Background: Letter written by Ella Sanders Raff to daughter who is attending Cedar FallsTeachers College. Muscatine Aug. 23, 1907 Dear Edith, On arriving home last evening from our excursion to Davenport I found three postcards from you and a letter from Fred to you awaiting me, of course I was much pleased at receiving the cards, to know that you think of me if you are so busy all the time. The letter I was strongly tempted to open, being a long while to wait until you get home, but I dident, it is bulky as though having a bracelet or some such thing in it. I sent your skirt off this morning and hope you will get it in time, could have sent it yesterday if I had been home when the card came. Your welcome letter reached me this morning, I wondered what could have happened to your skirt-that you wanted another one. It was explained in that. I am very glad to hear you are enjoying yourself so much, it must be delightful there. I will enclose the money you wished sent. $5.00 in this letter. We had a beautiful day and a pleasant time on our excursion, there was not as large a crowd as usual bout five hundred, the J. S. can easily carry twice that number. The Baptists were conspicuous by their absence, comparitively few were aboard. I met Mr. Hutchinson just after the boat started looking for a Baptist man, Mr. Jameson was about the only other one and he had to help take care of the baby. Mr. Hine intended going to help Mr. H. but Mrs. Hine is very sick and he couldent. Mr. H. said we would clear expenses which is gratifying to know. The boat reached Dav. About one oclock and did not start back until six so it gave us a good long time there. The Jameson's, Sarah Hawley and I made a little party together. Carl dident go after all, he had to work part of the day and then he was going over home to spend his vacation of a week. We ate our dinner and supper on the boat, we had our own provisions with us, only buying coffee. The rest of the party went to Black Hawk, I ! went to Frank's. She was expecting me as I had written her, and was down stairs on the couch, she seemed brighter and more like herself but I could see very little improvement otherwise in her condition. She has changed house keepers, somewhat for the better but this one is not either what she ought to have. Helen is home. She and the children came over to Franks and then down to the boat with me. She liked it very much in Denver, so does Earl, they were there most of the time they were away and he has gone there again. Julia came down to the boat to see me a short time before it started back. She has been sick and looks badly. Cherry's baby, Dorothy lived only until Tuesday, it seemed too bad it could not have been saved, it was one of the prettiest little babies I ever saw, had thick curly brown hair. Mrs. C. is improving and they think will get well. I enclose a clipping this time which may interest you and Anna if you have not already heard of it. I must close this so as to mail it tonight. Lovingly, Mama Additional writing on the first page in the top margin: "Let me know when I can look for you home. Gertrude McNutt is in Davenport attending a house party of little girls at Lafferty's. ~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES