Wednesday- 15 minutes past 3 oclock.
[1932]

Dearest Betty

I must drop you a line so that it can go out in tomorrow mornings mail. We have been carrying the lumber, bricks, cement etc over across the lake as it is a lovely day. Are about half done but will finish fine day as I don’t want papa to get too tired. He is going back with Mr. Carron’s boat and will take this to the post office. The weather has been just grand ever since we came had a lovely shower of rain yesterday morning. How did wish you were having one in Minneapolis too. I hope with all my heart you are having it cooler. Our trip up here was fine and we stopped at Em’s and had coffee and lunch and stopped (pages missing). all winter and Mr. Lorenz looks hard as nails but Mrs. L. looks thinner but they seem to be happy as far as I can judge. Miss Higbee’s young man Sidney Belt is stepping out with a 17 year old high school girl and she is terribly cut up they say. Poor Mrs. Nelson lost her dog "Lady" with a batch of pups and they say she is feeling terribly. I know she loved Lady as much almost as a child. I haven’t seen her yet but Mrs. Lorenz told me all the foregoing news. They brought back our level was how it happened. Tell Bessie and Tilden their seat was here all safe and is even more beautiful than I remembered. We haven’t seen a squirrel or chip monk since we got back, don’t know whether the winter was hard on them or the Lorenzes (pages missing).

Wednesday Morning
August 25, 1932

Dearest Betty,

Got your personal letter yesterday and was so glad to get it for I had been wondering about you and how you were feeling. I’m glad you went to the doctor and that you feel such confidence in him. Isn’t it wonderful that they feel it isn’t necessary to have that horrid nausea every day. I didn’t realize anything could be done. We certainly have stepped along since you were born. I expect I shall have a good many eye-openers and how glad I am there has been progress in such matters and that you are where you can have all the help there is. No dear, I’m not going to worry and even if I am a little scared I wouldn’t be a bit if it was myself and any way life will mean so much more to you and Bud when you live it for children. I wouldn’t have lived without you children, now that I’ve had you, for anything and you have a right to the same pleasures and responsibilities even if they do cost something. Bud will be a dear with a baby and I’ll bank on you rising to any occasion. I’m glad you are both glad about it too.

I’m sorry you can’t come up Betty but one can hope for coming years and you and Bud have had a lot this summer any way, how glad I am Mr. Onan could let you both have the trip- grabbing your opportunities as they come along is the thing.

We are having a grand time and the light plant is too good to be true, we play cards till ten and eleven oclock because it’s as bright as day and cosy as can be. It’s so different from the dark nights in the tent that I could never go back to it again, if we aren’t happy here we don’t deserve to be. We are positively luxiourious and I love it. The cabin looks as nice as I imagined it would and that’s going some. It rained from 7 oclock till six, good and hard too but when I heard it in the night I felt so snug that I enjoyed hearing it. It’s beautiful today, and as there is no mud around here you can walk all you want to without getting wet- no grass, only moss, pine needles and rocks and leaf mold.

Well honey they just came home with a fish and its 20 minutes past 12 so I’ll have to start dinner. The fish isn’t nearly as big as yours this probably weighs 2 1/2 or 3 lbs. I guess the big ones are safe seeing you are not here. Love to Bud and you from us all.

Crane Lake
Thursday Morning

June 1933

Dearest Betty

We received your letter Tuesday and Betty darling your letters have been a real joy to us. You have been able to write so much oftener than we had any right to expect under the circumstances and such real letters. The first two weeks we are up here we feel a little sense of homesickness. We did last year too. In spite of being so contented and happy there is that little under current of feeling that you are cut off from your own folks so the letters mean much more than you can imagine unless you’ve been through it. We shall be alright the rest of the summer especially as we plan to come home some time next week probably about the middle. Papa has 2 or 3 little affairs he wants to attend to before the 4th of July. We shall only stay a few days as he will be anxious to get back. We do love it here. It looked like a haven of peace when we got back from Grand Rapids, it was so hot there. Will tell you all about it when we get home. We are so happy about Jimmie graduating and Betty you sure have been a pearl to Jimmie, staying up half the night to help him with his topics, when you need your sleep so badly too. I’ll never forget it and I don’t believe he will either. Bud was awfully dear about his car, that was a big treat for Jimmy, I hope he can do something equally nice for Bud some day.

I got your information as to Light Plants but we haven’t been able to get in touch with the young folks yet as Sidney Belt has only been there over Sunday. Their boat has not been there all this week so far, but if he shows up Sat. we will go right over and see him. We will try to sound them out as to price and I do wish we could get the sale. We will hope any way. Now as to the plant we have, it suits us fine, tell Bud not to bother with the other for us unless he wants us to have it for advertising. I don’t believe it would pay this year as everything is as quiet as a vaccuum here so far.

Yes, Davy was 12 weeks last Sat. and he will be his full 3 months old Sunday. Pa and I keep track of him and are so glad he is doing well in spite of all that terrible heat. We couldn’t help but think of him and you every day that was so warm. The paper says the James Valley in South Dakota was pretty hard hit by the awful heat--is that the part of Dakota where Lil is? I’ve had no letter from her since we came up here but of course this is their busy time. Well honey I won’t write any more as we must be at the post office a little before ten to get the letters off. Then we are going over to Chase’s to wash the car, it’s awfully dusty and dirty. After that we will go back to Handbergs and get the mail that comes in at one oclock to get your Father’s day card for Papa, he was awfully pleased Betty dear. We got the lovliest card from Bessie for our anniversary which is today. I’m afraid I would forget it if Jimmie’s birthday wasn’t just ahead of it. Well darling I’ll see you next week probably Wed. or Thurs.

Ma

Thursday afternoon
October 1933

Dear Betty

We are having a little shower which probably won’t last long and then Pa and Jimmy will go after the mail and bring this but it won’t go out till Sat. morning. We have had three perfect days hardly any wind and the lake calm and blue it is hard to believe that winter is only a step away. We want to stay as long as the weather holds good for we are comfortable as can be, plenty of wood and the little stove does its stuff and keeps us nice and warm. Before I meander along any more I must tell you how tickled we were to get the picture of Davy. He is too cunning for words and Pa and Jim and I can’t look at the pictures enough. Oh Betty he is a darling and he certainly looks a 100%. I felt bad that he should have had the stomach flu but they are bound to have some little set backs now and then and if only they don’t become serious we have to be thankful. Go kind of easy on the solid food, he has plenty of time to learn to eat but of course you are going by the doctors orders and Dr Bakon does seem to know his stuff and has good sense besides. Davy has certainly been his prize baby- he looks like a 9 months old youngster and you sure have been a wonderful little mother and I must say a daughter too for your letters have been so faithful and so dear that we appreciate it more than I can say. You have done much more than we had any right to expect. I’m so glad Nora is doing well and I hope all will go just fine with the new baby. Is she going back home right away or will she be with her mother for a while. Her hands are going to be full but Nora is mighty capable thank goodness.

Our neighbors the Lorenz’s are getting along with their log house, the boy was here yesterday to get the level again and pa was over there to see how they were doing. They are up to the windows now and have the door casing in, they are using bigger logs and they will be shorter on account of the windows. They seem to be as cheerful as can be and the boy Don seems to be a fine kid, no whiner. He fishes and hunts after 4 oclock and Jimmy is going to go with him. Jim shot 2 partridges today and we will feast on them tomorrow. We have killed 2 of our chickens and they were just as tender and nice as they could be, each weighed 5 pounds. We brought the other two here and they are running around the yard all day but never seem to want to stray very far. A hawk or owl got one while they were all on the island, that’s why we have the last 2 here, we want to eat them ourselves.

The Nelsons were here last night, they drop in quite often and are real pleasant and anxious that we should like it here and feel at home, they have been very friendly. They make me think of Aunt Bessie and Uncle Til, and I couldn’t say anything nicer than that. We have asked the Lorenzs to come over and spend some of their evenings but so far they have been too tired I guess. Don says they fall into bed every night about 7:30. I don’t wonder I guess I would too. I am going to another demonstration meeting at Mrs. Handberg’s next Wednesday. You see we do have a little excitement. Our work is practically all done pa has finished the shutters and the storm door which we are going to padlock when we leave. Jim oiled the front of the house again to keep it weather proof and we have enough stones gathered to finish the fireplace next spring. Jim works on wood a little every day and keeps a fine pile always ready in the yard. He has been one dandy kid this summer and I have been so happy to have him here. I think its done him lots of good too. He and Mr. Nelson talk just like he and Bud do when we are home. Well honey you will have to read this in installments. We expect to stay perhaps till the 20th but we shall come home any time before if it should get cold. We got the package all safe and pa [the rest is missing]

Crane Lake P.O.
Minn.

[ Date unknown, probably 1933 or 1934 ]

Dear Betty,

We got your letter Tuesday and talk about a jolt - I believe we were more surprised than we had any right to be knowing Anna as we do. Papa and I discussed your news as well as we could and tried to decide what to do and this is what papa thinks now.

If you have trouble collecting the rent, or with Mr.Lohmas, or the Collecting Agency go to Mr Bleecker and tell him to take the proper steps to make papa legal guardian, nurse or caretaker of this valuable estate if he can without papa’s actual presence in Minneapolis and be sure to add that papa will see that he is paid. If the heirs have to be guarded against Anna they will have to pay for it. you can understand that she is throwing Mr. Lohmas, the Collection Agency and the renters in a state of confusion and after all why should they care to mix up in the Hoiby fight. We think your only help is through Mr. Bleecker - get him to get in touch with the Credit Agency and I said before make it clear he is to be paid for his services. He has been giving papa advice and little services for nothing but if he has to go to any trouble he has a right to be paid.

I was awfully sorry you are being put to all this trouble with Davy on your hands and if you find it too much papa will do the best he can by writing to them all. I am mailing back your letter as you have stated things very clearly and you might like it to refer to, also Anna’s letter which you may need for Mr. Bleecker and papa has signed the letter to Mr. Lohmas which he says for you to send him if you see fit. You are in the center of the cyclone and know what is developing. Papa is more grateful to you than you can possibly realize but he feels pretty bad that the old hell-cat should begin her activities on you. I can’t write you a long letter dear as I am expecting the Nelsons for supper but papa is putting things in your hands - do what you can but don’t go to too much trouble, the whole mess isn’t worth it. I am glad you talked to Aunt Sarah but she is only a broken reed and cannot be depended on for much but it will please her to be consulted any way.

Much love to you dear and I’ll write a real letter next week. Hug Davy for me.

Ma
We received the $75.00 check.

Crane Lake
Friday Morning

July 1934

Dearest Betty,

Paul and his young lady have been here since Tuesday and are going back this afternoon so I will have them mail this to you in Minneapolis. Did you get my letter written Sunday July 1st making plans for you to spend the month of Aug. up here if you can arrange it? It would do you a lot of good and Davy too. I am sending for the Smiths to come Saturday July 21st for 2 weeks. So if you can come up Sat or Sunday Aug 4th or 5th you would be here 4 weeks of that hot weather in town. If Bud can plan to stay a week at each end the vacation would be good for him and you wouldn’t get so lonesome.

The fireplace is gradually going up but its a big job but we are going to love it when its finished. Papa is not working too hard on it and feels just fine. The weather has been just lovely here ever since we came. I wonder if you went to Nora’s as you had planned and how did it turn out? Well darling I’ve got to set the table. Heaps of love to you all from

Pa and Ma

Tuesday 7/26/34

Dearest Betty,

This will not be a real letter as Papa and Uncle Til are just about ready to go to the store and you know how it is to have to wait.
So heres answering your questions.

Yes 1. There are castors on the little bed and I’m very glad you thought of it, for wouldn’t it have been terrible on our beautiful new polished floor if there hadn’t been.

2. Mrs. Nelson is selling us good fly-dope, so that’s alright.

3. I think we have plenty of blankets for all of us counting both Jim and Bud but if its not too crowded bring one steamer rug.

Perhaps you had better bring a piece of mosquito netting for Davy so that if he should happen to go to sleep in the hammock we could cover him but you will know whether that’s necessary.

Well dear I can’t write any more as I’m being interrupted every minute but I am so glad Davy is all right and I’ll be so glad when you can get here. I hope Bud and you and Davy will all enjoy it and that you will get a real rest. Papa will ask about the milk and I’ll write to you again.

We are having a grand time with the Smiths and it was heavenly to have Henry come up to see.

Heaps of love from

Pa and Ma.

Monday Morning
July 31, 1934

Dear Betty,

Papa and Tilden have gone fishing so Bessie and I are going to write letters. Last week was awfully busy here as papa wanted to get the fireplace finished up to a little above the mantle so that the new room could be enclosed and one could move in, and by Saturday night we had the floor all oiled and the cots moved in, the Navaho rugs down and the little drapes up at the windows and I’m tickled to death with it all. Don’t worry about the doorway as it is over 5 feet wide and the little bed can be put wherever you want it. The fireplace chimney won’t get finished for some little time yet as I want papa to take it easy this week and we want to take Bessie and Tilden around some. They have worked much harder up here than we wanted them to but they seem to enjoy that too but this week I want them to loaf. Oh Betty I do hope you and Bud and Davy are going to love this little house too. I don’t see how you can help it and it will do you all a world of good. Perhaps you and Bud will like to scout around in the boat a good deal but Bud had better bring a magazine or two that he likes for filling in. I have a lot of reading matter but he might not be interested in that kind. You will get this by Thursday sure and you had better write at once if you have not all ready done so and mail it on Thursday so that we will be sure to get it in Saturday’s mail saying about when you will start for up here. Papa will be over at Chase’s plenty early so that you won’t have to wait. We expect Smith’s to leave Sat. morning so you plan accordingly or if you have already written when you are coming we will do accordingly. Remind Henry to give you the screen and the bolts that papa spoke to him about. Mr. Handberg says the milk is from several cows and cooled at once but not pasteurized. It is bottled and looks clean and smells and keeps good but find out what the Dr.thinks. I have a double boiler and plenty of all kinds of cooking utensils but bring your strainer and rollers and any other special things that Davy might need. You will have to bring his own bedding too, but we have enough for all of us, except Davy.

We read in Wednesday and Thursday’s paper that Sat, Sunday and Monday a week ago were 104 - 5 and 6 breaking a 98 year record. It was a little warm here too but nothing like that and it has been lovely ever since. I was glad to hear that it cooled off by Tues. where you are.

I got a letter from Aunt Lu and Uncle Henry but though they said they were planning to come after little Lu was back they did not say about when. Perhaps they will come up here in Sept. for a week or so. It’s too bad they didn’t go along with little Lu and have that wonderful trip too. Well darling have to quit and get dinner. Heaps of love and hope I’ll be seeing you all soon. Pa is clearing the trees off the beach and feeding the big fish.

Love from Pa and Ma

Monday Morning Sept.10, [1934]

Dearest Betty,

I received two letters from you and shall take today to catch up on my letter answering so that they can get mailed on Tuesday morning. I shall write to Aunt Lil too- to ask them to come as soon as possible with the hopes that the weather will be nice when they do come, if they do. The weather turned quite chilly the week after you left and then it started in to rain about the middle of the last week of Aug. and kept it up on and off till last Thursday. So it turned out I was glad Henry and Julia didn’t take that long trip up here over Labor day for it was cold and rainy and no fun to be out, but just because we had been rather looking forward to seeing them, we felt a little lonesome because they didn’t come. However May Davis and little Tommy came on Thursday Sept. 6th and stayed till yesterday morning (Sunday) and that kept us busy again for a few days. They were both in love with our place and Crane Lake and the weather had turned just in the nick of time and was perfectly lovely so that they could fish and tramp the woods all they wanted too. We all had a grand time together. We walked through the woods and looked over Caseretos’ cabin and Lorenz’s place and Mrs. Lorenz’s round bed of zinnias is beginning to bloom. The rabbits and the deer evidently haven’t found out that they and their dogs are gone. It looked awfully lonesome. May brought her dog along and believe me he made short work of the rabbits and I guess the deer too for we haven’t seen hide or hair of ‘em since. He loved chasing them and once in a while there would be quite a commotion under the house. I can see where a dog like that would be a big help if one wanted a garden all right, but a menagerie wouldn’t have a chance.

I’m glad darling Davy was here first for he did enjoy seeing the little wow-wows. Next year we will have to have one all trained to come and eat out of his hand, you see we are looking forward to next year already.

The great day of the summer has come and is not history, for on Wednesday Sept 5th we lit the first fire in the new fire place and Oh Betty it works beautifully. We had a fire going every morning and evening and I can’t tell you how comfortable and warm it make that room and so lovely and cheerful to look at. Pa and I are awfully satisfied for it’s not only beautiful it works too. By the way Mr. Casereto was crazy over our light plant and wants some literature right away. I couldn’t quite get whether he wants to use one where he lives or for just up here but anyway he is very much interested right now, so now’s the time to send him the stuff on the smaller light plants, His address is:

Dr. Jake Cassereto
Worthington
Minn.

I hope something comes of it. Papa will probably talk to Handberg this week and give him Mr. Onan’s proposition on the big ones.
The Cassereto’s father and mother were here too and I guess they are pretty well off. I think they are footing the bills.

Poor Aunt Jenny. I’m sorry Mr. Nichols poor fellow, had to pass out right there with them, it must have scared them like everything but of course he couldn’t help it.

I’m not surprised that uncle Til has his seat about done. I could see it in his eye when he left here. He couldn’t bear to leave those lovely stick here till we came home and I know he will just love it. I’m so glad we suggested his getting some trees while he was here.

Thank you so much dear for going to see Grams, it helps a lot to hear about her when we are so far away. I hope Emm’s coming didn’t excite her too much. We enjoyed Emm and Herman so much when there came here over the week end. We showed Herman his foot in the fireplace chimney but he absolutely dis-owned the bunny??.

I’m glad you got the new outfit even if it is brown for there is nothing so cheering as a new dress once in a while and I’m anxious to see it. Did you get it at Montgomerys or down town? I’ll be awfully glad to hear too that you have been able to get the help but don’t forget to put on the fee bag at least 3 times a day and 5 would be much better for you. Come if you can in Oct and we will meet you with wide open arms and the boat. Heaps of love to your all from

Pa and Ma.
Don’t forget the Caseretto Literature

Tuesday Morning
Oct.2, [1934]

Dearest Betty,

We have been rich in letters the last week-a nice long letter from you Thursday, another from Julia Saturday and a week ago or so ago one from Bessie and all of them as full of news as a plum cake. I almost felt as if we had run back home for a few days. I hope Bud’s eye is all well by this time and that he will have no more trouble from it - steel is fine stuff but ones eye is no place for a load of it. Julia says Jimmy is over his cold and I was awfully relieved for he is too careless about putting on a coat or sweater. I shall be glad when I have to kind of jack him up. And such a bouquet of babier.(?) They say the depression brought down the birth rate but what with quintuplets and twins and all the singles we hear about-I don’t believe we need to worry that we’re going to run out of population or shut down the schools for another while yet. I can’t help but feel excited even way up here about the new house your going into and I’ll be awfully anxious to see it as soon as we get home. Did you see the kind of stove you want when you went shopping. Didn’t I see something about a new electric rate for stoves in the papers or perhaps I am mixing it up with the new gas rate for heating furnaces, well any way an electric stove will be a joy to own and I do hope the new house will be so satisfactory that you can really stay instead of just visit in it. Is there room enough in the kitchen for Davy. It just seems as if I can hardly wait to see Davy again. This place has never been the same since he left it, and I know the light plant misses him too. By the way Handbergs are building a great big basement under their store and I think they intend to buy the smaller light plant for themselves for this winter and a bigger one probably next spring. All the resorts did very well this summer and they all feel quite chirked up. The Nelsons are considering a piece of land near Crane Lake Cabins. I think they would like to get into the resort game again or Mr. Nelson would like to have a shop where it would be handier for people to get to him. They were both here Sunday and spent the day with us and Mrs. Nelson is doing just like you-looking for new plans for another house and even though it will probably be another year before they make a change she wants to be ready and she is just as interested in all the magazine houses as can be. I gave her your American Homes.. Uncle Henry and Aunt Lu sure didn’t stay long this time but if he didn’t feel well I don’t blame him. I think Papa was a little disappointed that they didn’t get up here but I would rather they could be here earlier when it is warmer. I love it here in the fall but when people come for only a few days or a week they enjoy it more in the warmer weather. The weather has been very changeful - lovely one day somewhat windy others and a great many little showers so that it has kept us hunting for dry wood for the stove and fire place. We have been getting a lot of wood from around the shores and we have saved up a lot so that we shall be mighty well fixed for wood for the next year or two. As soon as we come back next year we are going to build a roof to store our wood under to keep it dry - back near the shed Say Betty as soon as you left I hung your sampler, Davy’s picture and a group of colored Indian pictures from the Geographics on the wall by the big cot bed and the map at the head. Every body that comes; first admires papa’s fire-place and believe me its getting plenty of appreciation and then next your guest sampler gets all the rest of the kind remarks May Davies Em and Mrs. Nelson especially all thought it was extremely beautiful and praised your fine work on it. Well dear I’ll have to call a halt as papa is going to the store this morning and I want him to take this and get it in the ten oclock mail. We will probably be home soon after the 15th of Oct. as I think it may get pretty chilly up here after that and I am beginning to long for home. It has been too lovely for words up here this fall, all our dog-woods have turned one mass of red and the maples in the woods glow like flame, much more beautiful than I have ever seen the foliage up here before but I suppose its on account of the lovely rains weve had, but after the leaves fall, then its back home for me. Papa will be ready too I think. He feels just fine and looks it too.

Heaps of love to you all from Pa and Ma.
I am mailing this in an old envelope don’t think somebody else opened your letter.

Tuesday Eve
June 25, 1935

Dear Betty,

Right off I want to tell you that last Saturday was sure a grand day for us. We hadn’t been to the Post Office since Monday and when Pa went Saturday he brought a real bundle of mail. That lovely letter from you with that sweet Father’s Day message for papa. I’m so glad you remembered it for papa was awfully pleased. He didn’t say much but you know how his face gets all kind of puckery when he is touched over anything and I knew he liked it right down to his heels. Then we had a letter from Lil and one from Em and a newspaper from Uncle Henry showing pictures of the Shrine doings in Wash. D.C. and it was awfully interesting - lovely pictures of the Capitol etc.

Your letter sounded as if you had been having one grand time after another and I am so glad for it helps to keep you happy and well. Give Florence my love and tell her I hope she will be one of the happiest brides in the world. She sure deserves happiness. Have you heard from Bea lately and how is she getting along?

I’m glad you went down to the house and picked the daisies. I like to think some one is getting pleasure out of them. I used to love to see them swaying in the wind and now the bed is so big it must be quite a sight. I suppose the grass is 3 ft. high by this time. Did you see the syringas in blossom by the front bay window. There were so many buds before I left but they come and go so fast you might easily miss them. I wish I could have a little garden here and may be as time goes on I can. There are no chip munks this year and only two rabbits. Pa is trying to tame them so that they will let Davy feed them when the darling precious comes. I planted some of the cactuses and little succulents down on the "terrace" in front because I thought the rabbits never seemed to go down there much and they have been doing fine. Yesterday I went down to give them the once-over and there right through the middle of the bed was a trough about four inches deep and the poor succulents standing up side down. Papa was up on the new roof he is building to keep the wood dry but I shouted for him to come take a look but though we looked and looked we couldn’t figure out what could have done the dirty work. It was the same way with pa’s little clover patch and my bed of moss roses. I fixed ‘em all up as good as I could and this morning I ran down right after breakfast to see the dear succulents and sure enough they were all wrong side up again. I walked up the bank to see how the rest of the place looked and my golly I could see a tail that looked for all the world like a small crocodile sticking out of pa’s clover patch. I yelled for pa and he came running and there was the biggest mud turtle I’ve ever seen. She was looking for a place to plant her eggs and as the lake is so high the sand beaches are all covered with water she thought our flower beds weren’t so bad. We didn’t agree so pa dispatched her for good. No the mosquitoes have been fewer than any year so far but the army worm has made up for that deficiency with a vengence. We are hoping however that they will soon be over now - they were terrible and awful a week or so ago. I have heard that it was possible for the insects to possess the earth and I understand now that they certainly could if conditions were right for them. We have been fortunate that they seemed to prefer other places to ours - poor taste but for once I’m glad of it. I have Mrs. Onan’s comforter all tied and finished and my new rug all drawn out and put in the frame. The weather up till yesterday has beenjust lovely not too hot or too cool but yesterday and today the wind has been blowing awfully hard so I wouldn’t let papa go for the mail today. It is almost sunset now and the sky is very brilliant and the wind is going down. Well darling heaps of love from papa and I and hug Davy for us too. The picture at the top shows how we felt after reading your letter.

Aug 1-3, 1935

Dear Betty

We were glad to hear that Davy was alright again. The Smiths told us the good news as soon as they got here and aren’t the pictures just lovely of him. They are all so good I hardly know what to pick out. Every time the rabbit comes out we feed him now in memory of Davy. I can hear him right now saying t in his dear little voice - "The bunny takes it out of Davy’s hand!" Be sure and keep these pictures for your book they will be worth more than diamonds to you some day.

The day you left pa and I came back and we worked good and hared so that the awful vacuum around here would not be quite so noticeable. Papa fixed the platform of the pump level again and pulled up the dock another notch and I scrubbed the floors with terrible energy, so we managed to get through the first day - work is occasionally a great blessing. I cant tell you how good is was to see Henry and I know he got a good rest. How is Bud’s sun burn - I couldn’t keep but feel bad that he had to have that on his vacation, but I hope it was healed by this time.

The Casserottos have put in new floors all varnished and they are building a U shaped boat house for their boat.

We picked the Jin cherries over on the island and it made fine jelly. The weather has been lovely this week. Last Saturday was a really perfect day. We have been feasting on corn, plums apples and tomatoes - believe me we have live high this last month. You left Davy’s spoon and fork and one of Bud’s socks and his pencil. I will send them back by the Smiths and also the money for the wieners.

Well, I’ll have to stop as I want to get dinner before papa and Til go to the P.O. Heaps of love and take good care of Davy.

Lovingly

Ma
Will you tell Jim we got his letter okay.

Crane Lake
Tuesday Morning [August 27, 1935]

Dearest Betty,

Yesterday it blew hard from the Northwest all day. Papa and I did a big washing in the morning and it was dry in no time, it is still blowing hard and raining too so I do not know whether papa will be able to get to the P.O. by noon, in that case this may not get out till Thursday. Yesterday afternoon Clarence Scott brother of Walter Scott came down from SandPoint and when he found Crane Lake whooping it up he came in here and we had a good chance to size him up. You remember he was the gay dog Mr. Carron tried to shoot up because he was hanging around the Missus. I’ll have to confess I was terribly disappointed for I had imagined he was quite some Romeo but he isn’t nearly as nice looking as his brother Walt nor nearly as intelligent - but perhaps he grows more fascinating as you know him. Mrs. Carron hasn’t come back and the rumor is going around that Mr. Carron will be through Sept. 1st.

I wonder if Aunt Bessie and Tilden will get back by tonight. They had a perfect day to travel on Sunday for it was one of the lovliest days we have had all summer but Monday and today are horrid, cold and windy and rainy. I hope it will turn nice by tomorrow for we are having Miss. Higbee and Billy for a chicken supper. Mr. Carron is selling off the chickens. We expected Mr. and Mrs. Nelson but they are gone for the week. Mr. Nelson on a job and Mrs. visiting her father and mother.

Pa and Mr. Cassereto have struck up quite a friendship, they seem to like and understand one another perfectly and believe me there is something doing when he is around. He has built a boat house for his boat and a little bath house for dressing and undressing and also to sit in and smoke I guess for it has a table and is screened in. This is placed where we always went to swim. Mr. and Mrs. Ponterrio

( the other woman) want to buy the big island from us but we probably won’t hear more of this till next spring. I think they are going to be fine neighbors. Clarence Scott says that a family from St. Paul have bought 40 acres where the logging road and the lovely sand beach are, down near Northwest Bay - so we really are getting quite populated - in fact almost a residential district. Papa is making a fire in the fire place - the weather is quite different from when you were here. Well its been a grand summer - we have enjoyed you all so much, it sure is cheerful to see some one from home. I hope Aunt Bessie finds everything o.k when she gets back. Well dear no more news and I guess this is enough for this time. We’re feeling just fine and happy as can be.

Lots of love from
Pa and Ma and hug Davy hard for both of us.
12 oclock weather letting up a little

Thursday Morning
[date unknown, probably late summer 1935]

Dearest Betty,

This letter won’t go out till Saturday morning as we are only going to the post office three times a week now. We will leave it at the P.O. when we get the mail this afternoon. We got your letter last Tuesday and talk about full of news. I’m so glad about Nora and I do hope she is getting along just fine and the baby too. It’s a big relief when its all over and everything is going well again. 2 girls so close together, just think what pals they’ll be as they grow up - that’s one thing you missed Betty that I wish you could have had, but then you have been lucky with such dear girl friends as Nora & Bea & Hellen. How is Bea feeling these days and where did she move and is her mother still with her? I suppose Helen is back in school. Has Clarence been able to land a job through this U.R.A.? I wonder if it has helped as many as they helped. We seem so far away from hardship and job hunting up here and once in a while you get an awful jolt too, to remind you that everything isn’t as peaceful elsewhere as it is here. A week ago we were walking in the woods back of us and we met Mr. Chase showing a Mr. Lorenz, his son and a new young wife a piece of his land on the sandy beach. This Mr. Lorenz is the Auto trunk man and he told us he had lost a quarter million dollars and was busted, so he has bought a piece of this land and he and his wife and son are living in a tent and cutting down the poplars and building a log cabin to live in this winter. How they are ever going to stand it I don’t know for I don’t believe they know much about building and what that cabin will be like built out of green popples. I tremble to think. Pa went over there the other day and he didn’t even have a level and the thing was up and down to start with. Pa let him take our level. Bud probably knows who he is, he used to live in that lovely Colonial that was built by our friends the Johnsons just outside of Robbinsdale on the Osseo road. He was divorced from his wife and I guess she has the house. Well how’s that for a piece of gossip from the wilderness. Mighty sad stuff, no matter where it is.

Pa is working on the shutters this morning and Jim has been clearing out the gas line on the light plant as the lights started to waver last night. He has it all fine now and she has been working like a million bucks (Jim’s language) all summer. We feel almost extravagant to have such luxurious lighting every night. Pa took a real mean pleasure in showing off when Leo was here. I didn’t say anything but way down inside I was glad too. He could see if you gave the plant half a decent chance what it could do.

Now about the elec. beater. I can’t remember exactly, but I packed in a box by itself, about 15 or 16 inches high and 10 inches square and covered it in the top with a cloth or paper to keep the dust out. It’s in the store room or in the shed on top of our ice box or near it. I’m pretty sure it’s in the store room but may be some other of your boxes is on top. If you don’t find it I’ll take a good look when I get home. I’m sure its in one of those places. Well dear I stopped to get dinner and I went out to get a log for wood and now I haven’t time to finish my letter before they go to the post office. I’m so glad Davy is getting along so well little potty and all, take good care of him and Bud and yourself and love from Pa Ma and Jim.

P.S. We’re happy and comfy as can be, the stove keeps us warm and we won’t be home till it gets quite a little colder. It’s lovely here this month.

Thursday Morning September 26, 1935

Dear Betty,

We got your letter Tuesday and were so sorry to hear about Dorothy. I hope with all my heart it won’t prove serious. We will not expect to see Jimmie up here now though he would be more than welcome but if he does not come up Saturday or Sunday we will probably come home on Tuesday Oct. 1st. It has been lovely weather up till yesterday for almost two weeks but yesterday we had a hard northwest wind and it is cold today. If it stays like this we shall be glad to come home but I do hope you have a frost in Minneapolis before we get there. Well I’ll close and leave the talking till I get home. Heaps of love to you all from

Pa and Ma.

Thursday, June 25, [1936]

Dearest Betty

We received your grand letters, one last week and the other on Tuesday, and we enjoyed them more than you can possibly guess. They were so interesting and the way you are able to express yourself is perfect joy to me. I’m so glad a child of mine can really write and so easily. Now to answer your questions first, Papa says you handled affairs just fine with the people you collected the rent from. You could hardly refuse them a dollar when they were willing to do so much themselves - papa would have done exactly as you did. And Betty I thought it was awfully sweet of you to bother about the cake for them and go to all that trouble when its not so easy for you to get out to do things. Perhaps you had better call for the rent in the evening as it looks as if they are more likely to be home at that time of day. The rent is from June 1st to July 1st but we collect in the middle of the month as that is the best time for them.

(The serial number of light plant is 26-1708 Model 9710).

We were over at Casereto’s Sunday evening and he was tickled as a kid over a new toy with his Light Plant. He has it installed in a nice shed - cement floor and block exactly acccording to specifications and the whole place is lit up like a carnival. He was especially proud of the light between the house and Mrs. Jones and then he insisted we see the light he had installed inside the water closet and just as he was about to open the door Mr. Ponterrio walked out. I wanted to laugh terribly but I didn’t as both Mr. Casereto and Mr. P. acted as if it was nothing out of the ordinary but I bet Mr. P. could have killed Mr. C. with pleasure for a few minutes.

Mrs. C. was here on Sat. eve and she was very much taken with the sink and the hose - she called Mr. C to look at it and I wouldn’t be surprised if a new sink would be added to their establishment. He is crazy about it up here, and doesn’t mind spending money to get things done.

Papa has finished the shelf for the new gasoline stove and he did a most elegant job on it and it is so handy. We roll it right under the pail - shelf and its completely out of the way and at a touch it rolls right out again when needed. Has a second shelf under neath to hold my canned stuff and that is exceedingly handy too. He has also finished a beautiful box to hold Davy’s clothes when he comes. It is made so nicely, rounded corners and all, that it looks like a piece of cabinet work. Papa is certainly a craftsman.*

The phoebe birds have just finished a nice job too for yesterday they engineered 3 big baby birds safely out of the nest behind the engine house. It looked as deserted and lonesome last night as your fireplace.

Yes we are getting our newspapers and I enjoy that for I like to see how the weather at home compares with up here. The past week has been wonderful. Today the lake is very blue and quiet and it may get quite hot. I am so glad Davy can be out so much best thing in the world for him. The snap-shots of him made me home sick for a minute. They brought him so close because they are so good of him. Cynthia looks so dear too. Well I’m looking forward to the last weeks of July too. Dorothy and Jim are sure having some trips and I bet they are getting a big kick out of it too.

I am so glad Julia and Henry gave the baby Tilden’s name. I guess they will be glad now that he’s a boy. If by any chance any of the family came up around the Fourth of July will they bring up the things on this list.

Well dear heaps and heaps of love and take care of yourself Bud and Davy.

[The rest of the letter is missing].

*[This clothes box is now a blanket box with Dave and Jane Onan, 1997]

Thursday Morning
July 2, 1936

Dear Betty,

We got your card Tuesday and while not as good as a letter it helps a lot just to hear that all is fine. I’m glad Davy is able to be out so much and getting brown. It will help him a lot towards next winter. It’s nice too that he likes other kids and gets along so well with them. We are feeling fine as can be too, and are as busy as can be doing nothing much, and yet the time goes fast. We don’t get up till pretty nearly eight oclock lots of mornings and that does make the days short. We washed clothes yesterday morning and they are still hanging out on the lines as it was a regular April day raines one minute and shone the next. It had rained good the night before so I thot. it was through but I was so glad to have rain as the ground was getting awfully dry and everything looks so fresh and alive again. In the afternoon we went over to Bear Island to pull in some logs and were caught in 2 showers. We brought home some dandy wood any way and as were dresses good didn’t hurt us a bit. Last Thursday was a great day up here for us - a letter from Henry - the Clarks in Cal - and one from Dorothy - a letter any mother in law would love to get - pa’s slippers sent by Dorothy and then the dear little package from you. Betty, papa was as pleased as could be, really and truly, and I had no idea he would enjoy any thing like that so much. He had his bath in the Lake the next day and wore his slippers and felt very spiffy and said, "Those sure were the things to save your feet" and really enjoyed them. Mine make me feel kind of classy and I see they make him feel that way too. It was a sweet nifty thot. Well darling I’ll have to stop as it is getting a little too near mail-time. I cleaned down the cob webs and mopped the floor this morning and I haven’t given myself hardly time enough to write you a letter. Write and tell us how the funeral for grandpa* went, did all the dear relatives show up?

In haste but lovingly

Ma
*["grandpa" is not related to this family. From the next letter I asume the relationship to be to Bessie and Tilden Smith. DWOII]

Thursday July 9,[1936]

Dearest Betty,

I wrote so hurridly in my last letter that I said nothing about how glad I was you had written me about the funeral. I couldn’t help but wonder how the relatives would act under the circumstances but it seems they were true to form. Of course they wouldn’t speak to her because they were afraid if they did that Bessie would ask them to share the funeral expenses. She had been trying this spring to make Frank and Bill give something towards his support so that she could put Grandpa in a nursing home but the lawyer could do nothing with them, they were all too poverty stricken. They couldn’t even give her an afternoon’s help so that she could get out. Well I hope they get their reward but I wonder if they will.

Got a lovely letter from Lil and she seems able to get around again. They have their bonus $750.00 and I guess they will buy the place they are on if they can get it for what they want to pay. Dunk calcimined the ceiling and they papered the walls of her living room. She is planning to take a little of the bonus money to put in a new ceiling in her kitchen and I do hope she does. The papers have been full of drouth conditions in the Dakotas and Montana but in her letter she said they had plenty of feed for their stock for next winter and maybe they hadn’t put in a crop of anything.

Also got a dandy little letter from Aunt Lu. They are in Atlantic City and are evidently have a grand time walking the Board Walk and seeing the sights. She says there are about 200,000 people there now. Well I’d like to see it once. They are not planning to come to Minneapolis this year. They never hear from Sarah and Anna she says and after all I guess it is a relief to Aunt Sarah not to have them during the hot weather. Annie never took any responsibility for entertaining them when they came so Sarah had it all except for what you young folks could do and she is getting old too.

Has it been hot in Minneapolis the last three days? Tuesday and yesterday were awfully warm here but there was a spanking breeze yesterday so it was fine here under the trees and I only cooked what was I could on the gasoline stove. It works fine so we had plenty to eat after all. Its warm again this A.M. but I guess the wind is changing to the N.W. Pa just held up his handerchief for a weather vane so it may cool off before the day is over. I sponged off in the lake by the dock yesterday - looked east - west - and south and saw nary a boat so dropped my bathing suit and cooled off. One crab and a big leech were cooling off too but they said its a free country come on in and I did and the water was fine. Tourists started to come in 4th of July and I guess most of the resorts are full, more boats on the lake any way. Well dear we’re feeling fine and looking forward to seeing you all. Hug Davy for both of us.

Love Pa and Ma.

Sat Morning
1936

Dear Betty,

Got your letter and when you come will you bring these things if you have time to get them. Plan to come when it is best for you and I do hope it won’t be too hot a day. Its been the hottest here of any summer since we started to come and I’ll wager its been awfully hot in Minneapolis. I have been bathing in the lake every day so you can see its been warm. Hope it lets up a little soon. Papa and I have done practically no work all week but I have been reading to beat the band so have had a good time in spite of the heat. Those books I got from the library are dandies. Well here is list.

[Remainder of letter is missing]

Tuesday Aug 4, 1936

Dear Betty,

I haven’t heard anything to the contrary so you must have got home all right. I am wondering if you were able to get your hair fixed and if you and Bud got to the party in the evening. I thought of you all day and tried to imagine where you were at different times. I hope Davy stood the trip fine and slept a little on the way. Did he get back into his afternoon naps? It has been so lovely and cool here that I suppose it must be very nice weather at home. I wouldn’t be surprised if hot weather was over for this year but hope cold weather won’t settle in too soon. I had the Nelsons and Higbys over for supper as I had planned on Friday and we had a real pleasant time. I served Em’s ham and tuna fish on toast with carrots and peas -tomatoes cucumbers and lettuce salad. Whipped cream fruit jello & ice-box cookies which I made on Friday morning and they turned out good. Papa said the supper tasted real good and I thought so too.

The Casseretos came in Thursday night with three friends and a little boy two years old. Papa went over Saturday to put the things in the Light plant that Bud had left. Mr.& Mrs. C and the young woman and little boy came Sunday morning to see our house and I served coffee & cookies and we all had a jolly time. We are invited for dinner on Wednesday and after Bessie gets here I shall invite them here for a meal and to play cards. They are so pleasant and kind and genuine that you can’t help but like them.

Last Saturday morning I was helping Pa pull up a log and as I went to pull off the chain that holds the handle of the little machine I let the handle slip and it came back and struck me in the mouth and made my upper lip swell up so that I look like Joe Brown in the movies and now it has turned slightly black and I look as if I had a downy little mustache. I had never realized what a nice looking mouth I really have till I got this funny looking mug. Shall be so glad to see my own face back again.*

Well dear haven’t much news so I’ll close for this time hoping every thing is fine for you at home. I am hoping to hear from you this week and are expecting the Smiths Saturday.

Hug Davy for papa and me and lots of love to you and Bud. We have been enjoying the Radio much more than I realized we would and think we are going to enjoy all the political speeches as well as music.

Affectionately

Ma.

Crane Lake
Aug 15,[1936]

Dear dear Betty

I haven’t had time to write you a letter but I will for this Tuesday mail. Monday May Davies came in with the Yerslers and Steve and Tommy in a new Trailer she had just bought. They spent all day Tues. with us and we kept Steve till Friday noon. Had the Casseretos for dinner on Wednesday and some way its been a full week. You have been perfectly grand with all pa’s business and he says to just let things rest as they are now. I’ll write more in my next letter. Much much love and thanks. We are fine.

Ma
Papa is sending you the $75.00 to bank for him which he got in last mail.

Crane Lake P.O.
Aug 17, 1936

Dearest Betty

It seems like a long time since I have written you a real letter. We received both of your fine letters explaining all you had done about the estate and you certainly have been busy.

Papa got the $75.00 from the Credit Co. and you probably have it by now At least friend Ann didn’t get her hooks into that one. Papa says we will just let things ride over till he gets home and he will attend to the court order or anything else that comes up. After all he is not responsible for Annies actions but wouldn’t you think she would be glad to get rid of it all and let things alone. She is beyond all understanding. I hope Mr. Lohmas wasn’t horrid to you. Of course I can understand that he does not want to get mixed up in the Hoiby dirty work, why should he.

We have been having a fine time with the Smiths - lots to eat and lots to talk about. They have said nothing about staying 3 weeks so far and neither have I but if Dorothy and Jim decide to come the last week in Aug - don’t let them put it off as we can all get along fine. I have enough beds, unless they themselves prefer to come later.

May Davies as I told you brought Steve up and we had a nice visit and lots of fun with him. May has a swell Trailor and they all stayed over night, except Steve, over at Chases and then spent all day Tues. with us. Her Trailor sure is fine but I can see some disadvantages in living in one.

Papa took Steve and Tilden up to Grassy Bay on Thursday for fishing and they caught 4 big Norther Pike but papa was pretty tired because he had to stop and start the motor for every weed and bite as well as each fish. I am not going to let him do it again for any body.

I am so glad Davy went back to his naps and I hope he is drinking lots of milk again. Dear little Davy, his little shadow stayed around the place long after he was actually gone.

Well darling hope you are all fine as we are. Hope too that the fires are out near your place. There have been many forest fires around us so that it was smoky several days last week but the last 2 days have been clear. I wish all Minnesota could have a long night of lots of rain, our trees need it. My moss roses are lovely, how are your tomatoes? Got a letter from Lil. All sounds O.K.

Lots of love and thanks

Pa and Ma

Crane Lake Minn
Friday 4 P.M. [probably 1937]

My dearest Betty,

Imagine your writing a dandy letter like that after making two cakes and getting dinner for company. It’s such a fine quality to be able to be composed and in your right mind no matter what impends. I’ll bet Lu and Vernon enjoyed that dinner and I would have loved a piece of each of those cakes - makes me dribble almost just to think of it. I am glad that there was entertaining by different ones, for that makes it so much easier for you all, in hot weather, and Aunt Sarah must have been glad that you could all turn to and help her out. I think she feels a little more diffident with little Lu than with Henry and big Lu for they are all of an age. I got a letter from Aunt Lu last Tuesday and she speaks of planning to get up here for at least a few days, so whatever plans you can make will be fine with me for we would love to see them and for as long as they would be happy up here. I know papa would be glad to have a chance to talk over the estate affairs with Henry so make it very clear that we will be awfully glad to see them. I shall write later to them inviting them but sometimes a personal word is better than anything written. I can’t imagine why Aunt Bessie could have had any doubts about our wanting them up here unless she was having a day when she felt kind of down. After I got your letter I thought over what I had written on the card and am sure that it was not lacking in cordiality unless she may have that a card was a bit too casual if she was expecting a letter. Well any way I’m glad you could tell her and I hope convinced her all was okay.

We got your card from Duluth and the cutest letter from Mr. Onan sending love and kisses frim Davy and it made us feel happy all over, that you all were thinking of us when you were having such a lovely time yourselves. You certainly are our dearest daughter and I begin to see Mr. O’s alure.

I was so surprised when I read of all that rain on your trip home, for it turned out to be the loveliest afternoon here with never a hint of what was doing 75 miles from here. I am glad I didn’t know for I would have worried even though I know what a good driver Bud is. Rain like that is awful. It was fine that Davy slept for he might have been frightened. As we are talking of water I’ll just add that the water supply in our Crane Lake faucet* is easy and abundant and a joy forever. Bless dear Bud, he sure did work like a nigger, and I hope he can rest a little more on the next trip, he sure did accomplish something grand for us. I washed this morning and we filled the boiler from the sink and almost that I was home. Papa went out on the lake this P.M. and took his troller along and caught a nice Northern Pike, too big for us to eat. Wish you were here to help - guess the fish are beginning to bite again - hope they will when you get up here again. I was awfully pleased over the birthday gifts you were able to get for Lil; the dress and pajamas sounded just fine and I know she will love getting that package. Will it be okay if I settle with you when you come, I’ll paste an item up somewhere so I won’t forget it. The Dayton Bill came here and I opened it to see why but still don’t know, will mail it with this so that you will have it and can straighten it out.

I have been wearing your culotte that you left in the closet and I like it just fine - funny but I feel like a different person in it - younger, more adventurous and a bit devilish. Perhaps it won’t be good for me but pa likes it and it fits me fine. I wear it open at neck because you finished it off so beautifully inside, that I can, and I moved the buttons (top 2) down and I have a brown leather belt as I am complete. We got a card Thursday from the Caseretos saing a baby girl had arrived Monday A.M. and that they hoped to be up in the near future. Probably be here at the same time as Smiths and they will like that. I wonder if the baby is dark or fair, the cute boy was a blonde beauty.

Well pa has the fish all cleaned so I’ll have to start to fry. The weather has been so lovely this week that I could not help wishing you were all here to enjoy it but I hope it has been cooler in Mpls. too - it was warm even here last week. Henry sure gave us a grand surprise, it was awfully good to see him even for only one day. Well darling we both send heaps of love as you know. The telegram wasn’t a shock it was a gift.

Affectionately,

Pa and Ma
Pencil is getting thick.

Crane Lake
Saturday [July 10, 1937]

Dearest Betty

Just a line to tell you we have had a grand visit with the Onans and we hope it has done Mr. Onan good, he seems kind of played out and in need of a rest. Just make your own plans as to when you come up, any time is alright with us. Will write you for next mail-day. Mr. and Mrs. Onan are leaving this noon and may take this if it is too late for the post office up here. We feel fine. Lots of love to you all. Got your letter Thurs.

Ma

[July 1937]

Dearest Betty Just a line to let you know we received your letter and the gorgeous gift Saturday. I was tickled pink for it was so exactly what I wanted and pa sat right down in it and stayed there for 2 hours looking over the newspapers so that speaks louder than words. Tell every body its 2/3 his and 1/3 mine on account of being his Father’s gift but that makes no diff - by me I like it just as much.

Crane Lake Minn
Friday July 16 - 1937

Dear Betty

I wrote you a little note yesterday and a letter to grandma but it was so rainy and windy at noon that we decided it was foolish for papa to go across so I am writing you again today as I can write more. I can’t imagine 2 weeks, this week and last, being more of a contrast unless we had snow. Last week sunshine and so warm that we had to eat our dinners and suppers outside and this week since Sunday a cool wind from the North and rain every day or night. I am so glad Mr. and Mrs. Onan came last week instead of this for we were able to be out all the time and this week we have been in all the time. Mr. Onan seemed so satisfied to be out in the sun that we but the big cot out doors under the big pine tree and when he didn’t fish he lay and slept in the big cot. We went to bed early and got up about 8 and with the naps in the day time I hope he got some good out of the vacation in spite of a pretty bad coat of sun burn. Mrs. Onan and I had a real good visit and she seemed so happy that Mr. Onan could relax and rest. She is badly worried over a stubborn cough* which he can’t seem to get rid of and he has been pretty badly hit by Oscar Dahlen’s death. It is much more of a shock to him than he wants to show.

They seemed happy and contented here and we were so glad they were, for of course we haven’t much to offer but sunshine and fresh air. I hope it did them good. And did they bring the eats! We lived on swell left overs for 2 or 3 days and there is a nice box of canned goods for you and Bud when you come.

You will enjoy your little chair too for it seemed to belong to this little house the minute we took it out of the big package and set it down. It has been in constant use since, both inside and out, for it is so easy to carry around. Believe me pa was excited and curious when they handed him that big package at the post office. One of the Handberg boys had brought it up from Orr. We sure enjoyed opening up the package and what we got. 2/3 pa’s and 1/3 mine as he says.

Have you heard any more of Hannah? I have thot of her so often since your letter and wondered how soon her release would come. Poor Hannah. Have you heard whether Aunt Lu and Uncle Henry were planning to come to Minneapolis this summer. There was a letter here at the post office when we got here this year from Aunt Lu and she wanted to know if Sarah was alone so I wondered from that if they were thinking of coming this summer. I guess they wanted to be sure Anna was out of the way.

How did little Jimmie stand the Fergus Falls trip? Papa got a lovely Father’s day card from Julia and Henry and wrote them a letter but they are pretty busy as I depend on news from dear you.

I wonder if your gourds are bigger than mine. All this rain is making mine grow by leaps and bounds. No luck with the Caster oil beans, only one germinated and that one acts discouraged.

When you come will you bring me 1 qt can Fly-Ded. I got mine at the new Woolworth on 7th & Nicollet for .35. Have plenty for now but we might need it later for the flies. When the mosquitoes leave the flies begin. A sucession of blessings. Well dear it’s still raining and papa is going to have a fire in the fire-place this P.M. Little stove going good now and time for me to get some lunch. Hope all the vacations get straightened out. Heaps of love

Ma.

P.S. I got 2 lovely letters from Lil and I guess they have about made up their minds to go to Cal. this fall. This envelope looks as if it has been opened and it has for I took out the note I wrote you yesterday, that I better explain or you might think some one was tampering with your letters. We must discuss Lils birthday gift when you come.

Crane Lake
Thursday Aug 22 [1939]

Dearest Betty

We got your letter from the Beauty Parlor last Thursday and did we enjoy it! We thought of you all day on the Sunday you went home, and you reached home just about as we thot you would and Sally acted about her little as I thot she might from my experience with Molly, she was always so glad to see her buggy again when we had been away for a few hours with her , and I’ll wager Davy go his bike out first crack and went flying around the block, maybe he even bought some licarice. I am so glad you didn’t find the trip up here or back too hard with Sally for it gave us a chance to get to know her and we did enjoy her so much. I hope next year pa and I can take on Davy and Sally a little more so that you and Bud can go out and sight see, for I realize there is lots for you to see yet around here. For this year it was an especial blessing that you came just when you did for Bud saved Pa all the chores and though he is by no means well yet, I think he is much better than he would have been if he had not rested all that week. His bowl movements are still loose bu he has not had to get up a night and skip for the biffy as he did the week you were here. I have put him on a stricter diet and he is keeping very quiet. I am hoping the medicine too will gradually get him back to normal. When I wrote you the postal it seemed almost as if he was but it is going to take a little time. If he doesn’t improve a whole lot in the next two weeks we shall go home much sooner than we had planned for I cant help but worry.*

Of course we missed you, we always do, for the first few days especially and even yet is seems as if I ought to see Davy walking around the yard and if I turn around Sally should be looking at us from her little bed. Pa misses her in the morning for he used to stand and wave at her after he made the fire and she always smiled back so delighted to see him.

No I didn’t do a big wash - I washed two little sheets and about 6 towels in the boiler one day and three shirts, 1 culotte & 2 prs of panties on another morning so you can see my labors in that direction were certainly not arduous. In fact I’ver never sat on the seat of my dresser so much in all my live as I have this summer, expect to patch there first from now on. I’ve read 2 of my books and enjoyed both of them, but have sat a lot too and just looked at the lake, and sat some more and got some sun tan, laid in the hammock and got a new view of the trees. Papa is being good to and the seat of his pants is seeing more service than usual.

The Messings are gone and we miss seeing their camp fire. They came and spent their last evening with us and we had a nice visit and popped corn. We all took a hand at the job but Mr. Messing he was the only one real good a the job - so we let him do it. They had had a grand time on their trip to Lac la croix but Mrs. Messing said the camp spots were terribly dirty which of course doesn’t add to the beauty.

Our boys from last year are camping back in the camp spot but have only seen them once so far. They came last Saturday and look as nifty as ever. Went to Caribou Lake by the way of Lake Superior Drive and to Port Arthur but decided there is no place like Crane so came back here for their last week.. Pa would say, "I told you so."

Helen Nelson took her neice back to Leach Lake and brought back some lovely fresh corn and gave me some. I’m having "corn dinners" all by myself for Pa can’t have any. Billy brought us a big Northern Pike and did wish you could have had it to bring home for it was much too big for us. Lita sent us some pike fried in ham grease and is was delicious, shall save all my ham grease from now, that is another year , pa shouldn’t eat ham grease.

Will you remind Bud about the Light Plant for Eric - his boat is about done and he will probably sell it. (Boat)

Did you get your Fur Coat? Be sure and tell me about it if you did. Am very personally interested. We are glad about Hannah Stevens, very fine for Sarah & Hannah too. Will continue next week.

Very affectionately your

Sitting Bull

Crane Lake Minn
Aug 29 [1939]

Dearest Betty

This is mail day and I want to send you a line to let you know that papa is very much better again. The medicine seems to help him a lot and he is being careful yet as to what he eats so I am hopeful he will be at least fairly well while we are here. I hope we can stay till the latter part of September as he would be awfully dssappointed if we had to go sooner.

We went to Orr yesterday and as we had had a little shower in the night the road was not at all dusty and papa stood it fine. We bought some chickens from the chicken man in Orr and some groceries such as tomatoes, head lettuce grapes etc. and I am going to have Lita Higbie, Helen a& Eric for supper Thursday. Lita and Billy have to go back Sunday and it is my last chance to do anything for her. I have wanted to before but pa didn’t feel well enough to go to Orr so I have been putting it off but he was feeling fine the last few days and it was a lovely day to go so we went and he seems to be okay today.

Our nice boys camped in the camping spot all last week and they were here and spend and evening with us. It has been cold & raining all day and they did enjoy coming into a nice warn little house for the evening. We had hot coffee and doughnuts and they seemed to think that was tops too. The next day they went over to Litas to get Billy to show them where to fish as they had had very poor luck and they hated to go home without fish. Lita took to them just as we did and she asked them to a good hot supper. She has a young man cousin there so they are had a fine time together and the boys stayed till 12 oclock. They came in to say goodby to us the next day and they seemed to feel down right bad because they had to leave Crane Lake. They had 5 great big crappies and 5 or 6 good wall eyes so they were happy.

Friday was such a lovely day I took the boat and motor and went over to Lita’s, made nice little visit and came back all by myself. Felt very smart as you can imagine. Papa said if Davy had seen me, he would have wanted to go out alone too, and I don’t suppose it will be long before he can too. This little motor starts and goes so nice.

The Kaufman boy and another kin from Missouri made a boat out of odds and ends the resort man Mr. Oslund let them have. It was about five feet long and about 16 inches high and they packed and tarred the seams so it wouldn’t leak. Then they put a little motor on it and did they have fun. The kid form Missouri had to go home 2 days after they had it finished and his family could hardly tear him away. I couldn’t help but think of Davy and Bud’s little motor.

The Casertos are plum jam full of company so we aren’t seeing much of them as we are waiting til they are alone again. Dr. Casereto asked when Henry was coming and how I do hope he & Julia, little Jim get here the end of this week. It will be so grand to see some of the family again. Your letters have been a real joy and you sound as if you were having a good time and the children too. I don’t wonder you are excited over the new coat and hope it will be just as beautiful as you hope. I shall be so interested to see it.

Have you had a chance to see grandma lately? I think of her so often and I hope all is going well. I wonder if the tree got trimmed as we had planned.

Well dear - I’ll sing off and get some lunch so papa can get to the P.O. and mail this. The weather has been very fine and we are comfortable as can be. We got a post card from Til and I guess they must have had a fine trip. Give them our very best regards if you get in touch with them. Heaps of love to you all from

Pa and Ma.