Oh Helen why is it we cant be together today. I declare I am so homesick to see you I dont know where I am going to stay tonight. Oh dear I dont know how I would act if I just knew I was going to see you before long. but la la I cant get letter from you let alone going to see you so I might as well banish it from my mind & tell about something else. but I cant to save my life think of half what I have done since I wrote. but things flourishes about as usual. farmers are not done putting up hay yet. a good many quit to sow wheat. Late sowed thier oats ground to wheat. we had the threshers a week ago last friday. Late Dick Less Carter & Roby all stacked thier grain together. each one had so little that they thot best to use econemy & make one setting do all. so each one took a thresher & a hand but we had them all night & for three meals. they began thursday evening thrashed out one stack. then they got done about half past 10 friday but staid after dinner. Late & Dick had 74 bu of oats after being headed once with hail. would had 100 but they fed a good bit in the sheaf.

Cousin Frank Brown

there was a Republican speaking at Isabel the Monday afternoon after I sent my last letter away. had it at the depot. quite a crowd of Ladies & Gents there. I intended to go but Mabel got a shin burnt & cried herself to sleep so that cheated me out. Our Preacher held meeting last week in the Grove where our Picnic was. they gave it out as Camp meeting but none went to camp & they only held one Sunday. began on friday & closed last tuesday night. the nights was to chilly for people to sit there long. Pa went down Sunday with Carters & Sue & the Girls. I did not care about going for I am so afraid of whooping cough. I dont know as there is any but there might be. there was lots there from the Lodge. Bill Marlin & family. Sue & Liss Roby was here visiting last sunday & they thought thier baby awful homly, is too months old & not half as large as Blanch, so sue said.

Monday morn. I will write some more & tell the rest that I know & can think of. the folks got home from thier bum quite a while before sundown. Pa, Late & Winfield come first then Sue & Ollie come in Wins buggie & Ed & Less behind in the big wagon. all staid at Websters & had a good time saw a big crowd & lots of dinner. had a big long table & filled full. Pa seemed to have lots of fun. I guess some of the Democrats & Republicans to amuse themselves got a rope & pulled to see which was the strongest. at any rate Late said he saw Pa hold of it with the rest pulling & hauling. & another time he saw him with his hat off swinging it over his head & trudging along with the gang. he saw lots of good corn between here & there & especialy just above Lawndale. he says he never saw better corn anyplace. Winfield said he never enjoyed himself better in his life. he staid here last night. & to see him in the daylight he looks quite old & beginning to get some gray. his big whiskers hides his big thick lips but I see they were all there yet. he told me his childrens names but La me, I forgot the first before he told the last. but they were all long double names. three boys & too girls & the youngest is about the age of Blanchie four. he started in pursuit of his other farm he has in view but would not tell where it was.

Pa is out in the shade of the house eating some melon. Dick & Mabel is gethering some com. he was sick this morn with sick stomach & bowel complaint & I felt so miserable that Late is working on the section in his place today. Joe is only allowed too men & the section is in bad shape & they have to work so hard that he comes home some nights just nearly tired out & rolls & tumbles all night. he earns every dollar he gets on the section.

Frank Brown staid here last night. he said they got a letter Sat from Aunt Lyd. she was having a splendid time with Uncle Hen & Aunt Lib & said Cardington looks natural but she did not know whither she wanted to live there or not. she is comeing back soon & stop a week with Ella. her ticket expires the 19 of next month. Nell thinks Ella will come home with her. there is a dance tomorrow night in Isabel & Frank said him & Nell would come up here in the afternoon giving me a hint you see. they would be here for supper. well I must go & get dinner. & oh dear what shall I get. I wish I had some of your big apples to cook. the train has come from the east & I do wonder if it brought me a letter from my dear sister. Oh Helen why cant we live near each other like we use to. I would be happy to live long if it could only be the case again. no more right now.