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Old Mission, Mich. May 10th 1924

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Just a few lines to let you know how everything is on the farm.

Your cherry trees look very good + think you will have a good crop if the weather straightens out.

Joseph has just began to work the orchard up now because early discing hurry things along faster + it has been so cold here that the ground has frozen most every night until these rains have begun. Had our first thunder shower Tues. night.

Joseph went to T.C. Mon. to get hay + came home in a cold rain all most frozen.

The flu is real thick out here. Gertrude Kitchen + her little boy are in the General hospital. Gertrude has pneumonia and is not expected to live. Richard is better. They all have the flu now. Freeman has temp. of 104 now + is very sick. He was up and took worse again. Our Ladies Aid got a nurse for him + the three that are at home. I hope Gertrude gets well she had been sick for 8 days before pneu. developed.

All of the Haywoods had it too and Mr. Breeden got a nurse for them + paid it himself. Also did everything he could to make them comfortable. I never knew he could be so kind to any one. Those folks are better now. Mrs. Lyon and children had it but Geo. has escaped so far.

I began to get sick + Dr. [Ky?d???] broke it up on me. He sure is the best Dr. I know for that sickness. I hope we don’t get it in our family again. Dr. K. says he will do most any thing to keep me from getting it. I felt very sick and stayed in bed for about 4 days. But feel very much better now. I wanted to write before but dared not to.

I have tried to watch Hazel + Roger + not let them play with the pump or do damage to any-thing. I am so sorry it cost you so much money + always dread to send large bills for you to pay. But ours is the same way always something extra. I guess it is the way this life goes.

Mr. Helfich has not showed up + help is so high I don’t know what to do.

Those Haywood’s haven’t any thing to do with + Ikey gets $60 a month so I don’t feel like carrying our food to them + Geo $70 Mr. Breeden oughto at the lunch hustle a little + then they would appreciate him a little. Children that are fed on cold potatoes + sleep in wet beds every night no wonder they are all most dead.

Your seeding over at Stutsman looks good.

By getting manure spreader the cherry orchard has plenty + apple orchard will have some too.

Joe hopes that the pasture starts up so that ton of hay will do. You have feed those animals since last Aug. So the corn fodder is all gone + has been for some time.

If the weather only warms up now every thing will be fine

I have had extra expense this month again. And my money is all most gone. And Henry Lardie is so expensive we do our shopping in town. Would it be asking too much Miss. Taft to get half of our check the 15th + the balance the 1st of the month. I do not wish to draw any money from the bank. And the cows dry I do not have any extra money. We would have had plenty to do us only this extra bill came along. I wish farmers could pay the same as in a factory twice a month + then a fellow could save more. This getting credit + spending money for nothing I do not like at all.

I pray we all stay well now + no more doctor bills to pay. I hope this wave of flu is gone before you return.

Have deposited your money + enclosed the receipt for same.

There is a heavy fog out that is all most like rain.

Hope you are well

with love Essie

Dinner              [$] .30                      $2.73  on hand
Brent                     .25                      $2.50
Axel grease           .35                    [$]  .23  left to your credit
Carrot seed           .60
                         $1.50
Manure spreader 1.00
                         $2.50

P.S If you don’t object I am going to buy some linseed oil out of my own money + oil this kitchen floor. It is hard to keep clean + white so am going to oil it if you don’t mind my putting it on.

Your spray material is all here.