Dear Daddy – The Farm Letters

Dear James,

Thanks a lot for the presents you sent me. They are all lovely. The children woke me long before daylight to look at them. We would have sent you some birthday cake but thought the candy would carry better. We haven’t been anywhere since you were here so yesterday being a lovely warm day we walked over to Rood’s. Mrs. Rood had gone to Hubbard so we walked over to Vokes for the rest of the afternoon and stayed for supper. Henry took us home in the sleigh afterward, about 8 o’clock.

(Next morning)

Vokes came for the second cord of wood. It is quite cold again. I got a letter from Anna this morning. I didn’t sleep very well last night. The house was cold when we got home and I drank a cup of coffee for supper. These people are hard to understand, they always make so many wise cracks about city folks a good deal like you do. It seems so silly. Each one knows best about their own way of living and working, why run the other fellow down because he doesn’t know someone else’s job as well as his own? I don’t pretend to know much about farming but I do hope the garden and chickens etc. turn out well and that will speak louder than words.

The wood pile looks good to me as I sit here by the table. Except for that one cord that Vokes took it looks just as it did when you left. We have quite a few big chunks underneath the pile. I piled some of the small stuff in the woodshed yesterday.

We wish you were here. We got a seed catalogue and have been picking out what we’d like to raise. They have the Dolga crab listed there. Well I must get busy at something. We’ll be looking for a letter from you tomorrow. Hope you are well and that Esther is feeling better and your Mother too. Sometimes it seems as tho we can’t stand it any longer here without you or some one with us. It may be better when you are here. Love from us all, Martha

The mailman got thru yesterday and brought your package. What you sent will last until the middle of Feb. The children say thanks for the paper and calendars. The garters, rickrack and buttons are just right, It was snowing again this morning but has stopped. There are 9 inches of snow on the level. There is lots of good wood in the pile yet, the small sticks are heavy and give off a good heat. We are all feeling fine. I’m going to work at the sheep skin today. I’ll melt snow for soft water. The children are playing store and send love. Martha

Dear James

We were glad to get your letter. It snowed all day and all night and today we are snowbound for fair. John is out making paths and Ruth was out before him so I have lots of help. I don’t know whether the mailman will be able to get thru today. There is lots of snow but it is light and dry. Everything looks beautiful. How would it be if you sent Gores a little money now, say 5 or 10 dollars and agreed to pay the rest at $10 a month? You must do something about it soon and I believe they will be reasonable.

I must close now. I hope Esther gets along well. Keep us posted. We haven’t heard any more wolves but it is an eerie sound, makes the chills run up and down your spine.

Love from us all, Martha