Warm Embrace of Home

Two Aylmer Boys Return Home 1905, Part: 9

Oct 9, 1905 from Mary to Fred, probably in Fairfax, Manitoba, “Ever since Frank came home I have been trying to get a chance to write to you but there has been so much going on and so many in that I really could not get time. It is now a quarter to ten but I am going to write anyway. They didn’t get home till Friday as the boat was late but Frank stood the trip just fine. Pa bought a very comfortable upholstered chair in Port Arthur for him and brought him all the way in that only of course at night he would be in his berth. They could raise and lower the back so he could sit up or lie down. Pa said he knew he never could bring him comfortable any other way and then when they got on the train they came in the baggage car. 

Poor boy it would have done your heart good to see how pleased he was to get home. Yesterday there were just forty three people here to see him and today about a dozen. Yesterday there were grandma and Everett, uncle William and aunt Lizzie. Mr and Mrs Mahlou Lyons, Dr and Mrs Kennedy and Elwyn, Georgie Johnson, Mrs Mahlou Matthews. Mrs Johnson, Mr and Mrs Leonard Auger, Mr and Mrs Rutherford, and Jean and Walter and Mrs Fred Rutherford, Mr and Mrs Andrews, Leon Dancey, Maynard Carter, Ed Moor, and nearly every boy in the neighborhood and I forgot but shouldn’t have, John Will Cascadden who brought two large watermelons. He said one was Frank’s and the other mine.

Frank eats and sleeps well and don’t you say one word about it to Claude or anyone but they are not real sure that right foot is doing just right. They told him at the Hospital two or three weeks ago that they thought he would have to have another operation so that was why he was so anxious to get home and I think he was homesick too. He said he made up his mind if it had to be done it would not be there if he could possibly get home. You see the flaps that is the skin they draw over the wound to heal all died so it leaves it all bare and they told him at the Hospital the bone was bare but we had Riddell and Kingston both here this morning and they encouraged us quite a little. They said the bone seemed to be covering some and the wound had started to draw together a little in the natural way and they advised him to leave it alone for two or three weeks and see what nature would do perhaps it might be all right and if not they would operate on it then. If they do they think they will have to take a V shaped piece out of the top of the instep and then let the sides draw together but I dont hope they won’t have to do any m ore operating for poor dear he has suffered so much now but he is so patient and cheerful. He thought himself if he had to have another operation he would have the foot off for he is afraid if he has any more off it would weaken the ankle so it would never be of any use to him and perhaps they wouldn’t get enough the second time and if there is any more we want sure work of it. The Drs there said they tried to save too much. We thought by what we could see and hear that Kingston was more built up on it than Riddell although he seemed quite hopeful too. If anything more has to be done we are going to send for Vi she told us before she went and has written since for us to be sure and let her know if she was needed for anything and she would come right away. (Tuesday morning).

Poor Tom came home last night and everyone thinks to die. It was nearly dark where he came but weak as he was he would come over and see Frank a few minutes. When he came in he was so short of breath that he couldn’t speak more than two or three words at a time. The Drs told him it has gone to his lungs so he says it is all up with him. We think our trouble is hard but Smith’s is a great deal harder for we expect Frank to be getting better but Tom will be getting worse.

Oh Fred I just wishes you could have seen and heard Tom where he came in last night. He shook hands and put the other hand on my shoulder and said “Oh Mrs Benner you are a good woman, Oh you are a good woman, I don’t know what I ever could have done if it hadn’t been for you.” I told him I didn’t do very much only just a tiny little bit of it. But I was so glad the neighbours sent him that purse. He only stayed a few minutes last night but said he would try and come over again today.”

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