Isabelly Kans
Jan 19th 1888

Dear Sister Clark & family

Now dont get scared because this is not a big full letter & think some of us are sick or something terrible has taken place. Your good long letter of the 8th reached me last Monday afternoon & it was not long till I knew what was in it & it was quite awhile too till I got to the end. however we was glad to get it but sorry to hear of R & B having sore eyes. & it found us all feeling better than Dick. he has a terrible cold & cough. I have been patching him up with boneset tea & syrup & greece. & he feels better now to some extent. he keeps at work tho everyday. I tried to get him to layoff till he got better but he wouldn’t. they dont hurt themselfs working this time of year.. . It has been so cold they couldn’t. our Winter has been as near like yours as can be. we had sleet & round snow thunder & lightning the same time only not so much Ice. it did not rain here but a few minnits. but it caught my cloths on the line too & they were all sleet. I took the broomstick & tried to knock it off but could not. it was tight. last Thursday it snowed nearly all day from south. but friday was sneaking stinging cold. but dear that night the wind raised & in the morn the snow that had fell thursday was up in the air again going in every direction & was 22 deg below zero. Dick did not go on the section that day. & it has been cold all this week till yesterday & this morning is more pleasant. Pa & Late has gone to the Lodge. Mabel & I are alone. she has got so she can walk real well again but her right leg is some stiff yet so she limps a little. I had Lass cut her hair yesterday & she is a pretty good imitation of Ross Clark now. but I’ll not to stop to tell you all that now. I am just writing to day to give you some Hopes. you have so long been hankering to hear. Pa will start from Isabelly for Clarks next Tuesday afternoon the 24th. if he is well & there is no blizzards between now & then to blockade the roads. or if that day is not entirely to bad. & expects to be at Laredo the next day. You will know about the time to meet him there. he wanted to start & not let you know it & walk out but I would not let him do that for fear the weather or roads might be bad & when he walks any distance at all the sweat just pours off of him & he would just be sure to catch a heavy cold. he is apt to any how changing climate. & lett me add when it is cold I always put a warm flat iron in his bed or if I dont he is almost sure to suffer with cold feet all night. I speak of this to remind you of it for if I dont I am certain he wouldnt ask you to. for you know he is afraid of putting someone to some trouble. I do so on my own accord &-dont listen to him. & be sure & make him wrap his head up when its cold & he goes out. for the least bit of cold goes right to his throat. Edd McCarty is going to Iowa & will go with him so he will not be alone I guess. tho Edd intends stoping in Mo awhile. & if he does it may be you will have a short visit from him. but I know you would rather have that then for Pa to go alone. I feel better about his going now. Leses [Lester and Susan White] are glad to get rid of him for he wont do a thing or get anything to eat but can eat all the same. I will try & write some to send with Pa. you said for him to bring a trunk. Now Lates or my trunk is not heavy enough to stand the trip & if you get any apples dried more than you can put ·in his val ice he can get a box & bring that as a trunk. O I wish I could go with him but I cant & the Lord only knows when I will get to go. I will send Jills [possibly Till’s] familys picture & Julia & husbands for you to see but you must not forget to send them back. I forget whither we had got the second picture of Julia when you was here or not. I want you to visit all you can & take him places & enjoy it all for yourself & me to. & dont feed him to well for he is not use to it & he would be in danger of loosing his appetite after he comes back. butter is 10 cts lb eggs 20 ct doz. I dont make any butter & have sold 1 doz eggs this winter. but nary egg have we got since the day before the blizzard that so many froze. I got 9. Yes we could been eating the chickens if we had known everything. but we had had chicken all summer & fall & winter when we wanted it till we had got tired of them. a chicken would last us 3 or 4 meals till Late came home & they did not hang on so long. I wish I was where I could take some of your butter off your hands. I made enough to use on the table till that blizzard & I have not made a bit since. Well I must quit & get dinner or D [Dick] will be on hand. I will leave the rest till I write again or for Pa to tell you. hope the children are well before this. kiss them for me. good bye for a few days. as ever. your sister.

Mabel got this little flower & said O Ma wont this be pretty for Blanchie to put in her book. everything is pretty for Blanchies book. she thinks Pa wont be Misourie till he gets to Blanchies house.