Voyle Oliver Brunner worked on the railroad as a telegrapher, and he met Margaret Irene Simmons on one of his many stops in Riparia, Wash., a railroad town along the banks of the Snake River in southwestern Whitman County.
They were married 21 April 1914, but this letter predates their wedding by a year and a half. Their only daughter, Mary Alice, was born a year later, 6 March 1915, in Riparia.
Colfax, Wn
Dec 25-1912
Dear:-
Merry Xmas dear. I'm sending you a little token of our friendship which I hope you will accept in the true light of friendship in which it is given. I was hoping I could be there with you today but cannot.
I
would like to get down there before you leave, but I don't know whether I can
or not.
I'm writing this in a hurry to get it on No. 7. I'll let you know whether I can get there before you leave.
I wish you and all the rest of them there the merriest kind of Xmas.
Keep for yourself all the love I am capable of giving.
Love
Voyle.