[Envelope addressed: Mrs. John B. Dickey. Brookside. Assa. N.W.T. Postmarked Elmsvale (rest of postmark illegible) Receiving postmark Wapella Assa. Au 12 04 Two cent King Edward VII stamp.]
Musquodoboit August 7th 1904
To my dear Annabelle
I am almost ashamed to think had to be reminded to write to you but I have been intending to write and you know how it is so easy to put off doing things I am so sorry to know that you are not getting stronger and I feel for poor John He feels so bad in one letter I had from him he was writing to me about what he had lost the last winter, he said he would not mind that if you could only get better
Dear Annabelle we know not why these trials are sent but we must believe it is all for the best. I trust you are prepared for a better home where there will be no partng it is only a little while till we meet again only think what a blessed home where there is no more pain and all is love and joy peace, thank your Mother for writing to me tell her that I know what it is to loose a daughter. she has one consolation that I did not have she has you to wait on and know all about you while I did not even know that mine was sick till she had gone to her last resting place, it seems yet that it can hardly be true that she has gone. I have seen Father Mother brothers and sisters, and two infants of our taken from us but Mary’s death seemed harder to bear than all the rest but we must submit, man cannot ward the blow that falls from heaven. but I trust you may be spared to them yet if it is Gods will, We have had a verry dry summer here everything seems to be dying up nothing growing we have quite a family now as three of the girls are home from the States all send their love to you also George and wife send their best wishes. Oh how much I wish I could see you but even if I could get away from home I could not travel, my health would not permit I am not sick but have no strength to do any thing, your mother writes that you have to live in a tent I did not know that you had to this summer. I just think some times if I only knew of something that would cure you don’t think we forget you for there is not a day but I think of and wish I could know how you are I had a letter from John and will answer it soon A little girl of Aleck Ried’s fell from a load of gravel and was killed a few weeks ago her mother died in the spring she was just four years old the day her mother died truly this is a world of trouble
I shall still hope to hear that you are better if it is the Lords will that you may be restored to health again
Now I will close again thanking your mother for her kindness in writing, love to all from Mother