Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)

Lt 72a, 1888

White, Mary

Healdsburg, California

March 6, 1888

Previously unpublished.

Dear Mary:

I have read the letter that you have written to Willie [White], and I had sent to Brother Lockwood the price of lumber in Healdsburg, and I think it best to put rough pickets about the orchard. Have a man do a good job that will stand and not have to be done over and over again. Take the fence from Brother Rogers and enclose it about the orchard on two sides, taking in all that spot of land that is set with trees. The road cannot be enclosed, but rabbits would not be very likely to come into the orchard from that way. I shall seek to lay all the stone wall I possibly can around my place, by the road, and would be glad to lay it some time clear to Roger’s fence, then put a wire above the wall and it will be all safe from thieves and cattle. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 1

I have written about the work done by the lower cottage. Let the institute make half the fence and I half. Redwood pickets would do to enclose the orchard. Then have the hen yard and house made as cheaply as possible, yet good and strong and tasty, to not degrade the place. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 2

Now my dear child, I have told you all, I believe, that I have to tell. Please send my extra set of teeth to Lemoore or Fresno—care of E. P. Daniels at Fresno I think would be the safest. May [Walling] has today, and ever since we came home, done nearly all the work, with the exception of one day when Fannie [Bolton] helped her nearly all day. I think she does remarkably well. Today she has had all the work to do and the running to wait on us to get off Brother and Sister Reaser. She has many steps to take. It is a tax upon her but will do her good, I think. She does not complain at all. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 3

We leave here tomorrow noon and leave Oakland Thursday morning for Lemoore, arriving at nine o’clock. I cannot see the way before me. God hangs a mist over my eyes, and I am just to go on faith. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 4

Last night I had rather an ugly time with my limbs. The muscles contracted in the calves of my legs and so up to my body. It was just almost unbearable. I have felt it all day today, but not as last night. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 5

I am so glad to hear Mabel [White] was better. I am so sorry for the little one and for you all when any one of you is sick. I hope Brother and Sister Lockwood will stay with you a while now and oversee the work, but if he gets to doing it himself I shall feel bad. I value his looking after things to see that they are done. I think he can look after a good cow. I looked at the cow at Brother Harmon’s but I would not give over forty dollars for her. I fear that would be five dollars too much. Mrs. Price now has a good milch cow which she offers for 35 dollars. The calf is a few days old. It looks just like our old red cow. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 6

I have just received a letter from Brother Daniels. He says his cow has a calf and the calf sucks two teats and from the other two he gets a gallon of milk, and the cow is gentle; but he forgot to tell us she will, if she takes a notion, jump over a four-foot fence. This is enough. We cannot buy the cow. He wants badly to sell the horse, but I would not give over $100 for him. If I really needed him then that would alter the case. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 7

Read this to Brother Lockwood. I shall answer his letter at once. He is coming over for his mother soon. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 8

Love to all. I think of you on the hill and would love to be one of your company. 5LtMs, Lt 72a, 1888, par. 9

Mother.