28th October 1927, Wellington, Colorado, U.S.A. My dearest Mother, I was sure glad to get your letter which arrived on Monday and thanks also for the books which I received the day following. Whist writing I have the radio tuned in on a band concert. I intended to answer your letter yesterday but cut my finger and then did my usual stunt. I do not get over it so quick as I used to do. We have not had much sleep for the last week. Walt had a cold, then a cough developed but he only coughed at night. Last night when we could have slept we were disturbed other-wise. Ted had quite a nice birthday and sure had a sweetley pretty cake. You know I never thought about it being his twenty-first birthday. You know they come of age here when only eighteen. Nov 1st - I thought my letter would have been on its way before now mother, but here it is. Ed start school again yesterday after a three weeks beet vacation. He just loves to go. He brought his class picture home last night. There are two of his cousins in it too. Roy (Rose's boy) and Donald (Florries boy). Ed sure looks good I think Well' I hope Edith does make good on her home-work and pass her exam. It would sure be fine. I'm glad she is some better. You know I entered a bunch of my sweet peas in the fair and took second premium on the best bouquet. They judged dahlias, asters etc; altogether. I also entered those pillow-covers I made at home and took first prize with the one with the daisies on it. I think I told you that my neighbours, Lovall's had moved away and Eatmon's had come back. Well Mrs Eatmon gave birth to a baby girl two weeks ago last Saturday morning. She developed intestinal flu and died last Sat. morning. She was buried on Sunday afternoon, Pa, Walt and Jim were pall-bearers. Mrs Eatmon sure suffered terribly, she did'nt look a bit like herself. She was so tickled because this baby happened to be a first girl. She had already had five boys, two of them are living. The paper says she was only twenty-six but I think it was a mistake as, according to what she told me she was a little younger than I am. Two or three weeks ago a Mexican shack, about two miles away, burned down and burned three little children to death. The under-taker had to pick them up with a beet fork and put them all in one casket. At our Ladies Aid meeting last month, we all had to draw something that reminded us of Hallow-e'en. I drew my old cat that I used to draw years and years ago, never dreaming that it would be any good. A lady who has studied and taught art etc; was the judge. Imagine how surprised I was when they said "Mrs Wood wins the prize for the best drawing". The prize was a candy doll. The day after Aid Mary and I went to visit Mrs Lough. We had a real nice time visiting and playing croquet. Well' we have had three weeks of lovely weather even hotter than in summer, but now it has changed. I washed yesterday and pretty nearly frozen hanging out the clothes, of which I always have plenty. I am thankful to say that nearly all our beets are hauled in now. I guess we will finish up tomorrow if it does not storm again. I sold a bunch of young roosters, got $14.46 for them. I bought the children two suits of winter underwear each., Mary a new hat and myself a new tablecloth. One of those you gave me wore out last year and the other is pretty nearly gone. Walt's cough is better but he has a stiff neck now. I guess Mr Hurdle is finally going to fix up our cellar. I hope he does so that we can stock up for winter. I am enclosing a picture of "us four", it is enlarged from a snap like the ones I sent you. I have six of them and am sending them to my friends Dorothy has been in the hospital, she managed to have a mis-carriage (3 months) and let herself go for three weeks, finally she had to go to the hospital for treatment. (Dont remark about this in your letter) Well mother, I hope you are all well and with lots of love to all I remain Your loving daughter XXXXX Dolly XXXXX p.s. I will write Annie as soon as I can. Enclosed newspaper cutting Mrs. Thelma Eatmon Dies at Wellington' Mrs Thelma Eatmon, 26 years of age, wife of Willard Eatmon, died at the family home in Wellington of Pneumonia early Saturday. Mrs Eatmon who had made her home in Wellington for a number of years, is survived by her husband, and by several children, the youngest of which is only a baby 2 or 3 weeks of age. The funeral will be held at two-o'clock Sunday afternoon, services being at the Wellington Community Church. Pat