From Alice Waters Cairns to her daughter Janet Cairns Dickey (January 14, 1902)

[Envelope addressed: Miss Janet Kenzieville, Barney’s River, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia. Postmarked: Wareham (rest of information illegible) Two cent American stamp. Receiving postmark: Barney’s River N.S. Ja. 14 02. Written while Alice was away visiting relatives.]

Thursday, Wareham

Dear Janet,

I got your letter and Mary’s last night, I have just written to Mary. This is to be my last letter before I get home. John must have had quite a serious time, I hope you are good to him. I have money, plenty, to get the boots, so I do hope you will have not sent any. I posted a letter last night, so I think I will leave this till to-morrow. Everything is so nice here, it is quite worth the trouble and expense of coming, Ben & Maude are so very nice and kind, and the children are sweet. I am sending some of Percy’s efforts in the photography line, the camera was on a table and perhaps slanted up and gives the sitters that devotional upward gaze. We are going to New Bedford this afternoon. Maude has a sermon written by the hand of her great, great grandfather in the year 1803 at Digby, Roger Viets the first, it is partly notes, the text is “charity;” it even has a small leaf pinned on the back cover, the pin is even a curiosity from its age, a round black head.

I have heard since I left home that sour apples will dry up cows, and cranberries stop hens from laying, that you can keep rhubarb in jars of cold water in long stalks, without cooking or any other preparation. This is a haven of rest after Aunt Jennie’s stormy abode. Friday. Jan. 10th We went to New Bedford yesterday 20 miles on the electric – one cent a mile. Had I known I might have come here from Boston that way, and saved a lot. We are to go to the bogs this afternoon if it does not rain. Elsie and Edith are sending Tom & Bob and the puss a present to be given Bob when Tom’s birthday comes. We went through Marim and Newhaven and some other towns yesterday, it was very pleasant. Perhaps if nothing happens I will have been home a day next Friday. I am not actually homesick, but I shall be glad to get home. We had nice oyster stew for tea and breakfast. Beefsteak is 28 cents a pound, roast beef 18 cents, ham fry is 20 & to boil 10, potatoes $1.20 a bushel, apples 2.40 a bushel. Maud has delicious grape jelly made of wild grapes. I got a letter from Mrs. Irving last night. I will answer it when I get home. Edith & Elsie have the same craving for lead pencils that our children have. Elsie got a sharpener yesterday. I think I won’t write anymore letters home. You will most likely get this Monday.

Your affectionate

Muddie Alice Cairns

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