Letters to Alice: Birth of the Kleberg-King Ranch Dynasty

My Little Darling

73 1884–1887 Now I must stop my letter talk for here come my friends Mrs. [Gostessy?] and Mr. [Keenan?] whom I have promised to take to church. Now it is time for us to go. So now goodby for the present. If I was prepared to write in my room I would write more tonight for I always like to have a chat with my little darling when “coursed sun is en rapt in sleep: and silence reigns supreme,” but this time I fear I will not have that pleasure, so now again goodby until I see you next week. Be careful of your health and when we meet, our ecstacy [sic] will be so sweet, my Little Darling, that it will make up for the many hours of bitter separation. Goodby—kiss mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Yours U D U D P RJK Apparently Robert and Alice had developed a code that they used occasionally in their letters. The ending of this letter is an example of that. My Little Darling  [Addressed to] Miss Alice G. King, Santa Gertrudis, Collins, Texas Thursday 1 AM Corpus Christi January 1st 1885 My Dear Little Heart— If I were not afraid that illness was the cause of my not hearing from you tonight I would scold you terribly. I have felt so disappointed at not getting a word from you by tonight’s mail that I hardly knew what to do. First I said well I don’t feel like writing to her now so I betook myself to reading a book.The title is Alice, and I read until the old year had silently passed into the ocean of eternity. 74 The Love Letters Then I quit reading and sat by the fire and listened to the mournful requiem of the norther over the [cow?] pens. Then I looked out on the bay where the boats were tossing over the rough waters. No comfort in all that. I finally turn again to My Little Heart—for I know I can’t sleep until I wish her a happy New Year and perhaps (?) she is looking for a word from me today, and I will not disappoint her for I feel too keenly how I miss that greeting myself. But I was not going to grumble any more. I know it is not your fault, my little Darling. I left your father and mother this evening about 71/2 to take my supper and from there to the mail and from there to the Presbyterian Sunday School Xmas tree. It was a success from all appearances, for the little children seemed happy over their presents. Your father & mother as well as usual. Again a happy New Year. Now good night, my Little Heart! (Kisses) Yours RJK The Presbyterian church was apparently celebrating a version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, with the First Day being December 26. Robert was writing this letter on January 1, which would have been the Seventh Day of Christmas. January 6, celebrated in some religious traditions as Epiphany, is the Twelfth Day of Christmas.  [The envelope for this letter from W. P. Caruthers is missing.] Corpus Christi March 29, 1885 Sunday Miss King: Of all the compliments passed on the Collins Exposition number that have come to me through the press by letter or by word of mouth, there is not one that I appreciate as highly as 75 1884–1887 the few words from you. I feel sure you would not pay me a false compliment, for there is no cause for it; and I don’t believe you deal in flattery at any time. I give you credit for sincerity. And I know you are fully competent in every way to pass judgment on the merits and demerits of such a production. So few persons are. Please believe that I would not attempt to flatter you There is so much of adverse criticism and so little that is cheering in the life of a journalist that kind words and good wishes expressed by one whom he has every reason to hold in the highest esteem, come like rays of sunshine out of the cloudy, wintry sky. Could I have carried out all my plans in producing the illustrated number it would have been more worthy of your good words. I thank you. I learn with sincere regret that your father’s health is not improving...