[Envelope addressed: Rev. J. A. Cairns, Poplar Grove Assa, North West territory. Postmarked: Barney’s River N.S. Fe 6 03. Two cent Queen Victoria stamp. Receiving postmark: Wapella Assa (remainder illegible). The letter and spelling were transcribed as written.]
Kinzievill feb 5 1903
Barney’s River
Dear Mr. Cairns
I recieved your letter all right I was glad to hear from you and to know that you are well and getting along well. we have had a verry steaddy winter here we have had some dreadfull frosty weather the coaldest that we have had for years but we will likely have warmer weather now the winter seams verry long with out preaching we have had no preaching since Christmas and dear knows when we will have any there was a vote taken on the organ and there was 60 of a majority in favor of an organ but I do not expect that this will make matters any better matters look no more like comeing to pease than they did a year ago I do not know what we are going to come to it was a blessing for you when you got away from such a gang you will be all right Mr Cairns the Lord will bless you and prosper you and your family will soon be able to help you and I hope that you will git along well. I am working in the woods this winter A J Bannerman and I have taken a job of putting fifty thousand feet of logs in the river and we are working for Robert Dewar it is on his land that we are working. we are gitting four dollars a thousand we are doeing splendid at this job we will have a thousand logs in the river in a few days. the smallpox is rageing at thorburn and there are several cases in other parts of the country William Haggart in Piedmont Valley has had the Smallpox but it seams to be a verry mild type people do not seam to mind them verry much there has been a long spell of lovely sleighing the timber haulers are gitting a great chance to git their timber to the station the station yard is full of timber. timber is a good price this winter it is worth four dollars and a half per tun. well about going out west I cannot go this spring it was verry kind of you to made me such a nice offer for my own part I would jump at the offer but you know that I am the main support of the fammily at home here it would hardly be right for me to leave them yet as it would be hard for them to git along with out me I have no doubt but what I would like the west all right it will be the cuntry yet I think that any young man aught to do well in the North west if I am spaired untill next harvest I am going out to see the Cuntry and to see you people I would fine to work for you and if we are spaired we will be togther yet it would be like home for me to work with you. your family are all well and gitting along splendid they will be commencing to git ready to go away we will miss them verry much but we will hope to meet yet. I think that this is all that I can find to say at this time you might wright me again some time and let me know how you are gitting along as I am a friend of yours and would like to hear that you are gitting along well. Please excuse my wrighting as I am a poor wrighter I must close hopeing that you are well
I remain your sincear friend
Willie L Murray