5th July 1927, Wellington, Colorado.U.S.A. My dearest Mother, I do have an awful time trying to get a letter written so am going to write a little at a time until I accomplish something. I was surprised and very pleased to receive your last letter with the handkie enclosed. Thanks ever so much for it mother, it's sure pretty. Gee! I seem to be busier than ever this year. I don't see why tho, and I am always tired. The dreadful things you read about mother, did not happen around here. I'm thankful to say. We have had our share of bad luck tho. I think this ranch is hoodooed or something for we seem to catch everything that's going in the "weather line". What did you have to go to the clinic so much for and how are the girls now-a-days? Thank you for the snaps, your house looks nice and seems to be a big one, the church I bet is nice too. We do not have churches like that in this country. Talk about chickens mother, I have not had very good luck again this year. I have quit setting hens as it is getting so very hot now. I set a pile of hens this year but had such poor hatches, several hens left their nests and the rats got quite a few of my little chickens. I have about one hundred and thirty (130) little chickens, and I believe they will be mostly roosters. Nida does not go to school any more, you see she graduated from the senior high school. Whenever I get a few extra cents all of my own I'll send you that waist. I have had it packed for quite a while (Please be careful) It's navy blue with gold embroidery. Well mother, that is one letter answered now for number two. I think I sent you a slip, cutting rather about our cradle roll party. I was included in the hostesses and had to make a batch of cookies. One woman took quite a fancy to them so I gave her what were left. Ed and Mary went as Jack and Jill. Ed said the first verse and then began to cry, Mary cried too. I bet you had a nice time at Clee, I wish I could have been there. Ben Sharpe is making hay while the sun shines, isn't he. Three kiddies already. We have had rather a wearying time of it. You know I told you about ma's sickness, well she got very bad rather suddenly and had to be taken to the hospital and operated on right away. She was operated on two weeks ago last Thursday, was in hospital twelve days, and then stayed at her brother Frank's home until Sunday when she came back here. She does'nt look at all well, is not feeling very good and is dreadfully weak. She had an ovarian cyst, it weighed anything from four to seven pounds. It was just hanging by a string or tube which kept twisting round. The doctors said that if it had turned about twice more it would have come off and mother would have bled to death. Poor Ma, I feel so sorry for her, she dreaded it so, she got along just lovely tho. She celebrated her 63rd birthday on Sunday. Well mother dear it is five p.m. so I have to quit for a while anyhow July 20 - You see mother I have been quite a while have'nt I? I'm sorry. I have got my dishes washed, beds made and chores done besides some mending for the children and it is only 7.15 a.m. now. Our mail man comes about nine and so I want to get this letter ready early. On Monday I washed and folded the clothes, cleaned house, baked a batch of cookies, went to town and had two visitors. My neighbour was over in the morning and Rose came down for the afternoon. I have a new neighbour again. They have one two year old boy and the woman, Mrs Young, suffers greatly from asthma. She is only 24, the man is nineteen years older. Yesterday I was dreadfully busy too. I baked bread, made butter, ironed, made a freezer of ice-cream and went to town. Being such warm weather now-a-days I have an awful time with my butter. It generally takes me all day to work it, so yesterday I got some ice. I have quite a lump of it so I made ice-cream, it was my first attempt but the cream was fine. On the 4th July we went to the mountains, took half-a-gallon of strawberry ice-cream and had both dinner and supper up there. We came down to Fort Collins and stayed to see the fireworks display. Last Wednesday was Aide Day so Rose and Mary and I went. We had gingerbread with apple-sauce and whipped cream for lunch. The next day I went to Collins and bought enough groceries to last me two or three weeks. Last week we had two big hail storms around here, for miles a great deal of damage was done. The dry land grain was all ripe and it was beat down. It hurt our beets quite a bit took, 'twill set them back again so I don't think we will make much this year. Walt's mother is getting stronger every day and feeling much better in herself. Mary was sick on Monday her stomach was upset I think Ed has caught a cold. He has to start school next month. I had to cut a piece off the side drape on my dress so am sending you a sample of the material. I will mail your waist (blouse) one day this week. It has short sleeves but if you care to, you can get a little georgette and lengthen them. They're fashionable that way. Well mother dear, I really must close now. Tell Marg I have'nt forgotten her. I hope you are all well. Give my love to all I remain Your loving daughter XXXXX Dolly XXXXX p.s. Next week is Frontier days at Cheyenne, I think we'll go one day. Thanks a lot for the Home Coms. This letter contained quite a long newspaper cutting. I will type it all, as it contains quite a few names. (I have already had an email from a lady in USA who is following these letters, she lives 30 miles from Wellington, what a coincidence) 'Social News of Wellington and Surrounding Country' CRADLE ROLL'S "MOTHER GOOSE" Party. The Cradle Roll's "Mother Goose" party on Tuesday was one that will long be remembered by those who attended. The meeting opened by singing the Cradle Roll Ode after which Rev. Huddleston read the scripture verses contributed by the mothers concluding with a very appropriate talk and then he offered prayer. Mrs Shinn called the roll to which twenty-two responded. The Superintendent then gave a report of money collected and spent during 1926 and it was voted to continue these social meetings. With the closing of the business meeting Mrs Shinn read the story of the life of Mother Goose, proving that she was not a mythical character but a real woman. To Mother Goose jingles played on a victrola all children dressed in costume and led by Katherine Pyatt as Mother Goose and Gladys Wich as Little Bo Peep, marched to the rostrum where each in turn stepped out and presented the rhyme they represented. Katherine Pyatt called each ryhme as they appeared and quoted those of the smaller children. There was "Little Miss Muffet", Little Boy Blue", "Mary Quite Contrary", "The Little Girl With the Curl", "Old King Cole", "The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe", " King of Hearts", "Little Bo Peep", "Jack and Jill" "Humpty Dumpty", and "Little Jack Horner", Merle Hankins, Mariana Miller and Patsy Ve Verka sang little songs after which Miss Roberta Dalby very delightfully told the children stories. Refreshments consisting of cookies, and lemonade were served by Mrs Leonard Tebbs and her committee. An added attraction was a canary bird that took his turn in singing. The decorations consisted of posters representing Mother Goose characters and flags as this was flag day. For favors the superintendent presented each child with a small flag.