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Traverse City, Mich Dec. 26th 1933

My dear Miss Taft: Received your letter last week and was so sure you were coming that I didn't mail your Christmas cards so must say that I'm very sorry about it. I hurried with my work and did a good house cleaning with hopes that you would drive in. I'm still wondering if you started out and got stuck in the snow some where along the way. As it started snowing last Friday and has continued every since so have piles of it every where. But that doesn't stop me wanting to have you here for your vaction. You could see a real winter and believe you couldn't help but love it just the same.

Yesterday the Christopher's had their whole family with them for Christmas dinner and supper and of course Joseph Kitchen and family were invited and they seem to take it for granted that we should be there too. Had a wonderful time altho' we missed Mrs. Christopher as we all loved her dearly and I guess every one else did that knew her. I think she had more friends than most of us ever have. We girls went ahead with all the preparations and had lots of fun doing things. But today we all feel tired and our tummies feel like the day after.

Now as for the Lady that is so nice at school. Never let her worry you one bit of course she may have a big pull there but don't see how any one could take much of a liking to her. I might say that I more than disliked her because she was so important all the time she made me feel as tho' I was some-thing that should be walked over or trodden on even Joe and I are poor and may fall short in lots of things I'm just as good as she is and maybe try to be kind at least. So just keep a stiff upper lip and you will come over on top. You know this must be a Happy New Year for all of us. At least I hope so after all that has happened during these last two years.

Thanks so many times for the offer on Nellie. You know Joseph thought that perhaps you were still planning on keeping the old team as we heard no more. So he had a deal on for a pair of mules for $300 of course mules are higher priced than horses but its hard to get a quiet team for these hills Joe hired Jesses mules this Summer and liked them so well that he decided to get some of his own after he couldn't get nellie at the time. He got these from out near Mesick. Last year we had such a hard time to hire our team work done altho' it didn't cost as much as to keep a team you couldn't get things done when you needed is wont. Mules eat just half what horses do and never eat or drink when warm. Some people hate them because they look odd and queer beside of horses but if they do the work well that is all we ask of any thing.

I haven't heard any thing more about the Lardies just recently and Willobies and some of the rest close by never peep so you see unless the office girl tells things I can't find out much. We got 0 / 1/2 4 [?] for our cherries so far and thats all so don't know what will happen next very likely we get no more and if so am afraid he will kate the 50$ out. Joseph attended a meeting at the town hall last week suppose you read all the details in the paper but the growers have asked bid from the government to help save them from the failure they forsee if the canners doesn't have mercy on us and try to stabalize a price so as to market them for a fair price. Every thing else is up but cherries and what will we do if we can't get more than a cent of two a pound if costs too much to raise and harvest them for that .02/ [?] would be fair but not much less than that. The canners make their profit and let us go hang. If I have any thing good I'll surely let you know at once. And I'll be glad any time to give you what ever information I get if there is ever any more. Things are so quiet.

Joseph works one shift on the road but we need it there is no other income from the farm and we have to live the same as other people. Altho' some folks think Joe Kitchen ought be rich because his little home was paid for. It isn't their fault if it is. We did with out and still do. We never had a care or any pleasure for a good many years. While other had new cars and trips up north and every where. We have both tried so hard to get a home of our own because in another ten years Joseph won't be able to work so hard. I guess you know how Joesph tried to keep things up and was always willing to do anything he could the way you wished it done. I feel those 14 years on your farm was well spent as he gained a lot of knowledge that is worth more than gold to him now. Even tho' it was from a woman. Don't you know most men resent a woman trying to teach them things but he admits you were a good farmer.

When I see you again perhaps we can have time for a good visit. As lest I hope so.

Roger wishes me to thank you for the greeting and we thank you too for ours.

I wish you a very Happy New Year.

Lots of love Essie [?]. P.S. Santa was very good to us. Hope he was to you Miss Taft I'm always only too glad to help out any time I can so don't hesitate will you? You have always held a big place in my heart and still do. Am sorry you couldn't come. But perhaps it is just as well because the pavements were all ice last week.