Tag Archives: Crook county Wyoming

LETTERS FROM MONA – Part 53 – September, 1915

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Sept. 1, 1915

Dear Diary,

The threshing team is due to arrive her any day now. That will surely keep us busy for a few days cooking.  And then it’s on to Belle Fourche. It seems strange to say that. We have lived there before during the winter but the last time was the year Hazel was born and I don’t recall much. Papa has found a job working as a teamster and Mama is going to be the keeper of the boarding house we are renting. We will have 3 of the rooms one for Hazel and me, a small one for Daniel and another room will be Papa’s and Mama’s. There will be rooms for 3 additional boarders. The dining and drawing room will be shared. The kitchen will be Mama’s domain and so I suppose mine and Hazel’s, too. We will have to provide meals for the boarders as well as ourselves. Mama was the keeper of an Aladdin boarding house one winter when I was small.  Belle Fourche is a little town like Puyallup except it caters to the cattle and sheep industry. Unlike Puyallup it’s a cowboy town.

As soon as logging shuts down Roy says he is going to come and try to find work here. He is tired of us being so far apart. I can’t begin to tell you how happy that makes me.  Still I am trying not to get my hopes up to high. Job prospects around here aren’t good.

Vera and Clarence will be leaving next week. I am sure going to miss her, it’s been so nice having her around to visit with. Hopefully I will make new friends once we settle into Belle Fourche.

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Nagrom, Wash

Sept. 5, 1915

Dear Mae:

Well here I am once more for a little chat this morning. How are you feeling this fine morning? Just fine tho, I hope. I am not feeling quite well today as usual. I ate something for supper that made me so sea-sick: and I felt pretty miserable all night, think I vomited up every thing I have eaten for a week. I feel pretty good this morning tho only a bit weak. Guess I will be just as good as ever in a short time.

Your last letter arrived Iast Saturday and of course I was glad, and especially glad you were feeling so well. I looked for another letter yesterday but was disappointed, may get it today tho, am hoping s anyway.

I bet you was some glad to see Vera. And I can just imagine how you and she acted when you first met. Wish I might have been there to for I would like to see Vera to. Is she still there tell her I send her my best wished and tell her hello for me. I wish I could see Tootie also. I bet she is sure some cute. She was that when I saw here but I know she must be lots more so now.

I am glad the Wyoming crops have turned out so well that sure aught to help some. The grain crop of Wash. Is good this year to.  And I guess that wheat is a good price to. It seems as if the times aught to be pretty good this fall but it doesn’t seem as if they are. At least there is not much doing in the lumber business in this country. Lots of camps and mills are not running those that are in operation are all time talking about closing down. We hear talk of this camp shutting down ever once in a while. Hope it don’t for a while yet anyway.

My brother Richard is here with me again. He came Friday evening. He didn’t stay long over east of the mountains. He said he had to quit threshing on account of his eyes. There was to much dust, and he has weak eyes anyway. I was sure glad to have him back and am going to try to get him to stay this time. Joe and Grover West were working on the same machine that he was on. They will probably stay until the job is done. Joe’s wife is at Cashimere Wash. That is a small place up on the great northern rail-road. Guess that she and Joe are going to live there this winter. Joe said that he has a job cutting wood for this winter.

Well I guess that Justin and Lillian are picking hops now. Richard said they left Puyallup about a week ago. Said that he thought that Hue’s wife went with them and that Hue was going later.

I Don’t know where to send this letter to but I am going to send it to Belle Fourche as I suppose you will be there by the time this arrives. If you are not it can be forwards to Mona.

I haven’t told you of our trip after huckleberries last Sunday. We stayed all night on top of the mountain and picked berries until noon. The berries were plentiful and the finest I ever saw. WE got about eight gallons of them and sent them home. You better come around this winter and help eat huckleberry pie.

As ever Roy

Well it is about train time so will stop so as to send this off on it. Best regards to all

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Sept 8th, 1915

Dear diary,

Here I am writing upon your last page.  I have been writing in you for almost 3 years and my feelings for Roy haven’t changed one bit.  Well, I guess that isn’t entirely true as I love him more with each passing day and am surer than ever we are meant to be forever.

Today is our last day here in Mona.  We have been busy getting everything packed. Not that we are taking much along. Mostly just our clothes, linens, and other personal items. The boarding house kitchen is well stocked with cookware and dishes. And it’s not like we will never be back. Papa isn’t sure he wants to sell the claim he has worked so hard for.  And even if we don’t come back to live we will still be out here often to visit.  Grandpa and Grandma aren’t moving to town and neither are the rest of our many kin here, we’ll surely be out often for visits. Chances are next spring we will be living here again. But then if I find a job in Belle Fourche I might choose to stay there. Especially if it means I can see more of Roy so leaving here is sort of bittersweet.  So many ifs.  As I am about to run out of paper to write on, I guess it’s time to draw you to a close. Thank you for being here to hold all my hopes and dreams. Tomorrow will be the start of my life in a new place and with it the beginnings of a new book.

Mona Road, Wyoming 2019

    LETTERS FROM Mona -Part 52 – August 15 -August 30, 1915

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    August 15, 1915

    Dear Diary,

    My Aunt Lib died on Wednesday. They had a big funeral for her over at the Waddington house. All the folks from around here turned out so that tells you what folks thought of her. I know it was for the best she had suffered long enough but I can’t help but feel bad. I loved her so, she was such a dear and so good to me over the years.  Papa took it hard; she was just 6 years older.  Makes me realize how old my poor Papa is getting, I hate to think of him being gone in another 6 years. Course he has 7 other siblings who are older yet and still living. My Uncle John is 18 years older and doing just fine out in Rosedale, Washington.

    Yesterday the Book and Thimble club met at the Massies’. This time we read “Anne of the Island” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It’s the third in the Anne of Green Gables series. I loved the first two. This one was good but I like the other two more. Still, I kindy identified with Ann. Though you will never find me turning my Roy down if and when he asks for my hand in marriage. But then I guess my Roy is really her Gilbert. I cheered when I read they finally got engaged.

    Just when I really got to know and enjoyed Miss Guys company she upped and moved away. Now I am without a girlfriend nearby again. Oh well if we really move we won’t be here much longer anyway.

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    Nagrom, Wash
    August 17, 1915

    Dear Mazie,

     Well here I am once again for a little one sided talk with you. I wonder how you are this evening. Hope you are feeling just fine tho. I had a letter from you last Sun. and another one today. Was sure surprised to get the one today as I wasn’t looking for it at all.

    I was certainly sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Waddington and I sympothize deeply with the ones left behind to mourn her. I know just how it is to part with a dear one for ever for I have had the experience myself. I know pretty near how sad you all feel and wish that I could say something that would cheer you up a little but I know that mere words haven’t much power to cheer at such a time. It is hard to think that is for the best when we have to part with a dear one, but it must be for there is a power that rules over us that is greater than we can know.


    I little thought when I said good-bye to Mrs. Waddington in Belle Fourche last winter that it was the last time I would see her on this earth. It is a good thing I guess that we can’t know such things before hand. If we could it would be terrible. I feel so sorry for Mr. Waddington and the girls. Suppose they won’t know how to get along without Mother.

    I sure wish I might have been at your place on my birthday. I had a pretty good time on that day but know that I would had a much better time if I could have been with you. I would like awful well to see Tootie and Sadie also. Expect that Tootie has grown to be such a big girl that I would hardly know her. I have forgotten when her birthday is but she must be about a year old now.


    We are having delightful weather now. Yesterday we had quite a thunder storm and it cooled things off in great shape. It sure some hot over where Amber is I would hate to be there. I don’t think it has ever been above 85 degrees here and that is enough suit me. I bet Joe and Richard are doing lots of sweating as they are both over east of the mountain somewhere.


    Do you ever hear anything form Vera anymore? You hasn’t mentioned her for a long time. I would love to hear how she and Clarence are making it by now.


    So you friend Miss Guy has left you. You don’t seem to have very good luck with your girl friends. They are all time getting married or else going away.

     There is going to be a wedding here in the camp tomorrow or rather I should say it is not to be in the camp either but they both live here. They went to Tacoma today and are going to be married there and are coming back here about the last of the week. The man is one of the fellows that I had for a partner last fall, so I know him pretty well. I am not much acquainted with the girl. She is only seventeen, pretty young for a wife don’t you think. He has been building a new house the last week and Mr. Cook and I have been helping him evenings.


    Well I guess I don’t know anymore worth saying so will stop and read awhile give my regards to all,

     as ever Roy

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    Nagrom, WN

    August 27, 1915

    Dear Mae,

    Well how is the girl today? Just fine tho I hope. I am writing this out int the woods during the noon hour while I rest. Haven’t a very good place to write so you will have to excuse me if my writing is poor. I was just ready to start a letter to you the other evening when the call came to turn out to fight fire so I had to postpone it.

     Fire had caught in the brush along the railroad from the locomotive when it brought the crew in from work. We were out all night and all the next day before we could stop it. I sent that card when we came in for breakfast and had only a minute to spare or so couldn’t write much. The fire burned over quite a lot of logged ground but we managed to keep it out of the green timber so there was not much damage done except that it burned a couple of railroad bridges, which will take lots of work to rebuild.

      All the fire is about out now so I don’t think there is any more danger from it. I sure hope so anyway for fighting fire in the woods is a pretty bad job and very dangerous to. The smoke was so thick the first day that I could hardly stand it. It made me pretty sick for a while to.

      I had a letter from Lida this week and she said they were all pretty well now that she was busy picking blackberries for Mr. Perkensen. She also said that Justin and Lillian and Hue and Lodie were going over to Yakima to pick hops. They will probably go where Ode and Amber are for there are lots of hops near there. She didn’t say when they were going to start but I suppose it will be soon tho as picking will begin soon, about the tenth of Sept. I think.

      My friend Mr. Cook and I are going huckle-berry picking this evening. We are going right after supper and stay until tomorrow afternoon, that is why I am writing this at noon. I expect to get a letter this evening and if I don’t somebody will be awfully disappointed. Well it is time to go to work again so I must say good-by and go to work again.

      As ever Roy

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      August 30,1915

      Dear Diary,

      Vera was here this past week. I don’t have to tell you how nice that was.  She looked and sounded so happy; marriage certainly seems to agree with those two. Yesterday she came with me to the Book and Thimble meeting. Everyone was some glad to see her again. I’m so horse. I did so much talk the past couple of days my voice has all but left me.

      The threshers should be out here in another week or two and then as hard as it is for me to believe we are moving to Belle Fourche.

      It will certainly be different living in a lodging house. I guess we will have 2 or 3 rooms and share meals with the other boarders. Papa has found some temporary work in the stockyards.  I am hoping I will be able to find some work also.

      LETTERS FROM MONA -Part 51- August 5 – August 10,1915

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      Nagrom, WN

      August 5, 1915

      Dear Friend Daniel:

      Well how are you making it by now? I am just fine and hope you can say the same. It has been quite some time since I got your letter and ought to have answered it before but was to lazy I guess. That is my only excuse I have to offer anyway. I was going to write to you last Sunday but had to work that day so had to put it off for awhile.

      Well how goes it in Wyoming by now? Suppose you are working pretty hard these days harvesting the crop. Suppose it is pretty warm there now also. We are having fine weather now just warm enough to be pleasant. I don’t think it will get very hot anymore this summer.

      You ought to be here to go fishing with me next Sunday. It happens to be my birthday and I am going to celebrate it by going fishing. Don’t you think that is a pretty good way to celebrate? It is lucky it comes on Sunday, if it was any other day I should have to celebrate with the big saw. Well I don’t know any new to tell you as there is not much doing here and I haven’t been any place since the Fourth and I haven’t heard much from any of the folks since then either so am short of news. Well guess I will read the paper for a while and then pull in.

       Maybe next time I can think of more to write.

      Your pal, Roy

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      August 5, 1915

      Dear diary,

      Big news, Papa says we are now moving to Belle Fourche as soon as September is here. I hardly think we will make it that soon with all the threshing still to do but it does look like we will move for at least the fall and winter if not permanently. I won’t mind living in town but I do wish it were Puyallup. And I don’t have to tell you why.

      The Grain is ripening slowly this year no one is harvesting yet. This had been a cool, wet summer for a change. That’s why I hardly think we will be moving as soon as September. Time will tell I guess.

      I wonder if there are any Book and Thimble type clubs in Belle Fourche. I am starting to really enjoy our meetings.  We had a big crowd at the one last Saturday. The weather was so pleasant we held it outside under the shade trees. 

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      August 8, 1915

      Dear Diary,

      I am feeling blue. Today is Roy’s birthday and I miss being with him on his special day. As it is a Sunday I bet he isn’t working either. I do hope he is doing something fun.  I doubt he went to Puyallup. I know his mother would make him a cake if he did.  If he were here I certainly would.  This year I think I’d make him a lemon sponge cake and serve a berry compote on the side.  For dinner we’d have fried chicken, potato salad and fresh greens from my garden. Making it would be a labor of love, not work at all.

      Instead I had to settle on sending him a card and some nice poems. Maybe next year will be different. 

      Steven Giles was around this week to show off his shiny new car.  Seems more and more folks are getting one.  If we actually decide to live in town maybe we will end up with one too, though Papa says never. Getting around here has gotten easier since all the neighbors decided to work together to fix the roads. The county sure wasn’t doing it. 

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      August 10, 1915

      Dear Mae:

      Well here I am once again ready for a short chat. Intended to write to you last evening but took a sudden notion to go fishing, so didn’t have the time. Well how are you feeling this lovely evening. Fine I hope. I am still feeling good only a wee bit tired just now. It was pretty warm today and we have an awful rough place to work, have to climb of a pretty high hill to get to it and that makes it pretty bad when it is warm.


      Your last letter came last night and I was certainly glad to get it as it had been more than two weeks since I had a letter and I couldn’t help being worried a little bit. Was some what surprised to hear that you are going to move to town and so soon. I won’t get to write you more than one more letter to Mona. I hope you will like it down there and have a good time. I would surely like to be there to go with you to the fair but is so useless to make a wish like that for it is all but impossible. I may go down to the Puyallup fair this year if all goes well until that time. It is a long time yet and lots might happen before then so can’t figure much on it yet.


      Is Mr. Phillips going to rent that lodging house that he talked of renting last winter?


      Last Sunday was my birthday. I celebrated by going fishing so of course you know that I had a good time. Mr. Cook my partner and myself packed up Saturday evening and walked about five miles up the creek (not the same creek that we went to last time) and slept out under the stars. We got up bright and early and started angling for the shifty trout. It took us only a short time to catch enough for breakfast, we certainly had a fine feed. Mr. Cook acted as chief cook and I cleaned the fish. We fished until about noon and then had another big feed before starting back to camp. We were just about all in when we got back, at least I was and I guess the others were in the same fix.


      Mr. Cook undertook to give me a birth-day whipping but didn’t have much success with it. I had a letter from Mother last night and three birthday cards, one from Richard, one from my sister in law and the other from Mother. Richard’s leg is well now. He started away yesterday for east of the mountains to thresh. Said he expected to be gone about two months. Mother is pretty well for her. She said that Lida had been away visiting for a couple of weeks. She stayed a week with Blanche in Tacoma and a week in Buckley with a girl friend she has there.

      • Gus Cook Roy’s logging partner

      Mother didn’t say any thing about any of your folks except your Aunt Ann and all she said about her was that she had just been over for a short visit. I suppose the rest must be all right or she would have said something about them. I haven’t heard anything of Justin since he was here. Have you heard from him lately?


      You ought to have been here and went to church last Friday evening. There was a meeting in the dance hall. Gus and I went over but the rest of the rough necks wouldn’t go so there wasn’t much of a crowd. Nearly all women and kids. Well I am almost to the end of my paper so will have to cut it short for now.

      Best regards to all

       Bye bye, Roy

      LETTERS FROM MONA -Part 50 – July 10 – July 31, 1915

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      Nagrom, WN
      July 10th, 1915

      Dear Mae: Well here goes a short talk with my Little girl. I wonder how she is this fine evening. Well and happy tho I hope. I am still felling just so good as ever and getting along pretty well.

      Am back in Nagrom again as you will notice by the address, got back Monday evening and have worked ever since. Got your last letter yesterday, it came to Puyallup after I left there so Mother sent it up to me. Of course you know I was glad to get it. Glad to hear that you were all feeling pretty good and trust you are feeling even better now. Glad you are having nice weather in Wyo. now. We have had nice weather during the past two weeks. I think it is going to be nice for a while now.


      Well the Great and Glorious Fourth is now a thing of the past, and I am not very sorry of it either altho I had a good rest and quite a nice time, much better than I expected to have. I think I told you what I did up until Saturday evening. I will take up the story where I left off and tell you all about how I celebrated the fourth.

      My chum and I went down town that evening and stayed until pretty late, didn’t go to the show tho, just bummed around the streets. Sunday I didn’t do very much until after noon. Mr. Cook and I went down and got a gallon of ice-cream and we had an ice-cream dinner. We also had fried chicken, new potatoes and green peas and all the berries and cherries we could stand. I tell you it was quite a treat for us after living on camp grub for so long. wish you could have been there and enjoyed it with us. There was no one there beside the home folks except Blanche Stockton and a couple of girls that are picking berries for me. They came from Winlock, Wash. and they were pretty nice girls to, at least I thought so. Sunday evening we all went down to the picture shows and had a real nice time of it. There wasn’t a very good show that evening
      but had a good time anyway., Monday we all picked berries most of the day. Mr. Cook and I helped the girls pick and we sure had a great time.

      In the evening Blanche and Lida and Mr. Cook and myself all went down to the Stadium in Tacoma. There was a play there called Colonial day and it was just fine. They showed the Landing of the Pilgrims in the Mayflower, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and a number of other historical events. They had the most and best fire-works I have ever saw before. It sure was a grand display and I wish you might have seen it. There was also a tight wire performance and other stunts in that line.

      We stayed in Tacoma until midnight then we took a train out and put the girls off at Puyallup and we came up to Nagrom. It was after three oclock in the morning when we landed here, so there wasn’t much sleeping done that night. Justin met us at the train in Puyallup and came up here with us, but didn’t stay because he couldn’t get the kind of work he wanted. It was pretty much disappointed that he didn’t stay for it would have kept me from getting so lonesome and I think it would have been much better for him also for he could have got what he wanted later on. I don’t know what he intends to do now. Don’t think he has any plans for the future.

      I had a letter from Mother today. She said that Richard had come home from the hospital said that he couldn’t walk yet but didn’t want to stay in the hospital any longer and was going to stay home until he could work again. I don’t think he is going to come here anymore, he says he is going down in Oregon to thresh if he gets well in time. The rest of the folks at home are all pretty well. Mother says she feels better now than she has at anytime since they went east last fall. Lida is working pretty hard in the berries. She is getting along pretty well at it. Father seems to be as well as he was before, he sure looks much better than he did. Joe is over east of the Mts. working in the wheat harvest. I don’t know just where. His wife it is staying with some of her folks. I think she is at Wenatchee, WN.


      I didn’t get to see any of your relatives while I was down, was at Henry’s several times, so saw quite a lot of them. I helped Lillian pick berries for quite a while and had quite a talk with her. We talked about you to, did it make your ears burn? I saw your uncle John several times. He looks just as he did when you saw him last I can’t see as he looks much older. I didn’t see any of the rest except Hugh. He was over to our place for a little while. I did see Saul on the street to, but didn’t get to talk to him. Mrs. Henry said they are planning another trip back east this fall, wish I was going part way with them.

       Well guess I have told you about all there is to tell about myself so will talk about something else. I wonder what kind of time you had the fourth. My how I wish I might have been with you but that don’t do any good I guess, I sure thought of you many times and wondered what you were doing. Hope you had a good time where ever you were. Hope you got to make that trip up to your Uncle Willies that you were planning.


      Well I can’t think of any more to say so will stop and pull in as it is getting pretty late.

      Good night,

       As ever

       Roy

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      Nagrom, Wn

      July 16, 1915

      Dear Mazie:

       Well here I am once again. How are you this fine evening? This is only Thursday evening but I am so lonesome I don’t know what else to do with myself so thot I would talk to you for a little while and see if it won’t cheer me up a little bit. There is nothing special to make me feel lonely but can’t help feeling that way sometimes. I am still as well as ever and getting along pretty well with the work We have had a very sudden change in the weather this week. It stopped raining last Sat. and turned warm all at once. Monday was the warmest day of the season and believe me we felt it some to. It has been hot every day this week but not nearly so hot as Monday was. I don’t think it will last for any great length of time up here in the mountains. If it stays nice until Sunday I am going on a fishing trip. I think I have made plans to go about a dozen time this season but something always happened to prevent. I am going this time for sure tho If we don’t have to work.


      I had a letter from Mother the other day. She said they were all pretty well at the present. I guess they are just about through with the berries now I think they were going to pick them for the last time today and I suppose they are glad to get through with them. Blanche Stockton is going to stay at our place through black-berry picking. I think that her and Lida are going to pick for Mr. Perensen.


      Saturday evening.


      Well here I am once more I had to stop writing the other before I finished and didn’t get to write anymore until now, and don’t suppose I  can finish it now either as Mr. Cook and I are going fishing this evening. I am waiting for him to get ready and thot I would talk to you while I am waiting. We are going up May creeks about five miles and stay all night so we can get an early start in the morning. Well I guess Gus is about ready to start so I will have to stop and finish tomorrow night. I can then tell you about our trip good-bye for now.

      Monday evening

      Well here I am once more, how was you this evening? I am fine and dandy and hope you can say the same. I intended to finish this letter last night but Gus and I were invited out to supper and we didn’t get home until about nine oclock so didn’t have time to write any. We had quite a time on our fishing trip, didn’t catch many fish but had a good time just the same. We stayed all night Sat. night out in the woods under a big tree on the bank of a swift mountain stream and the water made music for us to sleep by. We got up at four o clock and started out to catch trout enough for breakfast. It was a beautiful morning and the scenery was just grand, wish you could have been there and seen it for yourself. We fished until seven and then we stopped and cooked breakfast. I cleaned the trout while Gus prepared the rest of the meal and then we both fried fish. We certainly had a great feed and it sure tasted fine for we were hungry.

      After breakfast we went on up the creek fishing as we went until noon then we stopped and had another fish fry. On the return trip I went to climb along the cliff to get by a water fall and my foot slipped and I went into the water co-plunk and oh was it cold. The sun was shining tho so It didn’t take long to dry. We got back to camp quite early in the evening and we were some tired I tell you. We gave our fish to a family man that lives here and he invited us to come and help eat them so we went and we certainly had a good supper. After supper we had some music and singing go put in the evening quite pleasantly.

       I got your letter today and of course was very glad. I looked for it Saturday, but it didn’t come so I wasn’t looking for it until Wednesday so was some what surprised to get it today. It was a very pleasant surprise tho. Am so glad to hear that you are feeling so well and hope you will stay that way. I had a letter from Mother today also. She and Lida are both pretty well and getting along pretty well. Richard is able to walk without crutches now and the Doctor told him he would be as good as ever by their first of Aug. Guess he will start away threshing just as soon as he can. I bet he is some glad to be able to walk around again. He certainly has had quite a time of it.

      Father is getting along pretty well and is feeling quite will. My old uncle isn’t any better and I guess never will be. He had never recovered his health and his mind is failing him. I don’t think he can last so very long but of course it is hard to tell.

       Well it is time for me to pull in so I will have to hang up and go to bed and get some sleep so I will be ready for another long hard day. Gus has been sitting here reading to me while I have been writing so if you find any mistakes you will know the reason and excuse them.


      good-night, Roy

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      Dear Diary

      July 17, 1915

      We went to the picnic and dance at Donald on the 15th. My did we ever have fun and eat so much good food.  It was good to visit with all the folks I don’t see much. The boys and men spent most of the afternoon playing baseball while we women cheered and visited. They also held running races like the gunny sack and three-legged races for the younger kids.  As you know I am not so crazy about dances unless a certain someone is there with me too.  But I have to admit they had some mighty fine fiddlers. My toes were sure a tapping even if I did sit the dances out. 

      So many of the folks at the dance kept asked why I didn’t I just up and take myself to Washington. Believe me I’m temptedbut I would hate to hurt my family that way and beside Roy made Papa that darn promise so I am sure he’d still wait until I was 21 before he asked for my hand in marriage.

      We have had so much rain this month it is interfering with the haymaking. Before it gets quite dried out it ups and rains again.  After so many seasons of insufficient rain this year we have too much.

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      July 31,

      Dear Diary,

      It’s been a very busy end to July, so busy with harvesting crops and canning. The men have been trying to get as much haymaking done as they can between rainstorms. Most of our alfalfa crops is laying spoiled in the fields due to the overly plentiful rain.

      Papa has once again said he’s had enough of trying to farm out here. The Washington relatives keep writing to him saying he should come out there.  I have my fingers crossed I think he is considering it. I don’t have to tell you how much I’d prefer that to Belle Fourche.

      I am sitting in my garden. My flowers have flourished, they don’t mind all the rain at all. I’m being cooled by a pleasant breeze and the sweet scent of fresh mowed hay drifts through the air. In the distance I hear the yowling of the coyotes. This year these parts are being overrun with them.

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      China – coded letter written by Mae sometime in July or August it was included in the envelope for Roy’s letter dated July 17, 1915

      Yes Roy I would like very much to be in Washington but you know I can’t as long as the folks are here. But everybody is asking me why I don’t go. But we must live in hope of being together I hope.

      Vera and Hazel discovered the writing in the envelope, but it will be all right

      I surely get lonesome sometimes if only I could see you once in a while I would feel so much better. But I hope and trust in God we will soon be together. It helps to look on the bright side of things you are just beautiful and I love you only

      Mae

      If you send any secret letters envelopes, don’t as they are looking

      Mae

      LETTERS FROM MONA – Part 47 – June 1 to June 12, 1915

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      June 1, 1915

      Dear Diary,

      I still haven’t heard from Roy and it worries me some. I know it’s just he’s very busy or the mail has been held up for some reason. All the same I can’t help fretting that he might be sick, injured, or worse. No, I must not let my thoughts go there. He’s just working hard, that’s all.

      I do wish it would rain. I know we have had lots this spring but not in the past few days. We need some soon if our seedlings are to take off.  Some of our neighbors are now talking of moving to Sheridan the unpredictable weather here in the Bear Lodge mountains just makes it hard to farm.

      Sadie and Bert surprised us with a short visit yesterday as they were on their way to spend the evening with their good friends, the Bates. I loved getting a few extra minutes to cuddle and play with Tootie. She’s getting to be quite the crawler; I am afraid there is no more sitting her on a blanket and expecting her to stay put.

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      Nagrom, WN
      June 1st, 1915


      Dear Mae:

      Well here I am once again. Am a little late with my letter this week but better late than not at all so they say. I went home last Sat. evening so didn’t have time to write. I didn’t think I would go down before about the first of July, but I had a letter from Mother and she was feeling kind of blue so thought, I would go down and see if I could cheer her up a bit. She isn’t so well as she was a while back has been just about down with the grip for a week or more. I was home all-day Sunday and it seemed quite nice to be home again. It sure looks nice around Puyallup now, everything is so fresh and green and there are so many flowers in blossom. The strawberries and cherries are ripe to so you may know that I had a feast. Wish you could have been there and helped me eat some.

      I saw all the folks except Justin and Lillian they were all well except Lode, she was feeling bum she said, but I guess it wasn’t anything serious. Saul and Hugh are not living where they did they have moved into the little house right south of Mr. Purkensen’s berry patch. (Author’s note: The Purkensens were another one of Mae’s aunts and uncles). I went over and had a nice visit with Henry’s folks. They seem to be getting along fine. I showed Mrs. Henry your picture and I thot she was going to have a fit over it. I showed it to all the rest of the folks to and they all said it was just dandy. Mother and Lida seemed awful glad to get it and said it was good.


      Sunday evening I was over to Mr. Purkensens and had a nice visit. It was the first time I had seen since I came back from WYO so they had lots of questions to ask me. Justin and his wife are at home tho. Justin has a team and is working on the county-road. You ought to see Justin’s little boy. He is just awful cute. He and Iretha are just about the same size and I guess they’d have a great time playing together. Henry’s said they expected Justin and Lillian to show up in Puyallup at any time now. I expected to get to see them as I thought they were already in Puyallup but was disappointed. Will get to see them before so very long tho I suppose.


      My Father is pretty well now, he looks ever so much better than he did when I last saw him. He is able to go out with the team now and do quite a little work.


      I got yours and Sadie’s letter Saturday and of course was very glad. Sorry that you Mother wasn’t very well and hope she will be better soon. I expect you were some glad to see Tootie again. I would be glad myself If I could see her now. Many thanks for the picture. I don’t think it looks much like her tho, for I know she is much prettier than that. I sure would like to see her with her new shawl, bet she is some cute.


      Sorry you have been having such disagreeable weather in Wyoming. Hope it will be nice pretty soon. It is still pretty well here. we have some rain almost everyday. Rained pretty hard this afternoon. I sure hope June isn’t going to be as wet as May was.

      Good evening,

      Well I think I have told you about all I know so will stop and pull in as I am getting awfully sleepy. Give my regards to all.

      Roy

      Here is the first little wild roses I have seen this season. I found them in the woods where we were at work the other day.

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      June 5,1915

      Dear diary,

      We had a meeting of the Book and Thimble club today at the Massies but it was so wet and foggy not very many folks came. Those of us who were there had a good chat. We agreed to postpone our book talk and try and meet again next week. Unfortunately, the meeting ended on a sad note when the phone rang to inform us that Grandma Rishor had died earlier in the day from a stroke.

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      Nagrom, WN

      June 5, 1915

      Dear Mae,

       Well how is my Little Girl this fine evening, just fine tho I trust. I am still feeling fine and dandy and hope these fiew lines will find you in the same fix. I received your last letter Wednesday and you know I was glad. I wasn’t looking for another letter so soon so was somewhat surprised. It was a very pleasant surprise and I wish you would surprise me again in the same fix. Was so glad to hear you were feeling better and your Mother is better to.


      To bad the frost injured the wild fruit down there. I hope it didn’t kill all of it tho. It would sure be a shame if it did. This has been a bad season for frost here also. There is going to be very fiew cherries or apples and I think the raspberries are hurt some to. Just how much I can’t tell yet. It is to bad but I guess it cannot be helped, so it is no use to cry about it.


      I hope I can get enough cherries from my trees so I can send you a fiew. I have only two trees that will keep long enough and they are the ones that got frosted the worse. I went over and looked at them when I was down and there was only a fiew left. They will be ripe about the first of July I think. No, I didn’t rent my berries to anyone this season. Am hiring them tended and am going to let Lida tend to the picking. It doesn’t pay for me to do it myself. Wish you could be here and help in the picking. I suppose the camp will be shut down for about a week the Fourth of July so I will get to pick some myself and of course eat quite a fiew also.


      I got a letter from Justin the other day, the same day that I got yours. He was still at Oysterville, digging clams. He said he would have to quit that pretty soon tho, as it is against the law to dig any after the first of June. He is talking some of renting some land down there. Said if he didn’t do it he would be up to Puyallup soon, and would come up here after the Fourth of July.


      There is a dance here tonight, Richard is going to play. Don’t know if I will go over or not. I worked pretty hard to-day and it was pretty warm, so I am somewhat tired. Am going to have to work tomorrow to, so I guess I hadn’t better go to any dance.
      I bet Hazel was some disappointed that she didn’t get to go to the dance at MC Donald’s. If she was here she could get enough dancing I think. I am going to bring my clothes with me after the Fourth and see if I can’t learn to dance. They sure have them often enough and have some good dancers here so I will never have a better opportunity to learn. Richard is practicing on some new music.


      I am sorry I forgot the date of Daniel’s birthday for I intended to send him some little remembrance. I suppose he will feel a little jealous now because I sent Hazel a present after forgetting him.


      Tell Hazel that I made a mistake when I put the ribbon in her shawl and got it on the wrong side and didn’t find it until it was to late to change it. She can change it herself if she wants to.

      I found the flowers in your letter and think they are nice, many thanks for them. There are lots of wildflowers here but not so very many tame ones. Am glad to hear that there is prospects for good crops in Wyoming this year and hope the weather continues favorable.


      I suppose you and Sadie and Tootie had a great time together last week. You will surely miss them when they go home again. Will they go before the Fourth of July?


      Well it is getting so late so guess I had better pull in, as Daniel says and get some sleep so I can stand another long weary day.
      Tell everyone hello for me.

       Good-night, Roy

      Dear Diary

      June 6, 1915

      I feel so bad, this morning we woke to a blanket of frost on the ground. Unlike the one at the end of May this one I fear is a killing frost.  I am afraid we will need to do lots of replanting. Farming in these parts is just too hard. Seems like we either have too much rain, or not enough or it’s too cold or hot.

      Just heard a car go by. Since the roads have finally dried out there has been a lot of joy riding going on around here. 

      ——————————————————————————————————————————-June 9, 1915

      Dear diary,

      Today’s going to be a scorcher, freezing one day, pouring the next followed by a hot, that’s a Wyoming summer for you.

      Yesterday we all met over at the Bates for a combined birthday party for my Uncle Bill Smith and Daniel. Of course we acknowledged Daniel’s real birthday, too. Hard to believe he is already 12.

       Mama wasn’t feeling well so she stayed home but the rest of us went. Jim and Phoebe Bates cooked us a delicious meal out in the yard using their camp stove and we ate under the of the trees. Sadie and I brought cakes, a chocolate on for Daniel, and a lemon one for Uncle Willie.

      There was quite a crowd of us with the Smiths, Marchants, and Bates combined. Tootie and Zeta are close in age and were so fun to watch playing on the blanket while the rest of us visited, played cards, and sang around a campfire. Uncle Willie said it was the best birthday he’d had in a long time.

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      June 12, 1915

      Dear Diary,


      Maybe it’s the unpredictable weather we are having but I have not felt will since Uncle Willie’s party on Tuesday. I have spent most of the of the week in bed with the La Grippe, I guess.

      If I had to pick a week to be sick I suppose this is better than most since it has done nothing but pour since the party. The Belle Fourche river is running so high none of us from Mona will be able to make today’s book and thimble club meeting.

      Papa says the roads are pitted mud baths again. We are so in need of road repair. I bet that tax collector riding around here is getting an earful.

      I still haven’t heard from Roy; I am nearly losing my mind with worry.

      LETTERS FROM MONA – Part 46 – May 15 – May 31, 1915

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      Nagrom, WA

      May 15,1915

      Dear Mae:

      Well how goes it with the girl by now, hope you are just fine tho. I am well as ever and still getting along first class. Your last letter arrived last Tuesday, and I guess it is unnecessary to tell you that I was glad. It got here a day ahead of time, so I was sure surprised. It was a very pleasant surprise tho, so I am not kicking. Am awful sorry that your tooth is bothering you yet. I so hoped it would be alright after it was fixed and I guess you hope so too and it is too bad that it isn’t.

      Tell Sadie that I was sorry to hear that she wasn’t well, and hope she is alright again now. I hope she didn’t have to miss your party for I know that would be quite a disappointment for you and for her to I suppose.


      Am glad to hear you have been having such nice rains in Wyoming perhaps it is going to be a better season for crops than usual, let us hope so any way for it is about time.


      We have had considerable rain during the past week, rained some everyday, just spring showers tho, one minute it would be raining like sixty and the next the sun would be shining as bright as if it had never rained. I got pretty wet several times but it was so warm and nice that I didn’t mind it much.
      They had a late frost down at Puyallup, I think that it killed most of the cherries and hurt the berries some to. There is going to be only about half a crop they say. I guess the strawberries have started to ripen as they are on the market now. It is nearly a month earlier than I ever knew them to ripen before, so you may know what an early season we have, I think there will be ripe raspberries in a month from now. I don’t know whether I can send you any cherries this year or not as the frost may have killed all of that kind, and there is no others that will keep long enough.


      I had letters from Mother and Father both this week and they are both getting along just fine. Father has gained thirty pounds in weight since he got back to Wash. My uncle isn’t any better than he was tho, poor old man, I guess he never will be either. I don’t look for him to last much longer.

      Mother gave me scolding for not sending her your picture. I didn’t know at what time I might be going down so thought I would keep it until I went down. I don’t know now when I will be going down suppose tho I will have to go down when berry picking starts.


      I don’t know anything about your Uncle John’s place so couldn’t say whether he still has a chance to redeem it or not. I hardly think so tho.


      Tell Hazel she ought to be here tonight for there is a big dance on. They are going to have some fancy music from Seattle so suppose it will be a swell affair. I am going over and watch them for awhile but I won’t try to dance as I have no clothes with me but my working uniform.
      Well this is all I know so guess I will stop. Give my best wishes to everybody.

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      May 17, 1915

       Dear Diary,

      I am sitting outside surrounded by the sweet fragrance of the white blossoms springing forth from all the orchards.

      Earlier this morning the folks hitched up the wagon and left for their spring trip to Belle Fourche. Sadie and Tootie left with them to be dropped off in Aladdin. Sadie wanted to be home before Bert returns from sheep shearing. The two of them had been here ever since my birthday and with Hazel and Daniel off at school it seems awful lonely here now. But I will busy myself as I have plenty of chores to do.

       Seems like more and more folks in these parts are talking of moving but I guess we are going to stay put. Really I can’t say for sure, one day Papa wants to move the next stay put.  At least with the plentiful rain we have has so far this spring there is hope for good crops.

      There is going to be another dance in Donald on the 29th. It’s the first one since St. Patrick’s Day. I guess we are going and I don’t mind for it will be nice to see everyone again. We have been so busy planting and doing spring chores there’s been hardly any time for visiting.

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      Nagrom, WN

      May 22, 1915

      Dear Mae,

       Well here goes a few words to let you know that I am still among the living. Am fine and dandy as usual and trust you can say the same. Your last letter arrived last Tuesday and of course you know I was glad to get it. Sorry tho that you were having trouble with your eye. Wonder what could be wrong with it. Hope it is nothing serious tho.


      Glad to hear that you are having such nice weather in Wyoming. I would very much like to see that country now. I don’t suppose it looks much like it did three months ago. It was pretty white then and now I suppose everything is pretty and green. We are still having showering weather, but not rain enough to make it uncomfortable. So far May hasn’t been so warm as April was, suppose we will have some warm weather pretty soon tho.


      I haven’t had any letters from Puyallup this week so don’t know anything in the way of new to tell you.


      I have got my old job now. My friend Mr. Cook and I have been falling together since last Saturday. I like falling much better than bucking as it is not so lonesome for there is always two together. We happened to get into a bunch of big trees this week so had to work pretty hard. I think we will have it easier in a few days. I wanted to go fishing tomorrow but I have to work so can’t go, so far we have worked every Sunday this month aren’t we wicked tho.


      Was glad to hear that you had such a nice time at your birthday party and glad you received so many nice presents, you must have lots of good friends.
      I hope Sadie likes her shawl as well as you seem to like it. Guess I will have to make one for you sometime. What says you? I wish I had taught you how to make them last winter so you could make them yourself if you wanted to.


      I haven’t heard from Joe since he left here, but I heard that he was working in a camp near Selick, that is about twenty-five miles from here, towards Seattle. I don’t know what he is doing.


      There is going to be another dance here tonight. Richard is going to play for them. He went over to the hall just a fiew minutes ago, so suppose they will soon be shaking their feet. Well Mazie I can’t think of anymore worth saying so had better stop I guess. I haven’t read the newspaper yet so will read that awhile and then pull-in as Daniel says. Oh yes I forgot to thank you for the pansies. I think they are nice, thank ever so much.


      Give my regards to all the folks.

      As ever, Roy

      May 30, 1915

      Dear diary,

      I am plum tuckered out today. We went to the dance last evening. We were still traveling home as the sun started to rise. By the time we got here the morning chores needed doing so not much resting occurred. Wouldn’t it be nice if Roy’s brother Richard came to play at our dances and of course he’d have to bring his brother? Ahh, such dreams.

      The Book and Thimble club meets this afternoon but I don’t think either Mama or I have the energy to go, besides, I am only halfway finished with the book. We have another meeting the second week of June, hopefully I will make that one.  Anyway, we have church tomorrow at the Mona, schoolhouse, it all makes for too much traveling.

       I didn’t get my usual letter from Roy yesterday; I hope I get one this coming week. I fret so when I don’t get one. I tell you sometimes I think I just live for his letters and nothing else matters.  

      LETTERS FROM Mona -Part 45- May 1-May 9, 1915

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      May 1, 1915

      Dear Diary,

      Once again it is raining like sixty turning our turning our rutted roads into massive mud holes.  It makes it so difficult to get around whether by wagon or foot. It’s about time the county and state give us some help repairing them. Folks around here have enough to do without having to maintain the roads too.

      Daniel rode his pony off to the Mona school this morning, it just started up again last Monday. I bet he was drenched by the time he got there. It surely will be going late this year; I don’t envy him having to go during the hot days of July but we had trouble finding a teacher to come any sooner. The new teacher’s name is Miss Guy and she is boarding next door so I must try and get to know her better.   

      Bert and Jesse Phillips stopped by here yesterday. I guess their fishing/camping trip on the Belle Fourche river was a bust. They barely got enough fish to make a decent fish fry for themselves.

      I believe I am all over whatever ailed me. My throat feels so much better than it did a few days ago. Mama says I should take it easy another day or two so I am going to take her up on the offer while she is feeling generous. I think I will go call Sadie and see if she is feeling better, too.  

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      Nagrom Wn.
      May 5th, 1915

      Dear Pardner Daniel:

      Well here it goes a few lines in answer to your letter which I got some time ago. Ought to have answered sooner but was to lazy I guess that is the only excuse I can think of to offer so it will have to go. Well how is the World using you by now? And what are you doing with yourself?


      Going to school tho I suppose. It will be pretty late before you get out this time won’t it? You had a good long vacation and I expect you were glad to get to go to school again. Who have you for a teacher.


      Well were having nice weather now, just like summer time and I suppose it is pretty much that way in Wyoming by now isn’t it?


      I may go trout fishing next Sunday if the weather is good, better you come along and I will show you some fun. There is a dance here to-night, Richard is playing for them. He has played for them twice before. He is getting to be quite the musician, you ought to hear him play some. If you will come over after a little, you can help us eat strawberries and cream. Mr. Cook and I got some berries from the store today and are going to have a feast. I guess they are California berries as Washington berries are not ripe yet.


      Next time you write to me I want you to do a better job of it for I know that you can beat that all to smash if you try. Wish I could be at your place Friday evening for Mae’s party but as my air-ship is broke guess I can’t. Tell the dog and cat and the rest of the folks hello for me.

      Roy

      ——————————————————————————————————————————-

      May 7, 1915

      Dear diary,

      I am relaxing on my garden bench. I can’t tell you enough what a source of delight this space provides for me. As soon as I am done with my morning chores I come out here to pull weeds and coax my seeds to commence growing. From where I sit I can see the tiny wisps of onion seed and radishes sprouting. My cabbage plants are growing in size now I just hope the darn rabbits don’t decide to feast upon it all. 

      The trees and bushes along our road are painted in fresh coats of emerald while the wildflowers are busily popping up in artistic displays. It took its sweet time but spring has definitely sprung.

      Today I am another year closer to the longed for 21, I am now 19. Hazel is off collecting wildflowers to decorate for my party tonight. Mama is inside bustling around getting ready for this evening. My grandparents, Sadie, Bert and of course little Tootie are joining us for supper.

      When I left the house, the sweet smell of a vanilla cake already filled the air. Later it will be topped with my favorite rich chocolate frosting. My mouth is watering already.  After supper, our neighbors are going to join us for coffee and cake. It will be so nice to see all of them again especially little Tootie. I can’t get enough of that little angel.

      John said he’d drop any mail we had by later this afternoon. I sure hope I have a letter from Roy for if I don’t this is going to be a blue, blue birthday.

      ——————————————————————————————————————————-

       Nagrom, WN

       May 8th, 1915

      Dear Mae:

      Well here I am again. How are you feeling this lovely evening, fine tho I trust. I am feeling first class and am getting along just fine. Am feeling better everyday. We are having such perfect weather now that one couldn’t help feeling fine. It is sure great. I don’t think I ever saw so much sunshine in the springtime as we have had this season.

      I don’t know much in the way of news to tell you this week, as I haven’t had any letters. I had a letter from Justin over a week ago and he said he was going back to Puyallup and would be there he thought by the first of the month, so guess he must be down there now. I wish I was down there so I could see him and Lillian. It seems a long time since I saw them, in fact it has been almost a year now. I am going to try to get Justin to come up here after the Fourth of July. He and I could sure have some good times fishing together. I haven’t got to go on any fishing trips yet. Was planning one for tomorrow but can’t go as we’re going to have to work, will have to put it off for a week. I guess I hate to miss getting to go fishing just about as bad as Hazel hates to miss a dance. You know how bad that is.

      I got your last letter Wednesday; awful sorry you had such a time with your throat and hope it is all right by now.

      Joe isn’t with us now. He went away last Wednesday. He said he wasn’t feeling very well so suppose he went home. I don’t know if he will come back here or not. I hardly think he will tho.

      Richard is still with me tho and I am going to try all I can to keep him here. He has been sitting here playing the violin ever since I started this letter.

      Well I have now told you all I know and some I don’t know so guess I had better let you go. Give my best wishes to all the folks and keep some for yourself.

      As ever, Roy

      —————————————————————————————————————————

      May 9, 1913

      Dear Diary,

      I didn’t write in you yesterday as I was feeling pretty bushed out from my birthday party the night before. My did we ever have a nice time; it would have been absolutely perfect if only Roy had been here to share it. Nevertheless, it was far nicer than I expected.

      As it was a warm day, Hazel and Daniel set up tables for us to eat outside. Hazel made three gorgeous bouquets out of the wildflowers she collected. I didn’t know the pale blue of Iris combined with blue eyed grass, white crazy weed and yellow sweet clover could be so artfully displayed. 

      Late in the afternoon John came with the mail. I had cards from Roy’s mother and Lida as well as from Vera. But best of all was the box, from yours truly. Inside was a beautiful card and a leather-bound book of poetry. Oh, I just love it so much. Wildflowers were pressed between four of the pages. He said they marked the poems that best spoke from his heart. Such beautiful words I never read and to think he thinks of me this way.

      Mama and Papa gave me a new book to read, it’s the one for our mid-July book club meeting, “The Price of Love,” by Arnold Bennett,  I think I am becoming a book worm.  Must be the book club or perhaps it is Roy rubbing off on me. Never a day goes by without his spending time with his nose in a book or newspaper.

      Grandma and Grandpa gave me the loveliest tablecloth to go in my hope chest. It’s made of damask with pretty pink rose embroidery. I can envision it now on my table, set with a matching bouquet of roses and fine china. Hmm, maybe I will have myself a rose garden so I can have endless bouquet of roses, now wouldn’t that be something.

      Sadie gave me a blue polka-a-dot scarf. Hazel and Daniel picked out pretty cards with flowers adorning them. Hazel said she used the cards for inspiration for the bouquets she’d arranged. That made them even more special. She also embroidered yellow flowers on a hanky for me. She’s getting rather good with her embroidery.  Floyd and the rest of the Waddington’s gave me a box of stationary, with their fetching our mail so often they know how many letters I write.

      LETTERS FROM MONA -part 44 – April 16 -April 30, 1915

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      Mona, Wyo
      April 17, 1915


      Dear Roy, –


      Well how are you this fine day, fine tho I hope. I got your letter today, John went to the office last night and Floyd brought the mail up this afternoon. I was very glad to hear you was well and getting along good. And I hope this letter will find you the same. I am pretty well with the exception of a headache. I have had that a lot this week and has almost got me down yesterday and today but I have wore it off pretty good so far. I think it will soon be all ok. I hope so.


      Yes the weather is just grand now has been for a week or more. It gets almost to hot some times, but warm weather is what we need to make our crops. It looks awful nice now. It is so green and there is getting to be quite a lot of grass. I have some of my garden made but not all. We have quite a lot of potatoes and lots of corn in. Most every one is busy putting in their crops.
      My I wish you could see our yard it looks so nice the grass is so green and we have it all cleared and straightened up. I think we have the nicest yard in the country. (not bragging at all)

      Grandpa and Grandma went down to Aunt Sadie’s today and Mama and Daniel and Hazel went over there to stay, so Papa and I are here alone. Floyd just went home. My I wish you could have been to the party at Plummer’s there wasn’t many there but we had a nice time only stayed until about five O’clock. (I guess that accounts for my headache) although I had it while I was there.
      We surprised Floyd pretty good altho I think he was expecting it some. My I wish you could be to mine. Oh, if you only could but you can’t so will have to do the best I can with out you, and look forward to later.


      It seems kindy lonesome here since the folks went and papa is up working on the fence and I am alone. I have been pretty busy tho. I scrubbed and cleaned things up this forenoon and am baking bread too.
      I wish I could hear Richard playing some of those pieces and I supose they do make you feel pretty lonely, but you must not get lonesome, for that is a bad thing, I know. There isn’t much news to write now days.


      Iretha is as sweet as ever and I am nearly wild to see her. I can hardly wait until she comes up. I guess they will come to my party and then Aunt Sadie and Tootie will stay until Bert comes back from Shearing and then she will go home and I will be lonesome again.


      But don’t say any thing about it but we may not be here, we are thinking of going to North Dakota this summer so I don’t know when we will, don’t say a word tho. I hope we do go.

       My I wish I could see you. tomorrow is Sunday don’t know what I will do but the same old thing I supose. School starts Monday, my it is sure late. It will be pretty hot to go to school in July, but they could not get a teacher before.


      Well I’ll stop and call Aunt Sadie up ——–
      Well here I am again I got to talking to Aunt Sadie and I could hear Iretha laughing so much it made me so lonesome I had to hang up and shed a lot of tears. Oh, I get so lonesome sometimes. But with Gods help I can stand it, with the thots of better times.

      Good-bye as ever,

      Mazie

      Sunday morning,-
      Here I am again, I thot I would say a few words and tell you I am alright this morning, but had a dreadful headache last night but I am feeling lots better today. My it sure is warm, like July. Mama and Hazel and Daniel will be home some time today I think. My I wish you was going to be here today, but you won’t so there. Well I will stop now and seal my letter. Hope I get to send it tomorrow. I don’t like to disappoint you but I just have to some times. You are faithful tho. Well by bye.

      With best wishes M.

      ——————————————————————————————————————————-

      April 18, 1915
      Dear Mae, Hello girlie!

      How are you this beautiful Sunday morning? Fine and dandy though I hope and trust. I am feeling just dandy at present and getting along fine. We have had the loveliest weather here lately you can imagine. There hasn’t been a cloud in the sky for ten days and the air is so soft and warm and everything is so green and pretty that anyone couldn’t help feeling well. I got your last letter yesterday also the pictures. And course you know I was awful glad to get them. I think the pictures are just splendid so natural that it seems you ought to speak. I am not going to try to tell you how glad I was to get them for I haven’t the words to do it. I will keep the other one until I go home I guess. Am awful sorry to hear that your mother is so poorly and hope she will be better soon. Isn’t anything that can be done to stop those terrible head-aches?


      Was glad to get Hazel’s and Daniels letters and will answer them soon, haven’t time to do it today as I am going to help Joe fix up a tent as soon as I can finish this letter. He is going to bring the wife up here and live in a tent for a while unless he changes his mind before he gets the tent up. He changes his mind so often you can’t tell for sure what he is going to do until he does it.


      I would sure like to be there for your birthday party but of course I can’t. That is I can’t be there in person but my thoughts and best wishes will be with you.


      I haven’t heard from home this week so don’t know how things are down there guess the folks are getting better slowly thou, and that is about the best than can be expected.


      Am glad that Sadie and Tootie are feeling well. Tell them both hello for me. I will make Tooties shawl as soon as I can. Will have to send away for the yarn tho, so it will be sometime before I can finish it. I suppose Bert will soon be going shearing will he not? I have forgotten what time he goes but guess it is about the first of May.


      Yes, I sent Miss Blake a card telling her about losing their picture but don’t know whether or not she got it. Suppose she did tho.
      Well I guess this is about enough for now so will stop.

      As ever Roy


      P.S anytime you want another half doz. of those pictures just let me know and I will get them for you. Oh I forgot to mention the flowers you sent thanks for them. Glad to know your going to have spring W. R. C.

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      April 22, 1915

      Dear diary,

      Our spring weather has continued to be fine; everyone is going full blast with their farming. The folks were thinking of maybe going up to North Dakota and renting a farm Uncle Tom told them about. They have decided to stay here as it looks like a good growing season. I am not sure whether to be happy or sad about it.  

      The roads have improved a great deal, so later this week Papa and Mama are going to make their semiannual trip with the wagon into Belle Fouche to fetch supplies.

       My Phillips uncles are busy bronco busting. The European Armies are clamoring for fine horses. Oh, how I wish that dreadful war would hurry and come to an end.

      • Some of the Phillips brothers at one of their homesteads.

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      April 24,1915

      Dear diary,

      I am feeling so blue today. Actually, I feel more than blue for my throat aches so and I feel bum all over. Mama has made me some warm tea with lemon in it and insists I spend the day resting. I sure hope I get over this fast. I would hate to be sick for my Birthday.

      We had our first spring meeting of the Book and Thimble club today over at the Knowles.  We read Penrod by Booth Tarkington. I thought it was quite funny. I could imagine Daniel getting into the same mischievous trouble as the boy in this book did.

      Mrs. Knowles decorated with sprays of wildflowers all over the house and served us lemonade and the Honey Cake Dorothy Gish has made popular. It was very tasty. I would sure like to see a movie again. How I long to live in a town. The last one I went to was over 2 years ago when we were still living in Puyallup and guess who I went with? Will I ever get to go to another one with him?

      Sadie just called she is feeling as miserable as I am. Sounds like we might have the same affliction.  She was hoping I could come for a couple of days and help her take care of Tootie.  I so hated having to turn her down because the only person I enjoy spending time with more than Tootie is Roy.  Speaking of which I should write him a letter so it’s ready to go when John comes by on his way to fetch the mail in Mona later today.  I hope the next time I take pen to you I am in better spirits both in mind and in body. 

       

       

       

       

       

        

       

        

        

      LETTERS FROM MONA -Part 42 – March 18 -31, 1915

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      March 18, 1915

      Dear Diary,

      We just got back this morning and I am so tired. We went to the St. Patrick’s dance after all. Papa says it was only fitting as his great pappy was no other than Patrick O’Hara a right old Irish gent. I don’t know about that but I am getting tired of the Phillips relatives talking nonsense about how rich they will be when their Irish ship comes in. Ha, Ha that will never happen.

      However, the night did have its humorous moments. Someone purposely spilled pepper in amongst the straw on the dance floor and it set off quite a fit of sneezing amongst the dancers once the dancing really got going making me glad I had decided to sit the dances out.

      • Taken out on Mona road, 2019

      Signs of spring are starting to pop up around here. The grass is getting green, soon the wildflowers will be blooming. I am more than ready to say good-bye to winter.

      We got a call earlier today that Minnie Mowery died of dropsy. She is one of Papa’s cousins I tell you I am related to almost everyone in these vicinities.

      Tomorrow I am going to start on making myself a new frock for Easter. It’s more complicated than any I have made before and with no pattern you may need to wish me luck. I saw one like it in our spring Sears catalog. I found some similar blue pastel cotton crepe while we were in Belle Fourche. If f I can pull it off it will feature the newest jacket effect, elbow length sleeves and a yoke type skirt with two tucks going around the bottom. I have already crocheted the blue buttons I will trim the waist in. I am going to update last year’s panama hat with a band of matching fabric and I have a new pair of gloves to wear with it.  It should look very chic at least I hope it does.

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      Nagrom, Wash.
      March 21st, 1915

      Dear Mazie, Well how goes it by now? Fine tho I trust. Well I am back in at Nagrom again. Came up here last Tues. so was home only three days.


      I have been just about sick ever since I landed in Wash had the La grippe I guess. I have been trying to work since I came up here but haven’t felt like doing much. I have a terrible cold on my lungs and have had a fever ever night, except last night. I feel some what better today, tho I feel pretty tough yet. Have been trying to use Christian Science, but it don’t seem to work very well.

      The camp started up the ninth of the month but they put on only a few men. I didn’t get the same job I had before, am bucking now. I think I will get my old job back after awhile tho. I think times are going to be pretty hard this season. There isn’t very much work going on and there is so many men. The wages here are not so good as they were last year. Joe and Richard both intended to come up here, but couldn’t get work, so will have to go some where else.  Mr. Cook is here tho. He and I have a room all to ourselves so we have it pretty nice that way.

       The weather here is just perfect. I’ve never seen prettier weather at any time of the year. It is as warm and nice as it generally is in May. The trees are all leafing out and the green grass is almost a foot high in places. The old timers here say they never before saw such a spring. It seems queer that I should get such a cold as soon as I got to where it was warm. Guess it was the sudden change that did it tho.


      I didn’t get time to do much visiting while I was in Puyallup. Was there such a short time and I felt so bad all the time, that I stayed pretty close to home. I was over to Henry’s for supper Sunday evening. Saul and Anne were there to, so we had a pretty good visit. I didn’t go down to Perkinsens at all. They sent word that they wanted me to come down and tell them all the news from Wyo. I intended to go Tuesday evening, but they sent for me to come up here to Nagrom, so I didn’t get to go see them at all. I suppose they won’t like it so very well for they will think I sleighted them on purpose, but I can’t help it if they do and will not let it bother me so very much anyway.


      I expect a letter from you today and I can hardly wait until the mail comes in. Am so anxious to hear how you stood the trip back home and how your tooth is.


      Well I guess you will have to excuse me for now. I feel so bad that I can’t think straight, so hardly know what I am writing. Will try to do better next time. Give my best wishes to everybody that I know.

      As ever,

      Roy

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      March 31, 915

      Dear diary,

      I haven’t written you for a while. I just have been awful busy. I just finished putting the finishing touches on my new Easter dress. It looks quite nice if I do say so myself. I just need to give it a final pressing and hang it up for Easter this Sunday. I hope we have good weather that day so I don’t have to cover it up with last year’s spring coat.

      We have been having an awful lot of rain this spring. All of the rain is making everything so green but the roads are still so rutted and full of mud. Not too many cars trying to venture out this way yet because of it.

      Daniel and Hazel have not been able to go to school much this month. Both have been so sick with sore throats. I sure hope they perk up soon.

      Seems March is the month of birthdays around here. I have been to several parties. It is fun to get together with other folks but it also makes me feel so lonely and blue. I miss having Roy at my side so much. His last letter said he had the La Grippe but he had gone back to work anyway. I’m worried he’s going to get worse or even catch pneumonia working too hard. I’d feel better if I knew he had his mother nearby making sure he wasn’t over doing it. He’s not one to give into to feeling poorly easily. A harder worker I never saw.   

      LETTERS FROM MONA – Part 43 – April 3 -April 16, 1915

      2 Replies

      Nagrom, WN

      April 3, 1915

      Dear Mazie:

       Well here I am once again. How are you feeling this evening? Just fine tho I hope and I hope the rest of the folks are feeling better than they were when you wrote. Was awful sorry that Hazel and Daniel were having so much trouble.


      I have entirely recovered from my sick spell and am feeling as well as ever again. I am also getting used to the work so that it doesn’t make me so tired anymore. It did make me awful tired and sore at first. Guess it doesn’t pay to lay off so long. It always goes pretty hard for a while after being idle for awhile.


      We have had quite a relapse in weather since the first of this month. It started raining the last day in March and has kept it up pretty steady ever since. Thursday was so bad we had to stay in all day, we went out yesterday and today and got pretty wet to, am afraid we will have quite a lot of rain this spring, it has been so dry all winter that it will take a lot of rain now to equalize it.


      Well I am not quite so lonely now as I was for I have both my brothers here with me now. They came up last Monday morning. I was sure glad to have them come to. It has been quite a long time since I have been much with either of them, especially Richard. We have things fixed pretty comfortable now. We three and Mr. Cook have a cabin all to ourselves. Richard has his violin with him so we have a concert every evening. He is playing Casey Jones now. He was playing Chesapeake Bay when I started to write and I could hardly stand to listen to it.


      Joe is going to move the wife up here after awhile if all goes well. She is staying with Mother and Lida now. Mother is feeling some better than she did, tho she isn’t well at all yet. I am afraid she never will be either. Father doesn’t seem to get any better. He sure is having a hard time of it. I don’t know if he will ever get his health back or not. I had another letter from Justin again yesterday. He answered this time the same day he got my letter. So I got an answer long before I expected it, wasn’t looking for it for a month at least. He said the weather was so bad down there that he couldn’t do very much. Said he was going to take to the woods pretty soon if clam digging didn’t get better. I asked him about the rest of the folks but he didn’t say a word about anything not even the baby. Wonder what ails him?


      Well tomorrow is Easter, wonder how you are going to spend it, wish I might spend it with you but of course I can’t, so it is no use to wish. Well enough for this time.

      Good-night,

      Roy

      • Typical Ranch in the area of Mona and Aladdin, WY

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      April 5, 1915

      Dear Diary,

       I am so awful tired for today was washing day. After that was done I swept and scrubbed the floor and then the laundry had to be brought back in for ironing day tomorrow. I really don’t like doing laundry but Mama just hums right through it, says it reminds her of her youth working in the laundry in Riverdale. Well this is my youth and I am not about to remember doing laundry with fondness.

      Yesterday was Easter, the weather was so fine, a better spring day one could never see. It was so nice to see all the ladies at church having shunned all the sober and somber habiliments of winter for the glory of spring suits and summer hats. How’s that for some fancy writing?  Ha! Ha!

      I got many compliments on my new outfit. If only Roy could have been there to see me in it, I miss him so.

      After the church service in the Mona schoolhouse there was an Easter Egg hunt for the little ones. There were all kinds of pretty colored eggs both real and candy for them to find. The children had such fun finding them.  Perhaps someday my children will get to participate in such goings on.

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      April 8, 1915

      Dear diary,

      A lot of farming has commenced in these parts. Even I have started on my garden again. This year besides the vegetables I am dedicating an extra space to flowers. I am going to encircle it with sunflowers and I can just see myself sitting amongst them relaxing at the end of a long hot day. Wish me luck that it all grows. 

      The winter term for school has finally ended in Donald after going a steady 7 months.  Papa’s cousin Helen Adair was teaching it. She’s another one wound up with the Waddington family but now she is married to an Adair. I wish I could have kept up on my teacher studies but everything kept getting in my way.

      The tax assessor was around last week, Papa is never happy to see him come around. He says they always value this place too high. I think he is right, as they say there is nothing so sure in life as taxes and death.

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      Nagrom, WN

      Apr. 10, 1915


      Dear Mazie: Well here goes a few lines. Just to let you know I am still alive and am feeling fine and hope and trust that you can say the same. Everything here is just about as usual. So there isn’t much news to tell you. The weather is fine here again and it sure does look like spring, everything looks almost as green and nice as it does in summer time.

       Am sorry you are having such bad weather in wyo but maybe it is better now. I hope it is anyway but I guess that won’t do much good.

      I received your last letter last Wednesday and of course you know I was glad. Wish I could have been there and been to those parties with you but what’s the use to wish in a case of that kind. There had been two dances here since I came here and there is another one to-night. I haven’t been to any of them yet as I haven’t anything but my working clothes with me. Tell Hazel they don’t dance the grape-vine here. They dance the two-step and waltz most of the time. I may go over to the hall after awhile and look for a while. The last dance they had here there was eighty numbers sold. I wish that picture man would hurry with those pictures. I want to see them so bad I can hardly wait. I looked for one this week but was disappointed. Perhaps I will get it next week, will look for it anyway but may be disappointed again, hope not.


      Richard is making so much noise on his violin that I can hardly think. He sure makes things lively around the bunks and keeps us from getting so lonesome too.

      Joe went down to Puyallup to see the wife this evening he couldn’t stand to be away from her any longer of course he had another excuse but I know it was her that he wanted to see. She is going to move up here pretty soon I guess at least he says so.


      I had a new job. Part of this week was firing a donkey engine. Didn’t like it very well either as it was sure hard work was glad to get away from it. I think I shall start in falling again soon. I like bucking just about as well but there is not so much money in it.


      Tell Sadie and Iretha I would like to see them, tell them hello for me anyway.


      Well can’t think of anything more to say so guess I will stop and go over and watch them dance awhile. Best wishes to all the folks.

      as ever

       Roy  

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      April 11, 1915

      Dear diary,

      After not having one of those horrid headaches since last summer I have had one for the past several days. Why are Mama and I so afflicted? I’d thought I’d gotten rid of them for good and now they are back. I hate them for they sure slow me down. A person can hardly get anything done when it hurts to even hold your eyes open.

      The Raleigh’s man was here yesterday for the first time this year. Mama stocked up on our needed cooking spices and such for it will be fall before we see him again. She also bought a new tonic he touted as guaranteed to cure headaches. I took some last night but I can’t say it helped any, my head still hurts.

       Papa has been mending fence as it has rained so much last week the fields are too wet to work in. I tried digging in my garden but gave up as it was a mud bath out there. The roads are still pretty bad too, I will be glad when the mud is done with us for the season. Our telephone is out of order today as they are working on the lines making some repairs and improvements. I sure hope they get done fast; I need to call Sadie.

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      April 16, 1915

      Dear diary,

      The weather has been nice the past few days. Everyone is getting back out in their fields and the grass is really growing now. We have done a lot of work to our yard this past week, cleared out all the winter debris and mowed the grass so it looks really nice. Mrs. Barrett gave me so many lovely flower seeds, the yard will look even better when they commence to bloom.

      I have to admit I am a bit worried though. Roy wrote that he might bring up his suit of clothes so he could go to one of the camp dances. Okay, I know I go to dances here but most of the time I don’t have a choice. And besides, I don’t dance much and when I do it’s either with family or someone I have known forever. It’s not like I am going to fall for them. But I’ve heard those logging camps bring girls in by the train load. It’s just one more thing for me to fret about, like I don’t have enough already. Am I wrong not wanting Roy to go to a dance?

      Tonight, we are going over to the Plummer’s for a surprise birthday party. I hope Floyd hasn’t heard us talking about it behind his back. If only Roy were here to go along but as he says no use wishing for what I can’t have.