T2020.102.254

Knoxville, Ia Route 2

Dear brother and family:

Guess I will write you a few lines this morning. How are you and what are you doing? We are pretty well, at present, and, [ Elmer, Emer ?], is working hard every day and, I, well, I don't count much you see, of course, I find plenty to keep me busy, if I do have to do lots for other people. I get very lonely these days with nothing to look forward to, you know. We have moved into such a lonely place too, this spring and I had been boarding the school teacher too. Wish I had one of your babies to keep me company. Well, are you still on a ranch? It seems

so queer to me to here, [sic], you say ranch for just a small farm. We always had an idea that a ranch must contain several thousand acres of land. Wish I could be out there awhile. We are talking of going out to Colorado where Arthur is this fall. Do you hear from any of the rest of the boys and girls? Once in a while, I do. They were all geting, [sic], along all right last I heard. Cy and some of his children had been sick, but they were all better. Arthur said he had not been feeling well lately. I guess he works too hard. I am pretty well, for me, only so lonely and heartbroken. I guess we all miss Mother's letters and her love and prayers. But, dear brother, I feel that she is still pleading for us, and we must be ready to meet her as well as our Lord and Master. Are you ready dear brother? Do you folks go to church? I hope so. We live about three miles from church now, but we go most every Sunday. I have a class of baby folks in Sunday School, and think so much of them. Have taught the same class now for three years. It is quite chilly here this morning. Had to start a little fire in the sitting room to have it warm enough for me to write. I am going over to Nets this week, if it don't rain. We live about 12 miles apart. Do you have any chickens? We have about 35 or 40, I guess. Get from 15 to 24 eggs a day. Got one hen set. Set her the day we had been

moved four weeks. Thought that was pretty good after moving them, don't you? Do you know if the home place has been sold or not? Arthur did not say. & yes, I must thank you for those pretty postcards you sent me. Well, I suppose you are tired of reading this scratching so, will close by asking you to write as soon as you can. As ever your loving sister, Emma.

April 15, 1912 May God bless and keep you and yours. Remember your "little" sister thinks of you every day and every day she is praying for you too. With much love to all.