Another letter to Edith in Cedar Falls. Ella refers to her son Fred (Alfred Raff) and others, including Carl, who was Edith's very good friend. Muscatine July 12th, 1908 Dear Edith, I have just been taking a nap and my eyes are hardly open yet so over look all mistakes, I want to write to Fred this afternoon too so must not wait any longer. This evening we are to have an inovation in the church service and Mr. Kempton asked us all to stand by him and attend. The B.Y.P.U. and church are both combined and are to meet at Weed Park, the heat of this awful hot day would be almost unbearable in our church by night, so this plan was thought of and if a success will perhaps be used again on hot Sundays. Your letters were received but not in time, and the house was rented. The only drawback to me was being farther for you to walk to school, if I could have been satisfied on that point I would have taken it in a moment and am so sorry I did not. I thought Mr. Jackson would hold it for me until I heard from you. I feel as though I had missed the chance of my life, just the size, location and rent I have been looking for so long. It would have been awful to tear ! up and move such weather as this but we would have been so nicely fixed for next winter. I have just received since too, notice that my pension has been granted. $12.00 a month beginning the first of last May. If I had known for a certainty a day or two sooner that would have helped me decide. I saw Carl down town last evening. He had a bad cold and he was not out today. Sarah was not either, Miss Hathaway is here I think and perhaps it was too hot for them to come out. I expect Frank started for Denver last night if she did not back out on account of the heat, I think she would want to, it was awful. It is not much better today, I wore my new white dress to church and was glad I had it finished to wear. Anna Scott said it was very pretty and that I looked like a young girl of sixteen, a doubtful compliment, I am afraid the dress must be too youthful for me, but it is pretty. I had the material before you went away dident I? Flowered Swiss. I have my silk made too so am getting about sewed up. How are your clothes holding out? The Mylons came home one evening and started away again the next day, this time to Cedar Rapids. They will be home tonight or tomorrow. They did not bring Floyd back with them, he was left at his grand mother's in Ottumwa. All the little girls were present in your class today but Alida Obrien, one of the girls said her mother was sick and as she has not been for several weeks and lives quite near us I will try to call there this week. The boys have been transferred to a boys class. Mrs. Jamesons mother is here at last, she became nervous waiting for her, thought something had happened. She had gone to St. Louis to take the train for here and found her pass was made out wrong so had to go home again and wait for another. I have made a new acquaintance, Mrs. Mitchel, the Y.M.C.A. assistant sec.'s wife. She is so sweet, they are boarding at Klein's on Chestnut street. The Y.M.C.A. is to have an excursion on the river Tuesday evening. Elizabeth Jameson is selling Chautauqua tickets. I am going to get one of her, do you want one? I wonder if Fred will be here at that time, we would not get to go very much, I don't suppose he would go. Lovingly, Mama ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES