Miss Bertha Ballou
Elks, Nevada
Fort Logan, Colorado
Dear Bertha,
Your letter with the check came today and I turned the check over to Papa, of course. I am dreadfully sorry you were so tired and hope you have been able to get rested up before now. You must not work too hard, or put in such very long hours. It will not pay in the long run and you are not expected to stay and work until five every day, I am sure.
When you get all that library work straightened out, I suppose it will be a lot easier for you.
I am glad you have gotten rid of those boys, they must have been hard proposition. I went to Sunday school today. The ladies of the post are trying to have a Sunday school this was the second meeting and I acquitted a strong desire to wield a shingle for the benefit of certain boys. They acted exactly as I can remember seeing boys act, when a teacher went out and left one of her pupils in charge for a time.
One of the young lapels was the only one who seemed to have any interest in the lesson, or an idea concerning it. Mayor Herren left this evening. Mrs. Herren will remain here until their belongings get through and in meantime, he hopes to get a place to live. Dr. and Mrs. Drummel left this morning on leave, a month, I believe. I wish Mrs. Herren was not going. I shall miss her, also, I rather like her little girls. Mrs. Bailey is gaining quite nicely just now, they are much pleased with her progress, and they now have a cook, which she says is helping her to gain strength. Col. and Mrs. MacC – I can’t think of the rest just now, called today. They live in Denver, he is in the National Guard, I think, and was in Papa’s office in town. I like them both very much.
I even think Mrs. MacC – looks a little like you. I am glad you have a stove although it is sometimes hard to manage one in a sleeping room.
Also, I am glad you have all the other things and I will send the sleeping bag, etcetera, before long, perhaps I can finish the stockings and put them all in the same bundle. I trust I shall not be a very long time in getting the stocking done, but the first half of one does go very slowly.
I had a letter from Sally today. Yes, she seems to be having a good time mostly, and also to be getting along pretty well in her studies. She is already asking if she can go to Washington for Christmas. I think it will be well to let her do so this year as she will feel pretty lonesome, if she has to stay at school her first year. However, I have told her it will have to depend on her doing her work well in the meantime.
Papa has been to a meeting at the Service Club, and has just came in. I did not care to go. It has been warm but very windy here today and I believe a storm is gathering in the mountains. I about finished putting books in the cases today, had most of them in before, but not the best ones. Nearly everything is out now, and the house is in order, very well down stairs, but the unused bedrooms are rather ….
(Remainder is illegible)