From Alice Waters Cairns to her daughter Janet Cairns Dickey (January 8, 1902)

 [Envelope addressed: Miss Janet Cairns, Kenzieville, Barney’s River, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia. Postmarked: Wareham, Jan 8, 5 PM, 1902. Two cent American stamp. Receiving postmark: Barney’s River, N.S., Ja 10, 02. Written while Alice was away visiting relatives.]

Wareham, Jan. 8^th, 1902

Dear Everybody,

I got the registered letter and will be careful. Nellie & Katie’s letter was here when I came. I am writing this at Percy’s little bookcase and desk. Percy goes to a private school at Marion, Edith and Elsie go here. It is snowing to-day, so Ben cannot take me to see the bogs. I came here yesterday, Aunt Jennie finished my shirtwaist just in time. I am getting quite experienced in electric cars. I was very much pleased that Nellie and Katie wrote me the french letter. George and Florence celebrated their third wedding anniversary on Monday evening, my birthday, they had chicken salad – ice cream (very good) and ham sandwichs. Here at Ben’s they have our old family bible, so Percy very quickly found out ages. I think John & Percy look much alike. Of course Percy has had more refining influences than John. Ben sent to Digby for smoked herring, and got six boxes – 90 cents – when here he had to pay $ 1.75 more for duty and freight. Janet’s letter was very comforting, any way I’ll stay till next Tuesday and be home on the 16^th Thursday on the first train from Truro, but if I can come right through from Yarmouth to Avondale the same day I will be home Wednesday on the Flyer, you can find out better than I can, if it be possible. I will get the photographic supplies when I go back. Is Sadie’s camera a brownie? I got some machine needles. Do you wish me to get boots for Amy or anybody? They have two nice cats here, the old one has large yellow eyes, black fur, and a collar with bells on, no wonder she is cross when the bells frighten the mice so she can’t catch them. Did poor little honeybunch’s mittens wear out? I thought perhaps they would before I came home. Just a week from to-morrow. I was so glad to see Ben again. It repays me for every twinge of regret about leaving home to worry Janet. The twins have remarkable dark blue eyes, they each have a good sled, but no snow to speak of, and less hills to ride down, about as much hill as from our front door, to the big gate, they think that quite a hill! Ben does not keep a horse or cow only a few hens. Percy does all the photography. Opinions vary much about the solio, velox, & dekko paper. Charlie McKay liked velox, George Dakin liked solio, Percy likes dekko. I liked George Dakin’s work best. You will only get one more letter from me before I get home. From Madame Cairns. I will direct my next to Amy. She has done well in the writing line. I’ll not forget her.