T2020.102.240

My dear Miss Hartzell:

You dear child:

I don't think your dreadful at all, but love you dearly and believe you write me wherever you can. And I know you are as busy as can possibly be.

Hope your dear, good cousin is perfectly well again and that you are having a rest.

We just returned home from a six week visit in Minneapolis and at both my own and Mr. and Mrs. Hickox's, [?], old homes in Iowa.

Your dear, good letter was forwarded to my old home from here.

Mr. Hickox, [?], has fully recovered from his bad sprain and is very busy. I see very little of him. Wish you were near enough to steal away to me for a good

seat every once in awhile. I am alone so much of the time. What lovely times we could have. That poor little invalid widow I told you of has gone to her Father's somewhere south of here. Her health is very much broken, in consequence of the sudden loss of her husband.

I sincerely hope we may be able to spend a miuten, [minute?], together again in the sunny South. What a very lovely time we did have. I think of it so often. And today, I received a lovely letter from the dear Richardsons. They are spending the winter at Lakewood, about two hours ride from New York. They are stopping at Sunset Lodge, a cottage boarding place. They are, [they say?], very happily located and will remain there until about the fifteenth of April. They always ask after you and are anxious to know all about you and wish to be remembered to you.

Mrs. Richardson always speaks of Mr. Knight. I would like to know about the dear fellow. [Now, how ?], was he on further acquaintance any way? I wonder if he is still abroad? I thought of him the other day when I read of the artists' theatrecals in Paris and I wondered if he was there and interested in them and ever thought of the time

we three went wandering through the pine woods of Florida. I'm really disatisfied, [sic], with living here. Would be very glad if it were possible for us to move to Duluth. The horrid monotony of this wretched little village is something dreadful. The majority of the people here are of the foreign element of the peasant class of Swedes and Norwegians, mostly. And there is as miserable little handful of we Americans and we are getting into such deep ruts that they are getting so we can hardly see over the sides. I'm going to do something

I don't know what it will be but, it will be something to vary the monotony. Some of the young ladies were after me the other day to go out on "skies." Do you know what they are? I'll explain for fear you do not. They are, from all the way, from four to six and seven feet long, about six inches wide, and taper slightly at each point, and turn up like a sled runner. There is a strap about the middle of them into which you thrust your foot and then take your stand at the top of a hill. l, with a long pole in your hands, and you sort of slide down the

hill, standing up with the pole to guide yourself with, and using the pole, you can project yourself with great rapidity over the straight flat snow. Tis very dangerous business, but extremely exciting. I didn't go out that day, but will, if I'm able soon. Can't say I'm feeling in the bloom of health, but am somewhat better I think than when I last wrote you. We fully expected to go East awhile this winter, but Mr. Hickox could not get away for any longer time than six weeks so, we spent it at home. We had a very lovely Xmas. All of the family were at home. But I hated so to leave them all and come way up here to this frigid zone of a place. We are having a severe blizzard tonight, tis snowing and blowing and the lake is roaring dreadfully. This have, [sic], been a very mild winter. Even the little bays along the shore have none of them been frozen. Bu,t if this weather keeps up, it won't be long before there is plenty of ice. Intend sending you a fur pillow as soon as I can gather some more, for that which I gathered is poor, and I want to send you a nice one. You must surely visit us this summer. Mr. Hickox is at home for a, [wonder ?], this evening. Just came in, very tired. And we've been planning to