[No envelope. Laura was the wife of John Bates Dickey’s brother George. Millie was John Bates Dickey’s younger sister. She went to Saskatchewan, where she married William Wickham, the brother of John Bates Dickey’s first wife, Annabelle. Will Guild was married to John Bates Dickey’s sister Ida Jane. Ed, Thom, Morris and George were all brothers of John Bates Dickey.]
Musquodoboit June 4th 1908
Dear John
I will try and write a few lines to you today and let you know that we are all well at present, but there seems to be quite a lot of sickness about here at present and some deaths, among them our old neighbour Thom Cooper has gone he died last week only sick two days Lloyd Fisher’s wife died a week ago today she left two children. Emma Archibald (Mr McFetrige’s daughter) is very sick she has ulcers in her stomach and is in a dangerous way don’t think she is likely to be any better. Laura’s father has been verry sick with Congestion of the lungs but is some better now. Laura has been out there waiting on him and we have had Maggie Joudry here to do the work I’m not able to do much but am not sick I am pleased to know that you are in the mood to get another companion and hope you will get a nice one you will have to come on here on your honeymon trip. What does Millie mean about living on the farm I thought she was living with the family at the home place but she wrote that she was going to the farm, then she wrote that Willie had rented his farm to his father and was going teaming. Will Guild said there ws no house on the farm, she must have a camp to live in
Well John Ed has gone back to the States again his family are here yet, he said he would send for them as soon as he got a place for them. Will Archibald got his back up about something and told him to git that is what made him leave he was just getting a good start here and seemed to be doing well but he had got into the ways of the states getting his pay as he earned it and here it is credit and he was not able to do without his pay so it made him discontented perhaps he may do better in the states I hope so anyway Mr Redmond has gone out West but is coming back to make his hay is not going to take his family till the spring, he is building a house this summer. Thom and Morris seem to like the place where they are, Well we have had a cold wet spring this year George has not got all his oats sowed yet he is planting today. the grass is looking well, you would see in the News about aunt Lizzie’s death Mildred thinks she will miss her very much. how many chickens did you have Laura has four with one hen and nine with another and one more sitting. her turkeys have not hatched yet she has fifty eggs set Math Reid has married another wife and Henry Lindsay has married one of Andew Mitchets daughters George McCurday was home on a short visit he was in to see us he looks much the same only a little older. he is married to his second wife Well I’m getting some shaky so I will have to stop writing dont forget to write again soon to home and loving mother