25th March 1927, Wellington, Colorado, U.S.A. My Dearest Mother, Just a few lines in answer to your most welcome letter received last Saturday. I was so very sorry to hear that you have been ill again mother, and that you are in such poor shape. I sure wish I could do something to help you, but, it's the same complaint "I'm too far away" I hope you will be able to rest up a little and take care of yourself so that you will soon begin to pick up again. I am sorry Annie has been ill and hope she is alright again. I had the flu the week after Christmas. I am glad Margy is going to be confirmed. I thought that job of Ted's would be a fine thing for you folks and am sorry he gave it up. Is he working now? Walt is trying to do a little farming but the weather is so unsettled. It keeps snowing, Not enough to do any good but just hindering a fellow. Our soil is so heavy and stickY (gumbo) that it cannot be worked in wet weather. The weather is so cold all the time too. We went up home for a while last night. Mother is feeling exceptionally well right now. Florrie is awfully sick. She seems to be worse than ever. The doctor said that one lung is about gone and the other is covered with ulcers. She went to see a Collins doctor the other day. He sent her to bed for three months, he said her heart is very weak and she is badly run down. Her children are living with their other grand mother Mrs Rice, and have just got over an attack of measles. Nearly everybody has them in this town. One of our neighbour women gave birth to twin boys about two weeks ago. The woman had the measles at the time and the babies were born broken out with the disease. We have a new parson here now. Mr Mogg got too sick to take care of the work. He goes to the hospital every once in a while for a blood transfusion. I went to visit the wife of a professor in the high school today, Mrs Lough. I have met her a couple of times and like her so well. She is expecting her first baby pretty soon. I have just been buying some fast colour print for a dress for myself. I bought Mary a new dress and bloomers and some goods for another outfit. The dress is of cream coloured broadcloth with orange collar, cuffs and kick pleats and is embroidered with two blue flowers. I got Ed two pairs of overalls and two shirts. He thinks he is a man when he wears them because they are like his daddy's. He is getting quite smart, he can count up to a hundred now. Both the children are in bed. Mary went right after supper as usual, she sure is a sleep head. She is a little bit proud of herself and is very independent, won't let me dress her, undress her or anything else unless it is absolutely necessary. Well I have three hens setting now. The first hatches off on Tuesday. Oh mother! Thanks ever so much for the four books you sent. It's awfully sweet of you to send them all the time. Whenever I can manage it I will send you that waist. I've also got a book of Colorado scenery I want to mail to you. Well mother dear, I do hope you will soon get well and strong again, and I hope all the others are all well again. Give my love to them and accept lots yourself Love to all from "us 4" I remain Your loving daughter XXXXX Dolly XXXXX My grandfather William Lee SMITH (b 5 Sept 1873 West Rasen, Lincs) died 18 December 1924 in Grimsby Hospital, the family were living at the Engine House in Holton le Clay. He was found unconscious at the side of the road, having come off one of the early motor bikes. He died in hospital the following day without regaining consciousness. This is why Dolly is concerned about her mothers health and what work Ted,(Frederick Lee Smith)her brother has. Ted has had to take responsibility for the family, even though he is only 18 years of age at the time. He and his sisters Annie Myra Smith, Marjorie Agnes Smith and Edith Josephine Smith are all still living at home, my mother Marjorie and Edith were still at school. Pat