Letter to Edith in Cedar Falls, Iowa from her mother, Ella Sanders Raff. Muscatine July 4, 1909 Dear Edith, Thanks for all the mail you have sent I am always glad to hear from you and look forward to mail time as you used to and I expect do yet. There has been a little hitch in it the past week, the post card I sent you asking about the Chautauqua ticket I put in the mail box at Prossers corner wanting it to reach you soon as possible so as to get an answer. Laura Bilkey has them to sell and I told her I would let her know the first of this week. The next morning it came back to me in the mail, as there was nothing the matter with it I mailed it again and hope it reached you. In the same mail I received a notice that a letter was in the Cedar Falls post office with a one cent stamp directed to me if I would forward the other stamp they would send it, so I have it now, that postcard cost four cents to get it here but I am glad to have it. This evening we were to have commenced services at Weed Park and Carrie and I were going out early and take a lunch with us, so that I could take her around and show her the park but it has commenced raining so the plans will have to be changed. If it should be pleasant tomorrow we will go then instead. Nothing special in the way of celebrating is to be done that I know of, excepting excursions up and down the river. I hope you will be able to have your picnic and that you will have a good time. The weather of the past week has been more like Fourth of July weather than today. It was almost unbearable. The day of the Congregational excursion was hot but there was a delightful breeze on the boat. There were only about two hundred and fifty people, just wait until we have ours, we always have the crowd. It was pleasanter though for those who went, it gave them more room. There was plenty of music, Pandets band and the boat orchestra. I did not expect to get to see Frank (Edit! h's cousin, Frances Raff Ebi in Davenport) but we were given such a long time there, from half past twelve to half past five that I did go up there too. I wrote Julia (Ella's sister) not to come up to the boat that we would come down there but she did and so we missed each other and we had to wait at the Home until she returned. We did not see Nellie Hawley, did you know she is going to leave there the first of Sept? going to train for a nurse. I will enclose a couple of clippings from last nights paper which might interest you. Mrs. Durkee and Ray have decided on moving to Des Moines. Ray is going this week but she is not just yet. Cora Lilly has been here to make arrangements for moving here, so you see things are changing while you are away. Cora is going to take the part of Mrs. Makins house which was occupied by Dr. Barr. Mrs. Prosser has rented a part of the double house being built on the corner this way from where Jamesons lived. Mrs. Fred Giesler was buried on Friday. Ed Shoemaker is laid up with a broken arm, fell off a step ladder while picking cherries. This is about all the news I can think of so we'll close for this time. Lovingly, Mother ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES