Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 19, 1931

Old Mission, Mich. May 19th 1931

Dear Miss. Taft:

The weather has been beautiful so far. Had our first thunder storm last night has rained for 24 hours straight nice + easy. We were in need of it again. The swamp hasn't enough water for our little frogs to sing as they usually do. The oats and seeding are coming very nice Your new meadow has some light spots in it but the older one is looking good. prospects for hay looks well so far.

The sweets cherry petals are falling while sours are in full bloom but had several nice days before the rain so they oughts set well. How I wish you could see your orchard it looks like a large field of snow from a distance its so full of bloom. Apples are just coming out now.

I too feel as you do about help its hard to find a man you can trust while away. All I can say is that I'm sorry Joseph has to leave you if there was some way he could manage he would have stuck by another year or two. Its a big responsibility caring for other peoples interests and Jos. has more than tried altho' some times its pretty hard for both of us. For instance this well we don't know what to do. Mr. Allen says he feels like giving it up he is in some kind of soil that fills the pipe faster than he can pump it out. before it was hard pan + rock. He is over 75 feet and been working two weeks this last stretch. He charges $1.00 an hour for most well work, I don't know what to do. He thinks by putting a 3 inch pipe + a thin 2 in inside it would be quicker work but the expense is so much mor. Jos. said no to keep on trying. Either one or the other of the men has helped him every day up until the past 3 days now the farm work must be caught up again. As the corn must be planted soon and your garden in also cherry orchards need the most tender care of all if we expect them to do for us. You have to plan on your income the same as we do. The [spray] water tank is here and Jos. is trying to fill it rain water as that will nearly do the next Spraying. What will we do let him go on regardless of expense or stop until you come? We are getting most awful tired of the way that well is going if Joe understood it he would do it him self.

I'm trying to write to you but instead my eyes wander out of the front yard that is green like velvet. It seems so good after the bare trees.

There isn't enough wire to fence the pasture as you wished so will need more. Your grain seed came today.

I called central about the telegram + it was charged from T.C. to O.M. haven't received this bill so far.

Asa Curtiss the man who has wored for Dave Murray for a no of years was crushed beneath a large stone he was trying to sink. Died this A.M. Mr. Murray thought so much of him it seems a pity while so many worthless bums live on.

Well I must go to bed as I'm nearly tired out tonight.

Hope to see you in a few weeks.

With love Essie K