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Old Mission, Mich Oct. 31st 1924

My Dear Miss Taft: - You don't know how grateful I feel to you for sending that check one day early. We had the opportunity to go to Traverse City this afternoon & it was a lovely warm day. And I had all afternoon to do my errands. If it had not of come until tomorrow I could have stayed at home or gone on Lardie's truck. And that makes me feel miserable for about a week. And then I have so little time.

First I went to Mr. Perketts office & as luck would have it he was there. I found that he had sent you a check for 14 bu. Dutchess & 16 Wealthies so I got a check for 27 Wealthies & 27 bu. Winter apples. He explained to me about the misunderstanding. He said when the first 16 bu. of Wealthy apples came in the inspector was there & he culled out every thing with the faintest scab or not bright rosy red. And then all the other apples that came in were classed as No. As so you got 5 bu of No. Bs out of the 16 bu. Which you were paid $1.00 per hundred. But there was no docking on any of the other ones at all. There was 11 baskets left over & we kept them was it all right? Joseph said we could use them another year. I certainly hope things will be satisfactory. I told Mr. Perkett I wished he would write to you himself & explain about the apples so as there would not be any doubt about things.

The Morgan cider apple check came to $20.65 and I did not feel like having so much money around so deposited it in the bank to your credit. Enclosed you will find the receipt. The cider apples that Joseph hauled down to Old Mission came to $7.95 & with the $5.45 all ready on hand I did not see how we would need it all. And I did not want to take the money home & wait for any answer to your letter. Which would be another week. The paint cost .85 so only got 1 quart. And was sorry afterwards that I asked for it.

 .85 paint		$10.00
$3.00 h wages		  4.55
 .70 twine		$ 5.45
$4.55 expenses		  7.95	
                      $13.40

There is $13.40 on hand here now. Will I keep it all? Please try & mention in your next letter.

Mr. Zoulek would like his money soon as he could get it. You have all the weigh bills & there was only 27 bu. winter apples that you did not know about. Mr. Kroupa received your check & thanked us for it. He said you were very honest & I am always very glad to hear that. And tell others the same thing myself.

The lugs hae been hauled away during the past two weeks. Forrest fires are dreadful around here they have been in the Walker woods & this afternnon Mr. Ashmore's woods were on fire. They called for Joseph to come & help fight it but he was in town with me. If it does not rain I don't know what will happen. It certainly must rain & this wind go down or we may all burn up. I should not write this. Perhaps you will not believe it but the wind blew sand so hard & thick that I had to take all of my bedclothes out & shake the sand off from them about noon. I never saw such a wind. Fire fighters were out for two nights now at Walker's to keep fire under control. I hope it does not get at the Stutsman place for it would burn even to the buildings. If ever it rains again Joseph must put up eve spounts over there so as to have a supply of water on hand in case it is needed.

Alfalfa is standing still it is so dry it can't grow. Well I went to the .10 store & got this stationary & it is very poor. Some day I hope to be able to afford some better. But this does answer the purpose.

I must get ready for bed as I am very tired tonight. Just pray for it to rain I am. You don't know how much we need it. Roger & Hazel intend to write you a letter some day soon.

I hope Mrs. Stutsman was not offended at me. I have never heard from her. But perhaps she is busy the same as I am. Will write again before long.

Lovingly yours, Essie.