April 7th. 1885
My dear Nan,--
I am going to commence answering your sweet old letter, but don't expect I'll get to finish. I never will get forgiveness for the yarns I have told about it. I just couldn't write, I have been so busy since school closed. Bro. moved last week, sold his property in Lamar and moved here and all of us have been sick with colds since we came. Baby is real sick now, he is so cross we can't do anything. Pa started to Tex. last week, took my niece to her father, he will be gone four or five weeks. I believe I'll like Harrisonville very well. I expect to remain here about six weeks and then go home. I guess I'll not teach this spring. I was offered two schools in Barton Co. and the winter term where I have been teaching, but declined on account of being too far from the folks. I hated terribly to leave my fellows, one of them called the Sunday before I came away and stayed quite a while, but he is one of the bashful kind, don't talk much. I don't like them, do you? I have found me a bran new one here, too cute to live, stayes [sic] in the P.O. I was up today, you must write me lots of letters, so I can have an excuse you know. Was you ever as tired of rain in your life? I am so sick of wind. I do wish Summer would come. I am so tired of my old winter clothes. I am having me a new black silk dress and wrap made, guess it will be finished this week, and I have a new white dress to make, haven't decided yet how I will make that, wish you'd decide for me, I am actually too near dead to think for my-self and if this weather lasts much longer I don't know what will become of me. I presume I have Spring fever. Oh Nan! Let me tell you a good joke on my-self, this morning I dressed up to go up in town intending to look and do my best, (as I hadn't been up there before) Mattie sent by me for a bottle of Hop Bitters, well I went along (didn't know where any place was) presently I came to a place where there seemed to be a great many bottles, thinks I, that's a drug Store, so in I went and asked for the bitters and what do you suppose it was? Why I was in the P.O. may-be you think I didn't feel like a fool for I had made my brags before leaving home that I was going to captivate that fellow, (for I had heard a great deal about him through others) and went right up there and made a fool of my-self. I was so provoked I didn't know what to do, but I just laugh whenever I think of it, it is so rediculous [sic]. When did you hear from Lute and Mary? There was quite a sad accident happened between here and Pleasant Hill last week, a bridge gave way while a freight train was passing and there was a man, some mules, horses and a dog in one of the cars that went down and all were drowned excepting the dog and he took on so that they had to let me remain with this master, the gentleman was moving, his family had gone on in the passenger car. I guess it was quite a shock to them; he was quite well to do. There has been so many deaths this spring and every one seems to be on the grunt. I am sick because I can't attend the World's Fair, there is so many that went from Lamar and say they had a glorious time. Well, I must close for it is bed time and I feel like I want to go to the land of nod, we have to work real hard and don't do any thing either, we are not near through straightening up the house yet. I want you to write soon and not wait so long like I have done. Mattie sends love. Give my love to Miss Lida and receive a doubly portion for your-self and a big kiss. Yours devotedly Mattie. Direct your letters to Harrisonville, Mo.