Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - February 19, 1928

Old Mission, Mich. Feb. 19th 1928 My Dear Miss. Taft:

I can't go to church today as we are having a dreadful snow storm & quite cold. So will try & write you a letter.

It rained the first part of last week & then turned very cold & is ending up in a blizzard. I hope we have cold weather up until middle of March or later. And not like the past two years. I don't know how you can have any fruit in Illinois with such sudden changes of weather. Joseph says that last year was the greatest failure Mich. ever had that he can remember of. It did seem pretty hard not to have much after such nice crops most year's. I think we are safe so far this season.

The little cow is over at Homer Willobee's & has been since Friday night. I hope she doesn't dissapoint us this time. I am glad you feel as you do about it. We were very much dissapointed with her. But will keep on trying.

Roger lost your letter & another on his way to postman that is how they were late. We didn't find them until evening. So they were a day late. Joseph let Mr. Lardie have 15 bu. of corn but couldn't let any more go as your own stock requires quite a little and Homer has 100 bu now & will deposit the money when he pays us. Jos. will get it Monday when he goes' for the cow. The Lardie's couldn't see why Jos. couldn't cut Homer short & give it to them. I can't endure Mrs. Lardie & there is no use in talking. I can't stand any one that is two faced as she is. The neighbors have told us a lot she says. I wish you could have heard what she told Joseph last Fall it made us feel pretty bad.But thought it over & have always felt you were above her & didn't take it to heart. She hasn't many real neighbors for the reason she gossips so much. And pokes fun of a fellow right to their face. Some people can make fun of us if they want to. But that little place is ours & some day we may run her a pretty little race. As soon as we live there Jos. may put up some kind of building so I can sell many things besides cherries & not have a begging box either. Oh I will keep still for I can see blue & red right now.

I was so glad to get your nice letter as it gives me something to think about

Am so glad Mrs. Cleary is better again. But poor Edward I can't imagine him working. What is Helen doing?

How about Miss Carter? I took a likeing to her I guess because she treated the children so kindly. Joseph always speaks of her as the lady with a bird like voice.

Mr Wilbur has decided to stay after another raise in salary. They have a beautiful place to live & a much better chance to save than at most places.

Henry Kitchen hired out to Mr Bostwick last Fall by the year and only intends to stay during the winter & then live in the log cabin & work for Wunsch during the Summer. I don't think that is a very fair way to treat Bostwick after paying him a good salary expecting him to stay by him. Ernest has a good job & not a thing to do all Fall & winter but isn't satisfied either. They plan on another new car this Spring. We would like one too but our home comes first.

I don't think I will do any more crochet work this winter as I have to many other things waiting for me now. And I got very tired working so much.

Hazel is better again I took her to Dr. Thirlby Wed. & had two teeth pulled they were the six year mollars some way he took out one of her permanet teeth beside it. That has made her feel very miserable. I feel very badly about it as is is 3 teeth she will never have back. The roots were larger than on any teeth I have ever had extracted

I don't remember if I told you that we set out 210 cherry trees last Fall. Jos. bought from Eingle Fritz Nursery surely are fine trees. Your's always did so well that he wanted to try them for himself. Your orchards are very beauitful & hope we can keep them that way as long as we are here.

Joseph is buying a new lever drag & will use it in your orchards as well as ours. The spring tooth can't do good work any more. And we can share up with you no need of buying as long as you intend to sell.

Jos. had 15 sacks more corn ground for Spring use for cows & horses & bought 2 gal. gas. for engine to cut fodder. With love, Essie K.

$1.90 to your credit $1.50 grist 1.90 expenses 40 gas. ______ ______

 00 am broke               $1.90
             flat

P.S. We enjoyed the book immensely. Roger & all. Children are watching for funnies