Finding Themselves: The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in FranceStimson, Julia C. (Julia Catherine)
History
Finding Themselves: The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in France
Stimson, Julia C. (Julia Catherine)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
We are so glad people are sending us things for our men for Christmas.
Oh, they need them so badly, the poor, poor things, and we want them to
have a wonderful Christmas, and they are sure to. For many of our
friends are sending us things or money for them. The underwear I have
heard from, from Paris, and it ought to arrive soon. The _Outlook_ has
begun to come and is fine. We shall enjoy that tremendously, for it
condenses things for us in a way we need. I could use some more
bed-socks, high ones. We have to wear them in bed, and I find that by
putting the pajama leg inside the sock, my legs and feet are very
comfortable. I’d like them to come nearly to the knees; any color will
do.
We were so glad to know about your service flag. I wish we could have a
picture of it, as we don’t know what it is like. The cold cream you sent
I wanted very much. I have to use quantities of it to keep from
chapping, and we can’t get any glycerine over here. Some of my nurses
have such dreadfully chilblained hands and feet, and they are so
painful.
D.’s letters are very interesting. Please thank her for them. I just
can’t write and answer them all. You’ve no idea how many strangers I
have to write to,--in the States, I mean,--answering questions and
acknowledging gifts; but I just love to get the letters from the girls;
I can’t write them often. I’m snowed under now with letters that need to
be answered.
You must think of us over here as having one of the happiest Christmases
possible. Our work is pitiful, but we are at peace in our hearts and
very happy to be here. I never felt so at peace and quiet in my mind. We
have a very big and vital work to do right here and that is enough, and
we are blessed beyond all words to be here and able to do it.
I believe there is more real peace on earth in men’s and women’s hearts
now in the midst of this world turmoil than has ever been known before.
No one should be sorry for us, for any of us who are here in connection
with the army. You can’t be sorry enough for the wounded and sick, but
most of them too are very peaceful, undisturbed, and unafraid. Oh I wish
I could tell you what all this is meaning, as I see it. Maybe some day I
can, for every day I am seeing things more clearly, but as yet I can’t
write it all down,--after a while perhaps. We talk about it, from time
to time, some of us, every once in a while, and oh, dear people, no
greater thing can ever come into any one’s life than this chance of
ours,--to get away from little things and self and to know what the
things of the Spirit are, and what true values really are.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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