[No envelope.]
Kenzieville, Woodlands,
The Manse, Barney’s River,
Pictou Co. Nova Scotia
Dec. 15 th Friday 1899
Dear Janet,
Tom went for the mail now I’ll try and answer your questions. The letter you wrote about your purse did reach home, last Wednesday, the same day Papa was in town, Mr. D. C. Fraser told him you lost your purse, so he sent you $5.00. I suppose you cannot afford lemons for your backache, but you should try. Last week we had Willie & Charlie Murray in the woods cutting for us, I had to send their dinners (in Alec Ross’s woods,) such a bother! Papa sent off the list today to Eatons nearly $28.00. I sent for a navy serge dress for you and a dark red serge waist, just for the material 6 yds. Navy – 2 yds. Red. I did not send for braid for the bottom of skirt, and I thought the brown lining we have in the house would do for the skirt, perhaps you had better get braid to bind the skirt. I do not think I’ll make candy this year Papa bought me a lot of stuff for stockings to-day – candy, nuts, and raisins. Mr. McFetridge is in Kenzieville I think, he has not taken a meal here, I suppose the desolation of the house frightened him, living in the kitchen etc. Papa says for you to get a return, for even if you do not use it, to go back at Xmas, you can use it at any time. Ida was here last night for the first time, she went home to-day from school.
Amy says she never told because she got along all right from Pictou to Avondale. I suppose you had better take up the professional. I shall be very glad to see Annie Thompson & you, and I hope Annie will stay some time after you go back. There is chocolate left; you will have a lot of baking to do, crullers, plum cake, etc. I do not make anything but necessary articles. I cannot leave the house, to see anybody because John Amy & Tom quarrel so much. Mr. & Mrs. D. R. McKenzie were in one evening last week. Mrs. J. J. Irving & Mr. were in Monday evening brought some buckwheat. Wednesday afternoon I was wrist deep in headcheese in the scullery and Mrs. John A. Sutherland came, I never heard her knock so she came right through to the scullery, and caught me in the act, well, she brought oats, potatoes, butter, cream, & headcheese and curds. Mrs. Stalker sent me a nice roll of good butter. We bought a pig from Rennie. We have 25 of the fowl kind hung by their legs in the wagon house, we will give a goose to Mrs. D. R. & one to Mrs. James William. Papa has less than twenty houses to visit yet, he took Tom off yesterday visiting, it was heavenly at home without him. The church is done. They say it looks well. Rev. Mr. Thompson said perhaps he might be up at Xmas I believe we will be in the church Sunday. Mrs. Robertson, (Erromanga) will speak in the church on the first Sunday of the New Year. The proceeds of the Social are to be for new chairs for the platform (the 3 special chairs) and the rest of it for the debt on the manse.
I cleaned your room to-day. I have not swept or cleaned any since the surprise, I tried to sew for the children and then those dreadful lunches and dinners had to be prepared for six days, took every moment of spare time. We are getting 3 eggs a day so we will have some to bake with. Perhaps I can send you a little money with this. You had better get a shirt waist pattern, to suit yourself, and what about a skirt pattern?
If it does not storm too bad, I’ll send Tom to the office with this to-morrow.
I remain
Your affectionate Mother
Alice Cairns.
[Further down page:]
I want a box of crayons different from what I told you before. Amy.
Another box, she sends five cents.