[Envelope addressed: Miss Janet Cairns, Truro, N.S. Postmarked: Barney’s River, N.S. No 26 00. 2 cent Queen Victoria stamp. Receiving postmark: Truro N.S. No 26 00. Written while Janet was attending Normal School in Truro.]
Saturday Eve.
Dear Janet,
The convention is over, and we are having the dregs now. Thursday Papa went down to Merigomish to Mr. Campbell’s convention, he, Mr. Sandford and Mr. Campbell convened with about a dozen of Mr. C’s parishioners. Mr. Sandford and Papa arrived at dinnertime home here, and we just sat down to the table when Mrs. Clunis came, so off Papa had to go while the dinner cooled to put in the old hag’s horse. She helped me wash the dishes with various remarks, “what lots of dishes you have,”” these are good heavy silver” “s’pose it takes a lot to keep you” “you do beat all for making pies” etc. One of the McKenzie boys went down to meet Mr. R. Stewart, and Mr. Campbell got along in time for the meeting up in the hall at half past two, they had a very good meeting up there, Mr. Rattee came over too, they all admired Mr. R. Stewart so much.
All four were here to tea, Amy had been looking forward to going to the meeting here in the evening ever since she heard of it, and then she took a sick headache and could not go. Mr. Sandford, Stewart, Rattee were here all night. Mr. Rattee occupied your bed, the other two the spare, Mr. Campbell went to Campbells. The meeting was very good indeed, Mr. R. Stewart was the crack speaker. Mr. Sandford went over to Blue Mt. With Mr. Rattee right after breakfast, Mr. Stewart and John to the station, Mr. Campbell came back, and this afternoon Papa & Tom went to Merigomish, and we have Mr. Campbell here and a good hall fire. Such a day’s work I put through yesterday, baked bread, rolls, pies, and biscuits, cooked a good dinner (Poor Caroline’s body, Papa killed her). I never blacked the stove or scrubbed to-day. Bob is busily writting to you, you will have to read it backwards and upside down, perhaps stand on your head, and even then it will be a failure. Mr. Rattee has his convention to-day. Mr. Campbell was over at Mr. Hunter’s for tea to-day. That Mr. Murray from Avondale or Riedmont brought us two barrels of turnips and a barrel of cabbages this week. Bob is counting the days till Xmas too. Papa and I went up to Sophie Cananagh’s last Monday, she has been “called” in the R. C. Chapel she has married or is to be married next week. Amy is quite a help to me sometimes when she does not quarrel with John. John milks but he is a great bother. Willie Murray pays great attention to the teacher. I washed the white clothes but have never got them dried this week, I never attempted the colored clothes, it has been such poor weather. Bob was delighted with the letter, sometimes Tom starts to write you a letter, “Dear Janet I wish you were home.” He starts at 7 each morning to put on shoes & stockings and seldom gets them on in time for school, loses his garter, finds them both on one leg after we have hunted everywhere, loses a boot, just before nine finds it on the window sill, then after a wild hunt for cap & coat he gets off without his mittens which are quite lost, (found in the study after).
Monday morn. Tom had a lovely time, he has no time to write now. We are all up late Papa says
for you to study Botany & Physics.
Beautiful snow
I remain
Your affectionate Mother Alice Cairns.
[Letter from Bob enclosed in same envelope, printed backwards and translated by his Mother:]
Janet How did you know that Tort was killed? I went to Annie’s house with Mamma & Grandma, Annie gave me my blouse full of apples and I was so fat with apples Mamma did not know me. Christmas is 30 days away.
Bob tried to tell you “Tom did not know he Bob had a sore leg he fell on the frozen ground after Tom left to-day. Mamma did let the old cat out and in ran little kit.
On this side Bob tried to tell that Charlie Murray & Papa banked the house on a Saturday.
[Also in same envelope:]
Sunday
Mr. Campbell and Papa exchanged & Tom went with Papa to Merigomish.
Dear Janet
Jim Hunter and his sisters came today to church. Mr. Campbell went up there Saturday afternoon & I guess he asked them too. I stayed home from church. Mr. Campbell drove & after he had gone into the church I “spy”ed Jim H. & his sisters and Doggardy pretty near running so they would not be too late. After church Mr. Campbell left here for the day. I don’t know if you can read this as it is twilight. I was at Sunday school. There were 14 there (lovely). John is saying the cows do not give much now as they have late hours. I intend to go to prayer meeting tonight. You have to write to me & answer me the question I asked you at the first letter. Have you any (gooses) now. I hope you have not lost them. John was preaching & I forgot what I was going to say. Charlie Murray banked this house. Nellie is getting savage she needs your taming influence. We had a bread and butter dinner & tea. Huh but I hate them. I feel like doing anything tonight up to making mistakes writing bad & doing dishes & pecking everybody. “Flig” gave Sadie a 4-leafed clover.
From your sister Amy C