Grandview Apr. 2, 1913
Dear Bess:
You perhaps have guessed that the letter will be a day late. I have been trying to sow oats and therefore have been most awful busy. On Monday I had to go to K.C. for a séance with Boxley. You can perhaps guess what the gentleman wanted. Just a thousand on account. On Monday night we had an anti-Home-telephone meeting at Hickman Mills. I am sure that if the managers of that concern had heard all the nice things that were said of them on that evening they'd at least have been sorry they raised our rates, or else they'd have been in a fighting mood. Probably the latter. There were eighty-seven phones ordered out that evening, and from what I have heard since every one they have out here will be taken out. The farmers are going to organize a phone company of their own. It is the talk that they will make the whole county one system and then try and force one of the city companies to exchange service with them. There will be a farmers company in Washington Township anyway whether it gets any further or not. The Home Company wanted to charge us $3.50 a month and ten-cent toll to K.C. – that would make our phone about $10.00 a month. We simply can't stand that, so we're going to do without.
Tuesday night I had to go to Belton. They had a blowout and eight of us went from here in two autos. They sure had some spread. Conferred a Third Degree on Joe Weston's son.
I walked about seventeen miles yesterday behind a railroad iron, breaking stalks – and then stayed up till 12:00 P.M. at Belton. You can imagine how very bright I feel today. Have been riding a drill this morning. It was almost necessary to tie myself to it to keep from being blown into the Missouri River. Today is nearly as bad as Easter. Every time an oat comes out of the drill it goes five miles before it lights. (Profitable half day's work, isn't it?)
I am heartily ashamed of this excuse for a letter but I hope you'll take pity on me and answer it. May I come over Sunday on the K.C.S.? We have no help yet and I can't leave until the late train. I'll try and get there by eight.
Please answer quick.
Most sincerely, Harry