Dear Daddy – The Farm Letters

My Dear Johnnie boy,

I received your nice card this morning and I was sure glad to get it. I did send you some nails but will send you some of the smaller ones so you can make your moving picture machine. I am glad you are getting along fine. Gee but I was sorry to hear that Mitzi had been hurt and hope she gets over it soon. Be sure to write and tell me how she is, and tell me what you are making and doing.

Well now I will tell you about my fishing trip yesterday. I had the alarm clock set for 5:30 and got up as soon as it rang, and started making pancakes and before we were thru breakfast Manley Anderson came up to get us. Pashmeyer and Wallstrom were with him. Well we went up the river where we caught so many the other day but the day was real cloudy and the bass were not biting good, altogether we got 27 Red Horse, 3 suckers and 30 bass. I only caught 2 bass and 2 suckers and I don’t know how many red horse I got, only I caught more than any one of the others and one of the suckers I caught weighed 4 pounds it was the biggest fish that was caught. I had about 15 or 20 of the fish strung on a chain and fastened to my belt, and once when I was walking over to another place in the river the chain got loose and started floating down the river. I had to jump to catch them and I got the sleeve of my jacket all wet reaching in after them.

I got home at twelve thirty and then went down and chiseled 4 hours work. I got thru a little after 8 o’clock and I am marked off again today.

How does your new jackknife work? Is it still sharp? Mamma told me that you had cut your fingers a couple of times. You must be more careful and keep your fingers back of the blade when you are cutting. You must help keep the wood box full for mamma for you know that is what Daddy does when he is home and now it’s up to you to take my place till I get there. Gee John, I wish I was up there now with you. I bet we would have lots of fun together. I am going to try to get up soon though and visit you folks. Well I hope I get another letter from you soon. Lots of love from Daddy

My Dear Little Johnnie Boy

Daddy is mighty pleased with the nice birthday presents you sent. I think the handkerchiefs are the nicest I’ve seen. Thanks lots.

Well John I am coming to see you soon so (consider yourself hugged and kissed) How is Mitzi and the little cats? Does she like them?

Help mamma all you can with the garden so we will have lots of good things to eat. And John I think you folks had better go over to that meadow that’s on the North West corner of our place and see if there are any wild strawberries there. Mamma and I found lots of the plants there and I think they should be ripe about now, and you had better see about it before someone else does.

Well John I must write to Ruth so by by with love from

Daddy ( I’ll be seein’ you)

My dear Johnnie boy

I received your nice letter this morning and I will send you one gopher trap and if you get along good with it I will send you more. Be awfully careful if Mitzi Is with you that she don’t get caught in it. Are you going to catch them at school?

I am feeling pretty well except I have caught cold and I have a big cold sore on my lip. It rained awful hard here last night. I don’t believe I ever saw so much water on Lake Street. It was knee deep in places. I have worked 3 night runs in a row on Selby Lake and I have drove them all, and 2 nights in the rain. Its hard to see out when its raining. Last night I did not get home till 3 o’clock. Oh say John I got me a rain coat just like yours and I am sure glad to have it for it rained all the while I was walking home last night but I had my high boots on so did not get wet.

Have you had time to do any more with your log cabin? Well John I must close so by-by with

lots of love from your Daddy

My dear John,

I wish I could have been with you today. It is so lonesome here without Mamma and you kiddies. Today is going to be a long one. I got up at 4:30 this morning and thought I could get a day run along with my night run but so few laid off that I only made about a dollar extra taking cars over to the Snelling shops where they are repaired. Today is nice here, the sun is nice and warm and there is no wind, just a fine day to be outdoors. I want you to write and tell me how you spent Thanksgiving. Tell me about the games you played and about your dinner and everything. I got to the station so early and I did not get any work until 8:30, so I rolled up my coat for a pillow and laid on the bench for a while. Have you seen any more deer? I have seen quite a few dead ones being brought into Mpls. on autos. I hope you and I can get some game this winter. Have you the sled up there? How do the new overshoes go on and off?

I believe I am coming down with a horrid old cold. Well Johnnie, I want to write to Ruth so lots of love from Daddy.

Dear John,

Daddy has not had a letter from you for quite a while and I sure hope I get a nice long one from you tomorrow. Have you seen any more nice little fawns? I bet they looked pretty. How close to them did you get?

Tonight is Halloween and I suppose you will have your program in school this afternoon. I wish I could hear you speak your piece. Will you copy it and send it to me? I hope you help Mama get in wood every day because that is a boy’s chore and seeing as how Daddy’s away you will help for me. Did you get the Halloween things I sent? I did not try the whistles but hope they will work. Have you caught any mice in the traps yet? I don’t think of any more news so bye-bye with lots of love.

Daddy