[Envelope addressed: Mrs. Dickey Care of R. Wickham Fairmede P.O. N.W. T. Postmarked Regina Assa. Ja23 03. Receiving postmark Wapella Assa. Ja25 03. Two cent Queen Victoria stamp. This letter and the two following have been grouped together. All appear to be written by relatives of Annabelle, congratulating her on her marriage to John Bates Dickey.]
Regina Jan 22nd 1903
Dear Bell,
Except our warmest wishes for a long life of happiness. You will think me very careless. When I got your letter last summer thought I would answer it at once and from one thing to another here it is till now, When your kind invitation came Pansy was down with diptheria. so that accounts for us not replying. we would like so much to have gone. Pansy is quite well again she was pretty sick for a few days. we had Doc Graham attending her. Jessie has been very sick we did not know of it as it was during Pansys illness. she was some better the last we heard. I have not been in town since Pansy got well I think I will go soon but it is not really safe to take a child to town. Oh was it not a sad sad trial for Jessie and Neil I was simply astonished how bravely and cheerfully Jessie came through it all. Jessie came out a couple of days. She spoke of feeling so much better than usual then. It was sad Doc Martin losing both his children too. Macks are well they have thier time of sickness also. Mother went in a week ago to have an ulcer burnt out of her throat I expect her home tomorrow. Are we not having a splendid winter There is very little snow just enough to make fair sleighing. How are all the rest of the family. Tell Lottie I am really ashamed to reply to her letter after so long I hope sadie is well and your mother and all of you. Our best regards to your better half. We hope ere long to make his accquaintence. I do not know your adress so will send it to Fairmede in care of your father. I will now close wishing you both a long life and much joy in your new home. Your loving cousin Maggie.
[Written sideways across top of last page] P.S. I am sending you a trifle as a rememberance hope you will get it. M.R.
[Envelope addressed: Mrs. J. B. Dickey, Poplar Grove P.O., Assa., N.W.T. Postmarked
Minneapolis, Minn. Feb-6, 3:30 PM 1903, Receiving postmark Wapella Assa, Fe 9, 03, Two cent American stamp.]
February 4th 1903
My dear Cousin:-
We received your wedding invitation and also some of your cake over which we are all going to dream to-night. It is needless to say that we are all sorry that we were not able to attend your wedding and wish you many happy returns of the day etc. And I would certainly kiss the groom or is it the bride you kiss I have forgotten. In my next letter I will tell you what we all dreamed. We probably won’t have very big dreams as we only have a crumb a piece to sleep on. We ate the rest.
Milton was home for a couple of weeks with the mumps. He was a pretty sick boy. He only had them on one side and he is dreadfully worried for fear he will have them on the other side.
I am awfully busy in the office now and I will be for a month or two. I am getting a little bit anxious for summer to come so that I will have a vacation. There is nothing I should like to do better than spend my vacation in your new home. I should like to walk in some morning and see what kind of a house-keeper you are. I am a dandy house-keeper—all I lack is the man to keep house for so if you can do anything for me in that line I wish you would.
Mamma wants me to ask you if your mother got the parcel she sent, containing coats. It was prepaid and you ought not to have any trouble in getting it,
I am awfully tired to night and I have yet to write to Jessie Davidson. I hope you will write soon as you will have nothing else to do. Give my love to your husband and tell him I am always ready to accept new cousins. All send love.
Lovingly
Mae
[Envelope addressed Mrs. John B Dicky Poplar Grove P O Manitoba, Postmark illegible, Receiving postmark Wapella Assa. Fe 6 03 Two cent Queen Victoria stamp. The writer is believed to be the sister of Annabelle’s mother, in which case her maiden name was McDonald, married name unknown. Spelling has been left as it was in the original.]
Mrs. Dickey,
My Dear Neice
It seems strange to call you by that name if I have spelled it right am in recept of a lovely peice of your wedding cake it is very nice it keeps me bussey deviding to the old maids around us. I hope it will bring good results to them & there dreams. tell me all about your wedding who stood up with you & him. I beleive my darling Colin spoke of your husband if its the same your Mother baked for a while however I wish you boths Joy & prosperity & think you might take a honey moon to see us & dont make a slave of yourself the way your Mother & I did. your Mother has been giving me a faint hope of seeing her before long I do hope my castles will not be broke down. I am almost sure she woulden know me to meet if she diden know I was there. Well Paul the raskel never showed up Well he has been working on a ralroad track with McMillin Brothers 4 of them & one of them was visiting here & came to see us & was giving me the very best accounts of him as being steady & good worker never was a day of work that I need never to be afraid of Paul he said was very glad to hear it but diden lessen my anxity any if he had a change of heart I would feel at ease then but God is every where & will perhaps hear me in due season. this McMillin is going to BC in the spring he says he is going with him & in the mean time he is working in shoal lake in a livery barn with Alic and John McDonald Sons of John McDonald at Underwood your Mother knew him I wish you would write again to him & tell him to come to see you I know you would like him I guess your Mother got my letter before this explaining the plaster I dread writing so much my memory is so bad everything escapes my memory my hand is very bad so is my eyes I have been testing & fitting my eyes several times & getting worse all the time I must try & get to Toronto when Lottie comes you know she is there treating for Catarrh she thinks she is some better but has other troubles besides good bye with love to you boths Aunt Charlotte