wishes trusting at the same time that they have already been relieved.

Well, Ruth, only twenty-four hours have passed since I left you, and that is almost
too short a space to furnish material to write about. I found last night in coming home that I am still able to push a bicycle, and think by Saturday shall be able to follow you wherever you lead. My appetite has returned so suddenly that I can’t seem to get enough to satisfy it and I can almost feel the new tissue forming on my bones, (don’t laugh). 

 

Your Letters Are Part of the Remedy I Could Not Do Without

Ruth

22 Cliff St, NY
Sept 15, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

Just a few lines to night and then to bed for although feeling much better am rather
tired out.

I expected to hear from you tonight and of course was not disappointed. O Ruth,
how lucky we are to have the U. S. mail to fall back on, on occasions like this. To be
denied the pleasure of being with you is to me the worst part of being unwell, and your letters are a part of the remedy I could not do without.

Well Ruth, I don’t know what to think of myself: getting sick for the slightest cause. I
suppose I shall have to follow Dr. G’s advice, and will try to do all he told me. Of course I shall need your help.

Let us talk about something else, Ruth, for a little while. I am really giving more
thought to next week than my late illness, so you see I am not worrying. It may be that I shall have to forego our much thought of trip to Hopatcong, which is another great sacrifice in order to get well. We can postpone it for some holiday, Election Day, if it is not too cold. 

 

I Had Another of Those Attacks Today

Summit, NJ
Sept 14, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dear Ruth:

Let me first ask your pardon for writing you with pencil, but know already you will
freely grant it. I cannot hope to make of this what might be termed a letter, so perhaps a pencil is proper in this case. You know this pencil; it is very short and thin and lodges in your pocket. I can’t write very well with it, but I’m afraid just now I’d do worse with ink, and although I have handier pencils, this being a familiar one to you, I thought you would more easily excuse its use. This is a lot of nothing by way of introduction Ruth, and now to the purpose of the effort. I had another of those attacks today similar to Sunday’s and came home on the 4:30 train from NY and would have found you here, I am told, had I gone to West Summit and walked over. Father was with me and he thought it best not to do any walking so I got off in Summit and waited for Mr. Budd. I’m sorry we were so near each other and didn’t meet and I thank you ever so much for coming over. I don’t like to write much about myself, especially in this strain, so will get through and go to bed. I am under the advice of Dr. Gray, and have taken his remedy now and must take more before
retiring. He advises that I keep out of night air for awhile, take lots of sleep and eat good plain food and I shall be all right. It will be best Ruth, for me not to go out tomorrow evening, as I must get rid of this, and quickly, for your sake, dear and my own. I want to work tomorrow as I go away next week anyhow and must give all my attention to getting through and well for the holiday. I will not go down tomorrow unless it is safe to do so, and if you receive this on the morning train, it will indicate that I am feeling well enough to go to New York, mailing this at Summit. Write me, Ruth, if you will please, as I shall want to hear from you when things prevent me from seeing you. I will write you again tomorrow, Pet, and tell you how I am, which I am sure will be much better than now.

Take good care of yourself, Ruth, and accept my best love.

Will
Pardon this last note, will be better tomorrow.

Will

Will try to furnish more respectable stationery tomorrow, Ruth

Good night

Will

 

I’m Sure I Wanted Nothing More

Summit, N. J.
Sep 13, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My own dearest Ruth:

Your letter awaited my home coming tonight and the reading of it was of course, the
greatest possible pleasure. I didn’t really expect to hear from you so early in the week and did not look for a letter upon arriving home, as is usual, and nobody told me that there was one, so I was half through super before discovering it on the side-boards. I always like best to be alone when reading your letters, if that be possible, so finished up my meal and retired to my room, where I could be entirely alone with you, Love. Do you know, my great, noble, Ruth, all your expressions of sympathy and love made my heart beat in great throbs and I longed to be near that pure unselfish girl, to kiss and thank her.

A word or two about myself. I am not your poor sick Will tonight, Dear, but am feeling very much like myself once more. Neither poor nor sick, Ruth, tonight. Was pretty well used up when I got home last night, perhaps for hurrying faster than I should of. I didn’t lose any time in getting to bed, after taking two drahms of Warburg’s tincture. I over slept, not waking up until about 6 o’clock, which made it impossible to take the 6:20 as I had intended. I was glad to find upon waking that my bone aches had nearly all gone; what remained was in my left arm, it feeling much
as though I had been throwing a baseball all day Sunday. However, Ruth, “All’s well that ends well,” and as it stands now, I am very nearly as good as ever. I will be very careful in future to keep clear of dangerous drafts, and in doing that will avoid future trouble.  

 

So Long As It Receives Your Hearty Approval

Iron Clad Manufacturing Co
22 Cliff St, NY
Sept 7, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

Without much effort, I managed to make connections with the 6:20 train at N. P. this
morning and had the pleasure of accompanying your sisters to the Day Line boat, where I left them comfortably seated at 8:05. What a glorious day they have for the trip. Do you know, Ruth, I rather envied those I saw on that boat this morning; everything was so attractive, it was very reluctantly I tore myself away.

Suppose Ethel secures a room that will in case of emergency accommodate two.

Suppose next week fair and balmy, wouldn’t it be fun to use a couple of days in going to Albany and return. The sail, on a nice day, is certainly one of the finest the world affords. The scenery is magnificent and withal, I can find nothing in my mind to compare with it, except an occasional vision of our future steam yacht. We could go up one day, you stay with Ethel while I bunk a room in a hotel, and return next day, or if it were worth while, remain in Albany a day and sail for NY the next. Now, Ruth, this is merely a suggestion, which seemed to me plausible, and to be treated by you just as you please. Don’t think I have set my heart upon making this trip, for there are a thousand and one things we can do next week, anyone of which will afford pleasure to me, so long as it receives your hearty approval. 

 

Ladies Home Journal

22 Cliff St
New York, NY
Aug, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dearest Ruthy:

For the past two evenings, just about this time when the day’s work just closed and
the night’s not begun, my thoughts have, for a little while, winged themselves away to New,Providence and I have enjoyed the nearness to you which always comes when writing you a letter– altho those I wrote you this week were little more than notes.

I want to tell you I received your interesting letter of yesterday with all that came
between the lines! It came to me just after I returned from lunch or dinner rather. Your ring I got while out and it is now “as good as new” and as I look at it now where you saw it last, on my little finger, it seems very bright indeed. I had secured two boxes and was going to securely pack and send it to you by registered mail but since reading your letter will be glad to do as you request. I will wear it in the day time and at night (this and tomorrow) will put it in a box and under my pillow beside my watch. Saturday afternoon will see it back where it belongs if nothing happens to me. 

 

Not Iron Clad Kisses

Summit, NJ
July 27, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My own Dear Ruth:

I did not get home early tonight, it being a little later than usual – 7:50 – so after
eating supper I find it is now after nine o’clock, and being a little weary shall not undertake to write you a long letter although I should very much like to do so.

Well, my dear Ruthy, I found your very kind loving letter awaiting me. It is needless
to tell you what pleasure its contents gave me.

I owe you an apology for not promptly filling your order delivered this P.M. by Bob,
and for which you so kindly paid doubly for in advance. Had I read your note before Bob left, I would at least have sent you what you asked for, but in larger quantities for Ruth, I could not, in fairness to you, accept twice as many kisses from you for a very inferior quality from me. “Business is business.” However, Ruth, if not too late, I send you now dozens and dozens of kisses, not “Iron Clad” ones, but the tenderest and sweetest of kisses, of which, for my Ruth, I shall always have an abundant store.  

 

I Cannot Tell You Anything About My Love for You, But What You Know by Heart

22 Cliff St, NY
July 22, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

The inventory is finished and I am glad to tell you I won’t have to work tonight.

Three nights have been occupied with it and that is enough for one week, although I do not feel any the worse for it except that my drowsiness just now will interfere with my writing you a very interesting letter.

Monday night I just missed the last train (12:00) and had to remain in NY.
Tuesday and Wednesday, I just got up and left so as to catch the 10:45, bringing me to N. P. at 12:05, which I thought was late enough.

Last night, I was so sleepy I couldn’t walk straight, and when I got home, didn’t
loose any time in getting into bed. Thinking of you then, I wondered if you hadn’t written, or at least I seemed to feel that you had and getting up, went downstairs and found your letter. I was all awake then, Ruth, and I cannot tell you what pleasure the reading of it caused me. 

 

Working Late

22 Cliff St, NY
July 14, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

While I have a few moments before the rush begins, I am going to indulge in the
very unusual pastime of addressing a few morning lines to you.

Well Ruth, Dear, how do you do on this beautiful clear comfortable summer
morning? The country has gotten what it needs in the shape of rain and in good generous quantities too. You will doubtless find much to admire and in the sweet freshness of all nature outdoor today, when I’m sure even chicken feeding (which is sometimes tiresome) will become a pleasure. It makes me feel like quitting work here and going out to work and play with you. I have a weakness for picnic times, Ruth, the indulgence of which is as strong today as any bad habit in others. 

 

Happiness Is the Greatest Essential

View from Barrell house.

Summit, NJ
July 7, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Two long days have elapsed since I finally parted with you Monday night and it
seems so long when I think of two more having to go before seeing you again. I must try and shorten the time a little by writing you. Perhaps at this very moment you are writing me and it seems a very pleasant thought that we can each be doing something at the same time which will result in the other’s happiness tomorrow.

Well. Ruth, Pet, I have been thinking and worrying about you ever since I left you,
and will be glad when tomorrow evening comes, and with it a letter telling me you haven’t had to work so hard and that you are well and happy. I hope you haven’t had to work either of these hot days in that hotter kitchen and that you have been able to take some time for rest and play.

I cannot quite forgive myself for having kept you up so late on Monday, having been
with you all day, and knowing so well how much you needed rest. I have always treated you just the same Ruthy and I often wonder afterwards how I can be so unkind to the one I love so well. This occurred to me most forcibly Ruth after leaving you last, and although I have many times expressed a purpose to do better without success, I think with this latest lesson I shall be alert to treat you with loving and tender consideration. Ruth, Love, if I cannot adhere to this latest promise, I certainly will be no longer worthy of your love. 

 

Getting Old and Dignified

Will, 1924

22 Cliff St, NY
June 17, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

With not very much to do, naturally my mind reverts to thoughts of you and the
happy, though short interval spent with you last night.

Last night was a record breaker, Ruth. Do you know, I was home and just about
ready to go to bed when the Cuckoo struck for half past ten.

The six twenty train was my getting up signal this morning, it made such a lot of
noise puffing and snorting at the station. While on my way to the 7:07, looking at the
ground and thinking of what you might be doing at the same time, I came upon the four leaf clover which I enclose. Without thinking to wish, I plucked it, but I have tried to make amends for my forgetfulness by kissing it three or four times when I thought of sending it to you.  

 

Each Represents a Kiss to You

Inside the Barrell house.

Summit, NJ
June 15, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My dear Ruthy:

I have only finished supper and read your letter a second time, but the cuckoo has
just called nine so you see I haven’t many minutes left before bedtime. The little while I have I want to use in talking to my Darling, principally to thank her for the pleasure she gave me after this long, long day, in so delightful a letter. After I had read it over twice Ruth, it really seemed as though I hadn’t been away from you at all, and all my time since Sunday had been spent in playing hide and seek with the little ones, making it difficult for you to feed the chickens, going for walks, and all the different pursuits I so love when you are my companion. This perhaps explains why all your letters do a very great deal to shorten what would otherwise be a very long separation.

Dearest Ruth, I thank you with all the fullness of my love for the brightness you cast
along my path, and while my thanks are but words now, it will be my constant aim that they will be changed to deeds as early as possible.