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Old Mission , Mich. Jan. 29th 1925

Dear Miss. Taft:- Thanks for sending Joseph's check so early we are always glad to receive it. That is one thing [?] nice you are always very prompt. I always try to ans. your letters on time but it seems hard for me to get at it some times.

The children were very well pleased to get those newspapers to look at. They both enjoy them so much. I don't care for the litter as I have had to get over that a long time ago. A person always has a mussed up house with little folks around.

We have been having a dreadful time with Hazel the past 2 weeks. She got infection in her right hand at school & we have had to take her to the Dr. twice & it is far from being well yet. I have did nothing much but take care of her & do some of my housework.

I have been having nose bleed & headaches until I hardly know what to do with myself some days

Would be delighted to get some of your storm pictures but don't give yourself short. And thanks for thinking of me Am sure you are very kind & thoughtful of others.

If your expenses creep up unexpected like ours doe's I feel sorry for you. it keep us scratching & skimping 3/ all the time. We have so many Dr. bills all the while. If it is not one thing it is another.

Joseph's health is improving but he drinks no tea, coffee or chews any tobacco. His heart still bothers him some & he thot. if he did not use any of those drugs it might help some. Altho' the doctor did not say anything against them. A drink of coffee was as much harm to him as a glass of whiskey would be to any one. He wants to be well to start Spring work.

Jos. went up to see Mr. Ayers yesterday & tried to get him to do your carpenter work or raise the barn but he said he was getting too old to undertake such hard work. He can't put in a full days work any more So doe's not care to do any work out side of his own. Jos. went & saw him two different times. Today he went to Mr. Hunters & spent half of the day talking to him. He said he would do the work if you cared to have him. Raise the barn & attend to every thing. He is the only one out here besides Mr. Ayers that has jacks & tools for raising a building with. But he charges .75 [c] per hour for his labor .60 [c] per hr. for helpers. Jos. has been asking different people about carpenters & has not found out any-thing more. Mr. Hunter said that barn could not be raised in one day. If you care to have him do the work or any part of it he said he could come & look it over as soon as he can drive his car again. And estimate the cost. If I were you I would write a letter to him yourself & see what he has to say. Do you suppose Mr. Stytes could find any one else? We have did the best we could do about it.

If you order your fertilizer from the Ford garrage Joseph can get it down here on the sleighs. But the milling Co. gets their's in so late that the snow is usually gone before we can get it home.

Joseph has tried 2 or 3 different parties about digging the barn basement but no one will give him an answer as it is the time every one has so much work of their own to do. Fay Dohm said he might be able to help some but has out side work besides his own farm to care for & Harry [Tank] is in the same boat. If it was not for the hay there is a slack time right after the cherries are off that you could find plenty of help & more reason-able than in early Spring. But we are willing to do our best.

I surely would enjoy to see some of your work. Those old stockings you gave me came in handy the best ones I have used & now [any]? trying to crochet the remainder of them into a rug they work up very pretty. But have had to finish out with rags & that has all most spoiled it. But hope it will help to keep our feet warm any way.

I was very sorry to hear of your fathers death. But we all have the same to go through with some time. If we can all live to do our duty as he did we can be very thankful. I hope your mother stays well so you can see her again. I know it must be hard for you as you can't get away from school. You are right about saying a person must lay a little aside for a rainy day. We try to but find it very difficult to save & raise a family too.

I have this letter all mixed up as I have written it as I have had a few minutes at a time. But think I have mentioned every thing of importance. It was 14 below zero here last Tues. A.M. and some places it went to 20 below.

I nearly forgot to tell you Jos. got a new pruning saw as the old one was almost beyond useing any more. He should have asked you first but got it while he had the chance. He said if you were here you would have got it yourself. It cost $2.00

Hope you are well. $7.55 - 2.00 ----------- $5.55 on hand

With love Essie

will call that hone no. up when I go to town