Saturday, July 5th 1913

My Darling Husband:--

I rec’d your letter this a.m., and I sure enjoyed every word of it. Sweetheart, you did not tell me if you passed the State Board exams and got your certificate, but I feel quite sure that you did, as you said the exams were reasonable. Thanks for the badge. I kissed it when I took it out of the envelope because I knew that you had touched it and perhaps had worn it over your heart that is not all yours any more, but part mine. Honey, do you realize that part of your heart belongs to someone else? I’d love so much to have you with me this evening. That happy week that sailed so quickly by… I wonder if there will be another something like it sometime soon. I hope so. While I miss you, still, I feel a contentment I had never felt before since I have been your wife. And dearest, I hope you feel the same. But I am quite sure you do, as I can judge by your dear letters. They mean so much to me, and if it were not for them, I could not stand the thought of the many miles that are between us. The thought of us being together sometime, for all the time, seems almost too good to be true.

Who were the classmates you met? --Lester ‘phoned this a.m. to ask about you, and your aunt this afternoon. The reason they aren’t writing is because your aunt’s father is very ill, they told me to tell you again, and that he had lost his mind.

How are your patients? Chas. Wm. is such a fatherly boy. He wants every colt [filly] he sees. Papa and I were out riding yesterday morning, and the way he would nicker for every [filly] he saw was a fright. You would have thought that he was the mother of them. I was holding him in front of the Palace Bakery, and Papa was in the bakery and a [filly] passed and he liked to had a fit over it, he wanted to play with her so badly. And the poor thing, just think, he never can have a [filly]. I wonder if Bobby can. Ha! Ha! I hope not for a few years. Ha! Ha!

Wilson came along, in front of the bakery and stopped to talk, the little pee wee, and said, "Did you say you were going to take me some place in the swing?" I told him I was waiting for my father. So then he jabbered a little more and moved on.

How did you get along in the parade? Fine, I hope. I haven’t seen Louie lately, but I imagine he will graduate about next Feb. Don’t you? Mamma and I have finished reading Maurine. It is real good; a sad, sweet love story.

Everything was quiet along the Patomic here yesterday, except the report of a few fire crackers and the commotion of the people who left on the various trains to celebrate someplace else. I think we would have gone someplace if it wasn’t so piping hot. But of course, 4th of July weather can’t often be depended upon to produce many shivers.

I hope I get a long letter from you Monday.

With Best Love
Your loving wife,
Clara Gibson Lay

If you were here, you may be sure my hand would be about you someplace. 1st around your neck, next, let me see… Well you might guess where it would be.

P.S. You might give Bobby his etiquette lesson so he can teach Marguerite, as she is so queer and backward and easily hurt, which is no joke. Ha! Ha!

Sure I notice the little v’s [L’s?]. Wonder if anyone else does.