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CEHBates001
MAGDEBURG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. [centered] GUTTE & FRANK, Managers, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]
LESLEY BATES, Special Agent.
Pullman Wash 10th Aug '99
My dear little son "Boogoo"
I want to wish you a very happy birthday and many happy returns of the day. You are now five years old and getting to be a great big boy, and I hope you will try to be a good boy too.
I sent you today two very pretty picture books which I hope you will like, and I send you a dollar which you can put in your bank, or get dear Mother to spend for you. Your birthday will be on Sunday so I have to put extra stamps so that you will get the dollar and the books on that day. You must get Mother to read them to you and soon you will be able to read for yourself.
Give each of your brothers 5 Kisses, and Mother five on each cheek because you are 5 years old.
God bless you my dear little boy, and may you grow up to be a strong honest man; never tell a lie or steal and you wil make Mother and me happy.
I hope little boy that you will have a nice cake and that the candles will all burn brightly.
Be a good boy Boogoo and love dear Mother and all your brothers. Goodbye
always your loving Father Lesley Bates.
CEHBates003
MAGDEBURG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. [centered] GUTTE & FRANK, Managers, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]
LESLEY BATES, Special Agent.
Spokane Wash Aug 10th 1900.
My dear little boy "Boogoo,"
Today is Mother's birthday that I am writing, but the letter will reach you on your own birthday. I wish you a very happy day, and many happy returns of it. I send you a dollar bill, and I hope that Mother will be able to give you a little present that you will want. You must be an awfully good boy now, for you are six years old and getting to be a fine boy, and I suppose will soon be going to school. Try not to stammer but talk slowly and in a quiet voice, and try not to be angry with anyone. I send you six Kisses, and I want you to ask Mama to give them to you, and then I want you to give Mama six from me, because you are six now.
Dear little son, I hope the day will be fine so that you will be as happy as happy can be.
Good bye dear "boy blue", and with lots of Kisses to Tiny and you, and your three bigger brothers.
always your loving father H. L A Bates
CEHBates005
MAGDEBURG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. [centered] GUTTE & FRANK, Managers, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]
LESLEY BATES, Special Agent.
Los Angeles Cal 19th March 1901
My dear little boy Edward,
I was very glad last night to get your nice letter which I found in the newspaper which Mother sent telling me about your having a little boy cousin over in England. It was very good of you to think of me and to write me that long letter, but you always ought to sign your name to your letters, as I might make a mistake and think it was from Jocelyn. I am very glad to Know you are all well, but I hope you wont play with the fire in the ovens in the back yard because I am afraid you will set yourselves on fire too. Give my love to your brothers and give Mother and Jocelyn each a Kiss for me.
I will try to get you and Jocelyn each one of those watches you asked for, but I am far too busy now as I am working hard.
Be a good little boy, and dont cry, and always do what your Mother tells you to. I send you a Kiss
always your loving Father H L A Bates
*Kiss
CEHBates006
MAGDEBURG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. [centered] GUTTE & FRANK, Managers, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]
LESLEY BATES, Special Agent.
Los Angeles Cal 23 March 1901
My dear little boy Edward:
I got your nice long letter, and you wrote it very nicely. I wanted to answer it before but I did not have the time. Today I am going to Santa Monica, and will see the Ocean with the big waves rolling on the sand. The water is warm and lots of people go in bathing, but I dont go. I think our house is the nicest in the world, because Mother and you and Jocelyn and Richard and Lesley and Norman are there, and I think that part of Alameda with the bay and the trees is most beautiful. I am sure you boys all like our home. Tell Mother I am too rushed for time to write and the mail goes in a few minutes. I am well but very tired as there were a lot of rough boys making a noise in the street up to three o'clock and they Kept me awake. Mr. Fores goes to Santa Barbara tomorrow, and expects to get to Alameda next Thursday so you will see him. Tell Mother I did not hear from her yesterday, and did not write either. Goodbye Edward. Be a good boy.
always your affect Father
CEHBates008
Imprinted: INCORPORATED 1836 [centered] DUTCHESS INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. [centered] C. J. STOVEL, MANAGER, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]
H. LESLEY A. BATES, SPECIAL AGENT.
Sunday 11 am Helena Mont Novr. 2/02 [Nov. with "r" superscript]
My dear little boy Edward,
I have received two very nice letters from you and some nice drawings of your Mother and me which you made. It was very good of you to wish me happy returns of the day and I send you a lot of Kisses for it. I hope you and your brothers are all trying hard to take lots of care of your darling Mother and to please her in every way. Be gentle with her for she has loved you and taken care of you ever since you were born, and is working hard at home to take care of you all. I was at Bozeman yesterday morning. I was staying there with Uncle Fred Culloden and when I woke up, the ground was all white with snow, and the sidewalks were all covered with ice. It has all gone now and there is no snow in Helena where I am now.
Today I am invited to dinner at Geo Hay's house, he is going to Billings to vote. You know Tuesday is election day here, as well as in California.
I must say good bye now as I have a lot of letters to write. Kiss Mother and all you brothers for me and ask Mother to Kiss you for me.
your loving father H L A Bates
[Written vertically in left margin] Thank you very much for the rubber band.