Mary Harvey to Ruth and Andrew Fletcher, 1884 October 28
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When I wrote you last I thought I should soon get time to write you at length. I
have had a hard summer, not that the work has
been so very heard but it has been more than I was able to do and if by any
chance there was a minute to sit down I have been so tired and trembling that I
could not write I am feeling some better the last few days and perhaps may
continue to if it keeps cool Clark is Teaching at Simpson a small Town about 22
miles
East on the K.P. R.R. he has already had 70, schollar's and
is likely to have still more It is like all the Town schools in the West a Nine
months school he did not expect more than 60 schollars and only secures 45,00
dollars per month which is not so much as he ought to have for so large a number
of pupils But it is all right if he can stand the pressure Lizzie and her family
are as well as usual, Frank has lots of on hand has lately
bought nine hundred more sheep They still make their home in Beloit but talk
some of building on the farm I reced a letter from Cousin Lem the first of Sept.
He thought of coming
to Kas, I answered immediately but have heard
nothing from him since and am surprised that I do not am afraid he or Uncle are
sick. L. wrote that Lyman and his Wife were both dead but gave no particulars I
am very sorry that I did not go to see them as I came home last winter but I was
so very tired and they were so near I put it off untill a more convenient time I
wrote to Lem to tell me all about them and thought perhaps there might be
children in need of a home and have waited anxiously for a reply and hope to
hear soon I hope you are in reasonable health and have a pleasant Family in the
house I think of you all so often and want to see you even more than before I
was there last year how are Craigs
Family. Has the baby got on his
feet yet? Do they call him Ray? I think it a good name. Is Rhett as full of
business as ever? Are Katie & Carrie getting along with their studys as
well as ever? Will you ask them to write me a good long letter Tell them that
Katie & Lulu Harvey of St Johnsbury are
the same age as they, and the write me long letters I thought Craig would write
me once in a while but I guess he had better come out here and get acquainted
with us, but I suppose he is busy & I hope prosperous, Do you see Aunt L
and Uncle Ella and her Family, and Della and her little, ones, I received the
note from you saying Mrs Oakes was dead It did seem hard, how they must miss
her, and how can they get along without her, when I think of you all I wish I
could Fly to see you again wont you try to come to see me I should be very glad,
You dont know what a comfort those pictures are I will send you one of Clark, it
is very like him, I shall try to write oftener but if I do not you must not for
one moment think that I forget you or that at any time I shall have any feeling
but Love for you I hope to hear from you before long I wanted to ask you about
the Carpenter Family that were our relatives what was th Uncles name was there
one named Cephas?
with much LoveMary
C.C. and Family all well last week, have not seen him since June
Lem & family well a month ago
Give much Love for me to all
the Friends tell them my visit
to Vt will be a green spot in
my memory while I live
Aunt I hope your Cough is better, and Uncles Dispepsea releived
The following paragraph is written upside down in the margins between page 3 and page 2, which are both on a single side of an elongated leaf.
Mr Harvey's Sister Mary has just returned to Vermont, She liked the West better than sheexpected. Wont you stop and see John Prince for me when you go to Johnson, also enquire for Sanford Mills?