[Envelope addressed: Miss Janet Cairns, Normal School, Truro, N.S. Postmarked: Barney’s River N.S. Ap 24 01. Two cent Queen Victoria stamp. Receiving postmark: Truro N.S. PM Ap 24 01]
Dear Janet,
Amie was in this afternoon, and I got your letter, and one from England. Tom went off on the raft alone last week and was nearly over the dam, he alarmed the place. He is catching trout at a great rate. Bobbie too has alarmed everybody by leaning over the bridge too much. Bobbie says if I make him promise not to do many more things he cannot go out of the house. It was quite a “great deed” for you to take Ena’s school. Amy’s cold is a little better, I have bronchitis. Ernie and Whiltie wrote notes to Amy asking if they might see her home after prayer meeting, she wrote back “no indeed” to both, then Ernie wrote “Do you love me,” she wrote back, “I guess not.” Ernie wrote to Maggie B. asking her if she were going to be at Prayer meeting, she snapped back aloud “None of your business,” it was fun for the rest. Papa went to Glenbard yesterday, Mr. J. Reid preaches to-morrow. Amy’s & Tom’s arms are very sore. We vaccinated John on Tuesday it is taking good. Either the vaccine was no good you were vaccinated with, or else you do not need it. We had a new calf Thursday afternoon, and Papa was just through with waiting on the old cow when a wedding drove to the door, a Davis & Ethel Robertson from Merigomish, I do not know why they came here they were in a great hurry, the study was in a dusty, ashey mess, I had John’s old black sweater on, but they never saw me till I changed my dress. Ida was one witness and I the other. John killed one kitten to-day humanely in the pond. Papa took box and all to the haymow, puss was quite content. The school-girls are going to paper Mrs. Nicholson’s house next Saturday. Mr. McIvor gave the paper, she has the old stove out and the fireplace in operation, she wanted yeast to make bread, to bake in her brick oven. I had a provoking headache all Wednesday. I baked eleven loaves yesterday but no rolls or cake of any kind. I have $2.00 from the wedding and would like a new bonnet, but how am I to get it? Amy ought to have a new white straw sailor, perhaps if you get some more money you could buy her one. The new calf is a heifer, Polly by name and we got it to drink to-day.
Tuesday. Your valise came. Perhaps you had better get me a black sailor, with something or other to trim it. That waist is still too small for Amy she needs a 23 or 24, can you change it again? I’ll try and send your parcel before this week ends or first of next. Papa and I washed this morning and Papa went away this afternoon to the Marsh. Duncan Olton was in saying goodbye, he goes away to-morrow. The children say the Johnsons came back to-day.
I am making you a pair of factory cotton drawers, but reading came to-night and interfered greatly. Charlie Murray and Allan Cameron were in last evening, they came just as Ida had put on an old cotton dress of mine to get vaccinated in, so she could roll up the sleeve. Papa vaccinated her, she turned quite faint. Then they played “Jenkins.” We got two dozen fresh herring yesterday. Amy burned her hand quite badly at noon, took hold of the hot handle of the frying pan, in which I had warmed up the potatoes in the oven, she did not go to school. There were five chickens to-night and five eggs pipped. The boxes delighted the children. I am expecting Charlie and Allan to cut wood tomorrow and I have to churn. Papa won’t be home till night. I’ll send money either in a letter or in the parcel, just as Papa says. I wear John’s old sweater to cure my bronchitis, it is getting better. Good night now, perhaps I’ll write more in the morning. Morning quarter to six. I tried the shoes on, they will do. The house is quite still. I’ll not likely have any cakes baked to send, I am all out of such goods and out of time too, just now, to make them. The boys are here bright and early at 7 by the clock, though I had just given the clock assistance over 20 minutes. They intercept the path to woodlands.
I think Ida’s arm won’t take. There was not enough vaccine put in. Amy’s & Tom’s arms took very swollen and dreadfully sore, but they do not hurt now.
I remain
Your affectionate
Mother Alice Cairns
This is Amy’s pad paper, that is the reason I can write long letters. The pads are in the kitchen cupboards and easy to get.