Isabel Kans
Oct 4th 1889

Dear Sister & family

Well Less began this letter before breakfast & wants me to finish it before train time. So I will sit down before I do anything else. I did not intend to do as you did in writing to us but this is a world of work. I try to answer my letters in turn as much as possible but Carries was received before yours. So you are that much ahead. You see I have so many brothers & sisters to write to if I get to hear from them. We are all well now. Blanch has a cold. I try to keep her from taking cold but she takes cold so easy. Now Dear Sister dont worry so much about Pa & these little motherless children for they will be taken care of you know the lord will take care of his lambs. Mable has been pretty well for her Has been going to school with Jennie but Jen has hauled her in her wagon most of the time. they have come this morning but Mable says she is going to stay with Blanch & me. she hurt her leg yesterday & her Pa thinks she better not go. One leg is larger than the other. just above the knee is swelled up all the time & every once in a while gathers up & runs. it has been so ever since she was sick last winter. Oh I hope she wont have such a spell this winter. I think it is croufloria. is that right & told Nett I thought it was but she did not think it was, but it certainly is her blood by it gathering & running. I think it must be she has taken lots of medicine but has not taken any since her Ma is gone. but I think she had better have some to get it out of her blood awhile. she is young & she will outgrow it don't you think. Blanch has always been a stout robust child. never been anything the matter with her but cold & her teeth. but her hardest time is over for she has her teeth. but one stomach tooth is not quite through. they have come through slow. but has not hurt her much for she is as fat as a little pig. I know she will weigh several pounds more than she did when I took her but Hellen I have tried to be careful of her eating & everything to keep her from getting sick. I was so afraid she would get sick. My mind & body & hands have been busy. You may know I have not kept Nona home from school to help me with the work One day yet. only when we thrashed. I feel sometimes most give out but am thankful for good health but I feel I am getting old for I tire so much easier then I use to. Last Saturday was my 40 birthday. I can hardly believe it. oh you ought to have been here. I got supper that evening & Les came in & sit down. says I am not hungry I ate such a big dinner. he ate dinner at Pas. Nell Brown was here said she baked a cake for Jennie that Ed Carter & Less were to be there for dinner & so I asked him if he had cake for dinner & he said no he didnt see any. but I never took the hint. but I was hungry & eat my supper. & Less was going to choke me off. but I ate my supper all the same. So before Nona could get the dishes washed in came Dick followed by about 30 of the neighbors. I was dumbfounded. I was putting Blanch to sleep & I just set there until they all got in. We had a nice supper & an enjoyable time. I got some presents but it was a complete surprise. Well Hellen I wish I knew what questions Late has not answered about Nett. we buried her in her wedding dress & did not put any shoes on her. Pa did not think it worthwhile. Ollie & Liss Roby put some flowers on her lace around her neck. Charlie & Mollie has been down once since Nett was burried. Well Hellen I guess you will have to give up seeing me this fall. for Less has told you the reason but we will get the childrens pictures taken so you can see them. Yes Nett & I had talked lots of going back. every time she would see me she would ask if I was still in the notion. She said the more she thought about it the more she thought I must go too. I told her it would be owing to the crops for if they were not made then we did not know what they would be.

Well company came in yesterday before I got my letter done to send it to the office. I am so afraid you will be sick there. I think you had better take some preventative medicine. tell Eda (poor boy) to write to us we have not heard from him. only through Carrie for a long time. Tell Carrie I will answer as soon as I can. and now Hellen dont worry any more about us being sick. I wish you could come out & you could help fix the children for winter. Mable has a good flannel dress that was made last winter that by letting the hem out will do very well. Well I must close. write soon & if there is anything we have not told you that you want to know I will gladly answer them. Late says tell you he will write in a few days.

With love to all I am as ever your loving sister. Sue W.