[No envelope. Muriel was Susanna Bates Dickey’s granddaughter. Laura (Muriel’s mother) was a daughter-in-law, married to George Dickey. Millie and Agnes were daughters. Dave Archibald was a son-in-law, married to Susanna Dickey. “Will’s girls” refers to daughters of Ida Jane Dickey and William Guild (Ellen, Jean and Libbie).]
Musquodoboit July 14th 1908
Dear John
I am going to try and write a few lines but maybe you cant read them for my hand shakes so much that I cant guide the pen but it will let you know that I dont forget you. We are having verry hot dry weather everything seems to stop growing our strawberries are not growing any simply drying up people are talking of commencing to cut their hay quite a lot of it has stopped growing we have not had it so hot for some years. I was over to Stewiack to that big Picknick you would see all about it in the news, we were away the most of the week and had a good time went to see most of them. you will see in the news that Sid Fleck has beaten you in getting a wife but my faith in you is great. I shall be pleased to get a picture of your girl you did not tell me her name but I think I know it I dont remember her but I remember her Father well enough
Now John you just ought to see what happened Muriel came and caught the ink bottle and spilled all the ink over herself and the floor. I have hardly enough to write with Will’s girls are all home now Ellen was was in Midd Stewiack a while and is going back about the last of this month the other two Jean and Libbie will try for a school. Well John the fiftieth anniversary of our marriage will soon be here Laura wants to celebrate it and wants to know if you can come to it, it would be nice to have all home but not likey we can do you know if Millie has any notion of coming then. we dont get many letters from her. I had one from Agness this week she is well, have not heard from the rest for a while. Dave Archibald was in here this morning they were all well Emma Archibald died a week ago uncle Jonny Taylor is very low sinking fast the rest of the folk about are well I suppose Thom Cooper has crossed the river of Jordan Bill is more useless than ever has not got his fences up yet I am pleased to know that your cropp looks well and your stock prosperous now I will have to stop of want of ink write again soon to loving Mother