White Plains, Oct. 22

 

Dear Cousin Parna,

                        As I have a writing fit to night I will scribble a few lines to you, for it is such hard work for me to get at such work. I have just been sending your letter to Aunt Mary. I am going to have a quarrel with you in regard to age I say you are six months older than I am (that is the way I had put it down in my memory) My birthday was the 6^th of this month. Fathers was the 3^rd Kate Hunter the 4^th and Debbie's the 5^th We used to make much of them, but / those are by-gone days.

 

It is very dry here now. We have had heavy frosts which makes it seem like November. All the summer we had no dry weather, a very pleasant summer

We moved last spring nearer, or farther in the village. We have a nice little house just large enough for us three, we pay 200 dols. a year rent. This fall Mr. Sutton's Mother has been staying with us, so we do not go out as much as when we lived out farther, for she is too old to leave alone at night. I have not heard from Katie since she was at Uncle Harry's the last of September. She wrote to / Annie she was going to stop to see her on her way back and would leave Ohio about the first of Oct. Annie and her husband were down here two weeks ago last Sunday. It was Mr. Zan Zous's first visit here. Katie seemed in a hurry to get back again, although she doesnt know what she will do when she gets back. She likes no place like Montgomery she says.

 

            Nov. 3^rd. As this did not get finished that night it has had to lay by. It has been election times and I have to read the papers in the eve. Three evenings we had gentlemen here folding tickets addressing envelopes &c. / Prohibitionists. they have just as much work to do as the other parties, if they do not expect so many votes. They received 20 straight votes. I mean voted the whole ticket. The District Attorney had 112 votes in this town. The Democrats win here, at least in the County. Have had letters from Kate and Annie. Annie was getting a cold when she came here which lasted her some time Kate was with her but is now in Montgomery I suppose. Hoping your health is better I will close with best wishes to you all.

 

Yours with love,

Bell

 

[top margin upside down]

 

Since I commenced this we have quilted a quilt and tied a comfortable. I hurried to get them done while the weather was fine, but the past three days have been fine and warm. /

 

Because my memory is so poor this letter has not been sent yet. I intended taking it with me last Thursday when I was going to the reading before the Historical society. Then as I did not I would drop it in on our way to prayer meeting Friday Eve Again, I hurried away and it was forgotten. None of us have been out to-day (Sunday) Charles is sick with something like when he has had it before the Docter has called torpidity of the liver, it is a severe pain it usually lasts about two days. he is better of it now I am sick with a cold or nearly so and Ernie was not expecting such cold weather and had no cloak ready. / Yesterday and for some days it had been very nice and warm Last evening we had quite a thunder shower it rained very hard during the night. This morning when I looked out the ground was white with snow. now it is clear and will freeze hard to night. when we pulled the beets and carrots yesterday noon it seemed almost useless to do it yet, but now I wish I had had the celery covered too. We only had a small garden but it was much good to us. We got in five bbls. of potatoes last week at 2 dolls. per bbl. 2 bbls. of apples 1.50 per bbl. Butter 26¢

SOURCES