Lamar
April 16th. 1883
Dear darling Nan;
I guess you be surprised to hear that I am in Lamar. I am visiting Mat; came down last Tuesday and expect to stay until the first of June. I am having a boss time, have formed several new acquaintances since I came and like the place very well. The reason I haven't written sooner I wanted to find out what I was going to do this Summer before I wrote, so please pardon me and I'll not be so long next time. I hope you have gotten over "being broken up by those boys" by this time. I would just yell if that fellow from Oregon would come out to see you; but I am afraid that he will take my dear old Nan back with him and then I'd feel like murdering him, for I know that I'd never see her again then. I bet you had a grand time at the ball; you ought to have asked that Mr. Seymore about working in the hat factory. I have never met Miss Dervy. I heard from Mary more than a month ago, she wrote me such a long, sweet letter, it was ten pages chuck full. I received a letter from Lute the night before I left home, she is having a grand time taking painting lessons; she is going to Nebraska this Summer to see her sister; I wouldn't be surprised if there was something up with Lida. I had to wait in Nevada an hour when I came down, and I think the city and the country around it perfecting lovely. Was you ever there? Come down this Summer and go home as I do and stay three or four weeks with me, now don't say no, but just please say you will I would be so delighted if you only would. I do think this is the dustiest place I ever saw, and the wind almost blows my head off every time I stick it out of doors; don't talk of being tanned I could be taken for a mulatto easy. I made the worst of my Summer under clothing up before leaving home. I am getting so tired of thick dresses I don't know what to do, I'd give anything if it would get warm and the wind would stop blowing for we all want to go fishing this week and have a boss time. When are you going to Columbia? Lute said that Emma Anderson and Prof. Guilford were married, I think there surely isn't many left, for I never did hear of so many weddings in my life. Nan, I am not mad you for not writing but I do think you treat me shamefully for I know you could write if you wanted to, I shall expect an answer to this old letter real soon if it isn't worth reading, you must excuse it for I have nothing new that would interest you. Give my love to Lida and just all you can stand for your-self. Write soon and direct your letter to Barton Co. Mo.
Yours devotedly
Mattie