CEHBates_JanFeb1919_020a

"At Home" 727 Paru Street.
January 1st 1919!
Alameda California

My own dear Edward

A Happy New Year to you
dear heart and many many
of them.

I want to send you our wishes
on this very day — Write them
at least to send our wishes that
this New Year will bring happiness
in its train & bring you safe
home to us. 1918 has
been a hard [underlined] year [underlined] & I hope
1919 will be more merciful —
yet we have reason as

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As I think Helen would be about due at Marietta today
Dear old Nor will be so glad