Llano County, TX - Letters:  Lutie M. Watkins to Juan F. McLean, Dec. 4, 1906
Thursday, June 13, 2002

Submitted by:  lab@boone.net  (Linda Barton)
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Transcribed from a letter in my possession.  Written to Juan Fernandez McLean of 
Fayette Co, Ga from his niece, Lutie McLean Watkins of Llano, Texas.  

                                                          San Antonio, Texas
                                                          Dec. 4, 1906

My Dear Uncle,

      I guess you thought you'd make one letter on me.  I'd come off down here and be 
"cut up" and then the answer to my letter would not be necessary - but here I am not 
lifeless yet -  On the 19th of November six doctors and two nurses held "high carnival" 
over my carcass but I survived.  Will have permission about Saturday to get up.  I have 
done so perfectly fine and the best of it all is that the physician says I will be a 
strong woman.

     You know any operation where an incision is made in the abdomen is uncertain.  When 
I got on the chloroform table I didn't know that I'd open my eyes in this life but I want 
to tell you that I was not the least distressed about the consequences to myself for God 
was so very near to me.  Such sweet peace and comfort - only one thing that made me sad 
was dear old George who was trying to be so brave and I knew would be so lonely should 
I not return.  I am willing to give up the supposed pleasures of the world for one moments 
supreme comfort such as I had in the critical moment.  When I began to come to I was 
struggling not knowing what was the matter.  George  said "Lutie be still or you will break 
the stitches."  The sound of his voice made me rational instantly.  The nurse had been 
talking to me, but what she said didn't attract my attention at all.   I told George to 
send in his bill that he had been more beneficial than anyone else.  He thinks he'll get 
it in all the years to come when I won't break down so quick.  I have been here since the 
6th of Nov.  Doctor gave me treatment for a number of days - Dr. Herff?  is such a wonderful 
man - he has made some miraculous cures.  Do wish that Mollie could be under him.  He is a 
surgeon and of course may cut too often but his cuttings surely are successful.  I am in 
the infirmary and everyday he has here three and four operations.  Guess he does almost as 
much as every doctor in state as they come here to him from all places.  George stayed until 
they knew all danger was passed and I have been left to the mercies of the nurses.  One would 
think I'd be lonely, but I get along fine.  After ten days I could read a little and have 
been working on an outline of the Life of Christ and studying the harmony of the gospels.  
How very interesting it is, and how helpful.  I have finished or will today the second year 
of Christ's ministry.  I began with the annunciation, took his childhood, youth, baptistm 
and then his two first years.  You don't know how much easier it is to take it this way.  
I'm delighted.  Of course the last year will be so much longer and harder.  This is the 
course I told you I was going to take from Vanderbilt University.  I began in summer and 
wrote one paper (they said I had done very well  indeed)  but I felt too mean to ever 
complete it.  If they will allow me to finish this late I will do so and if you want to 
read my "Life of Christ" i'll send my MSS to you.  Guess you can survive it?  Then I met 
a number of well people here who are with their sick - the girls who are taking nurse 
training come in and chat - and best of all a business friend of George's sends me fresh 
flowers.  This morning he sent an immense bouquet of violets and my room is filled with 
the fragrance.  They were laden with dew.  Flowers are God's messengers truly.  I get a 
letter every day from George and then one from one of the others or a friend.  The pastor 
of the church here is a personal friend and has been nice.  

      I enclose a Thanksgiving program he left with me the evening before Thanksgiving.  
I liked the hymn on first page and memorized it one stanza each day and before I was through 
the first one I was so filled with the spirit of Thanksgiving that I'm sure not one soul at 
the church had a richer feast than I all alone.  Can't we  get good out of things very 
unexpectedly......

     Yesterday I began to do a little work for Santa Clause.  I have in fact  been quite 
a happy patient tho not once has my head been off the pillow have not raised up at all.  
This is enough about me but I knew you'd want to know all little things.  Do hope you have 
not been ill again or any of your dear ones.  I hoped to hear from you that John was perfectly 
well again.  How I'd  like to be with you this Xmas also.  My last holidays were surely 
precious to me and I love to think of them often.  I still laugh when I think of those 
musical children that came to see us.  Don't know when I'll get home, but when you feel 
like writing can direct it there and if I'm not, George will send to me.  

     Much love to you and all the children and their children and may God bless you and 
keep you.


                                            Lovingly,    Lutie


Santa Rosa Infirmary
Room 14, 3rd Floor