From Alice Waters Cairns to her daughter Janet Cairns Dickey (June 23, 1925)

[Envelope addressed:  Mrs. J.B. Dickey, Langbank, Sask. Postmarked: Charlottetown P.E.I. 5 AM Jun 24 1925. Three cent King George V stamp. According to Alice Waters Cairns’ diary, they travelled first to Toronto to attend the inauguration of the United Church of Canada on June 10, and then continued on to the Maritimes to visit family and friends, including their daughter, Amy Cairns Mulligan. They did not return home until July 31.]

Charlottetown

June 23^rd 1925

Dear Daughter Janet & Granddaughter Susan,

Very glad to get your letters. Sorry Bob burned those letters I wrote because I have forgotten what I had in them, and they were more for you, Mrs. Dickey – than for Bob. Mrs. Gooderham’s daughter drove us everywhere in her car in Winnipeg, so delightful, such beautiful weather & roads. I saw Mrs. Grover took her strawberries, said she had had a letter from you.

Too bad about the nail in the foot, hope it is well enough for the examinations.

Mr. William Orr [Mulligan] is out walking with the boys Amy is working at a dress for herself, it is about 8 in the evening, we have a good wood fire in the grate in the library. I thought you would be down at Cairnbank & get the joint letters then. Such a delightful trip on the Lakes so smooth, such a good stateroom, delicious food, pleasant people.

Very hot in Toronto, funny to see respectable ministers like Dr. Henderson & Papa in their shirt sleeves at the evening meetings, but they all did it.

I am glad to hear that Bob was at the nearest house north. I do not think the boys will starve.

Where will Susan stay when she takes her examinations if Lou is away?

The boys are a happy bright pair, well shaped heads, stutter some because they can’t make their speech keep up with their thoughts.

I had a tooth out yesterday, & my plate repaired, that is all the dentist thought necessary. I think he thought the teeth I had would last my days out.

I may go to Scotsburn the end of this week. I’ll write as often as I can. I am going to get shapes for hats for you all. I have got some dresses for the girls & you to make lazy daisy trimming on & the floss to work them. I sent Elsie some little blouses for her children.

This letter is more to Daughter Janet than to Susan, but it will do for both.

Your loving mother & grandmother, Alice Cairns.