Home Sunday Eve
July 28th 1889

Dear Sister Brother & Children

I will try this evening to write you a few lines as Late said he was going to write some today. This leaves us all enjoying good health for which we are very thankful. Of Dear Hellen please dont look for me to write such good long letters as poor Nett for I can't. Oh how can I write you. cant imagine how lonely it is without Nett. I cant when going up there. I cant realize but what she is there & I keep looking for her to come in all the time. But dear Sister it was the Lords will & [we must] submit to it & not wish her back for our loss is no doubt her eternal gain. It seems hard to see the poor little motherless children, but they will be cared for. for the lord careth for the lambs of his flock.

Dick got a letter from his sister in California today. it was such a good letter. so much comforting words in it. She & her husband both wrote. the first he had ever got from him. they write like they were good Christian people. his sister told him not to seperate the children if he could possibly help it & that would be my advice if I should give any. Would it not be yours too? for they think lots of each other & if he was to separate them they would soon forget each other & I think if his sister comes from Mo. as is the talk now I think he can be with them & help take care of them & not seperate them. Now dear Sister I know you want little Blanche but it is too much to ask of Dick to give her too you. he cannot do it. he thinks too much of her & I dont think you would want to take her & get so attached to her & then have to give her up. I dont know how we are to give her up now for we all think so much of her. but I would gladly keep her as my own but I can not ask it of him. Oh Hellen she is such a sweet child. I wish you could see her.

Oh why cant you come out & help make arrangements for them. I dont know what Pa & Late think of doing they dont say anything to me about it. I am letting Jennie do the best she can for them but Jennie is young & has never had the care of the house for I have always been stout & like all other mothers have done that myself. Jennie know how to do every kind of work but has never had it all to do. I want her to go to school when it begins the first of September & I fear it will be more then she can do but I am willing for her to try it if it is Pa's wish. Hellen you need not be uneasy about Pa for he shall be taken care of while Less & I live. I know it would not seem like Nett or you but I have always tried to be a daughter to him & always shall but I want him to be satisfied. Hellen I dont believe he will ever be satisfied to live away from here. I of course try to help them all I can. I oversee the house & their clothes. have made Pa one shirt & will make another. Nett was going to make one that week that she was taken away.

Hellen there is one thing I wish she could have done if it had been the lords will & that was to have gone back to Mo. She & I had it all made up & we were going back together & were going to take you all on surprise. we had talked so much. what a good time we would have. it seems to me sometimes I must see you all this fall only I dont know now it will be. Well I must close for this time. Hellen you must write to Jennie. it will encourage her. give my love to all inquiring friends if any such there be. Blanche is real good & has been well most of the time. I am careful of her eating. she cries for me as for her ma. please write soon & often. I am as ever your sister. Sue White