Higginsville, Missouri
September 25, 1892
My dear Boy:
Many times since your last letter came, have I thought of you and wished I had the time to send you a good long letter—Why then have I delayed so long? For a multiplicity of reasons. First our school work keeps us very busy, second, Bess has been sick with malarial fever for three or four weeks and third, we have had so many interruptions in the shape of company coming in for the night or to stay over Sunday—all this has prevented my writing to anyone even I, and I am giving you the preference this evening so you certainly ought to appreciate the honor—Need I say. I enjoyed the enclosed letter very much. Etta writes in such a free easy style. I am sure you enjoy her letters—I think too, judging from the one you sent me that she enjoys it equally as well. And unless she is one of those girls who love to lead men on for the sake of a proposal, she cares more for you than her answer led you to believe. Don’t feel discouraged, but persevere and ask God to help you win her if it be His will. I think the old people she refers to must be her parents, no? And if she knows they think well of you, it will help her along. Accept her kind invitation and go down (or up as the case may be) to see her sometime this winter and find out for yourself how the land lies. Then go ahead—
I am so glad you were successful in gaining your contest. Be sure and let me know how it all comes out—if he appeals the case or drops it entirely—Look around and find me a good school and I’ll come out to Cal. next summer after I go to the Fair—Thanks to Mr. L I am teaching this winter for only $40.00 per month and the cut in my salary interferes so seriously with our plans that I will not be able to carry out my intentions—I’m going to write to Minnie Gailey and get her to send me a course of study and use her influence for me and then if I have half a chance you will see me in Cal.—S. [Silas] has always wanted to spend a year at Harvard, or John Hopkins, and I’ve written to him that I won’t be able to leave home until we pay for the place and advised him to spend the two years of waiting there—instead of going after we are married. He demurred at first—thinks he has waited long enough but in his last letter he consented to do so. He has to complete one, maybe two studies in the course before he can graduate here—This he thinks he can easily do this winter. Then we will try to attend the World’s Fair together and he go on to Boston while I go to my work—It may take two years at Harvard but he hopes to finish in one—The Board of Curators tell him they will give him the Chair of Chemistry in the University when he returns. You know he is only an assistant now and his salary small—I think as he intends to make College work a specialty it behooves him to make such preparation as will place him at the head. He too feels the necessity of so doing and I think he cherishes a hope of being able to do something in the field of literature some day—He has written several pieces that have been very much complimented and several of his poems have been printed among the poems of our “American Poets.” He inherits this talent from both parents—his mother being a descendant of the same family of Wadsworths that Longfellow’s mother belonged to, and Sir Robert Dinsmoor, an uncle of his father, is mentioned in American literature—while for centuries back the Scotch relations were noted for their writings—
Now just one word more and I’m through with this subject—When you refer to him in your letters speak of him as Geo. please. Then they will think you mean a widower down south.
I made a flying visit to S. S. [Sweet Springs] this week. Found all well and as busy as usual. There is a gentleman of elegant leisure just now. I’m afraid he will never amount to much. The younger boys may follow his example in everything undesirable. What a pity people do not manage their children better. Sister meets with many obstacles and lets them worry her until she is sick. It takes a brave heart to battle successfully with the many annoyances of life and the petty trifles are the most trying. School teaching is hard work but it does not compare with keeping boarders—at least in my estimation—
Miss Eliza Boyd spent last night with us on her return from a two months’ visit to M.D. The latter has another fine son who she thinks of naming Willie. Mrs. Hart is going to make her home with Mary Deane this winter. Sallie is going to teach a four months’ school near Longwood in Pettis Co.—$25.00 a month. It is a very good thing for Sallie but pity the pupils for she is one of the [queerest natured?] beings I know of—
Mr. Whiting got a letter from Mr. Van Arsdale a few days ago asking him to come down and marry him and Lula Stewart. You remember her, do you not?
Miss Eliza said Madame Rumor reported Rena Burk and Joe Burk as the next to slip off—She couldn’t do much worse.
School moves along very quietly—Mr. L. tried to impose on me as he did on Miss Pullrain last year but I quietly but firmly refused and he had to let me alone. As yet my room is the only one in the building that has no demerits—my B.B. Susie being 100.
We have one week longer to try but I hope we will be able to come out victorious. Nettie stands first in her building too—Ma is writing to you and will no doubt give you all the home news—I don’t keep up with much of it—I’m here so little. We all went to hear Col. Dalion of Ralls Co. speak, last Thurs. night and a rousing good speech it was—Oh Ollie, I do hope Cleveland will win this fall—If he does not, the outlook is a gloomy one. I can but think with Tammany and Hill working for him in N.Y. and the unusually good organization of the Democrats throughout the lands, that victory must be ours. If the party will only work together throughout the remainder of the campaign all will be well, but, as I saw in the “Advance” last week—The Democratic party always manages to do the fool thing exactly at the right moment—thus look out for the results—
Walter Brown, May Creel’s husband has been to Dwight and has come home a changed man. Let us hope it will be permanent.
You remember the Ed Jackson whose father was killed in the S.S. cyclone? Well he has skipped the country with over $400, belonging to the Consolidated Oil Tank Line—no one knows where he has gone though there is quite a large reward offered for his capture—
How far is your desert claim from your contested claim?
Did you accept the nomination for Justice of the Peace? When will your election come off? In November?
We find Eliza Swift a very pleasant boarder—She comes in as one of us and often offers to help about the dishes—Mary is teaching in Minn. this winter—
I’d like to tell you a good joke on Nettie if you will promise never to tell. Think about it and do let me know when you write your next appendix—Be sure and send me Etta’s photo to look at. I’m quite curious to see her.
Did Ma write you about Mary Price’s marriage? It came off the 14th of this month. Harman McHurst the happy man—The family all opposed it violently but she paid little attention to them. He is not her equal in family but apart from that is her superior.
You know Connie had joined the Pres. church did you not? She has been a true friend to Charlie—It troubles me to see Charlie looking so thin—He finds life there very different from what it was when we were there and is gradually realizing the hopelessness of his attempt to recover the farm—He lost one of his best mules when he was breaking up his corn land in the spring but said nothing to us about it until we moved—We bought a $12.00 bed from Mr. Hickman and gave him together with a carpet, curtains, featherbed and pillows for his room this winter. He finds the Franciscos kind-hearted but plain, and though he does not say so, misses his old life.
I have given you quite a little chat and want to write to S. so must close. Let me hear from you soon—Be a good boy and remember you have the best wishes of all your family for health, happiness, and a comfortable share of this world’s goods.
With much love,
Yours,
Laura