T2020.102.445

Cleveland, Ohio Feb. 18, 1914

Dear Sister, Bro, & all:

We are all well as, [illegible], & hope you all are to, too]. Mother L. is much better & getting around again fine. Yes, we are very, [very], much pleased with your pictures & think a great deal of them & often look at them. Sarah has got, [[struck text]:it]], it in a nice, [Cashian?], walnut frame & hanging in the parlor so we can see it better. We think you have 3 beautiful children. But where is poor little Jack's picture?

Today, we received the Valentines & thanks for them. We forgot about the 14th or your children would of got some from ours.

I haven't heard from the, [Pika Trial?], since I last wrote you, but last fall, Uncle L.G.H. was in Berlin

& went around to all of Aunt Mary's old neighbors & friends & seen them about it & they all think it terrible the way Pike is asking so, I guess, they have taken care of all that is necessary & I don't think we need to worry. &, if they will let me know on what day it is to come off, I will go down & till, (tell), what I know which is about the same as you would know.

This is the first letter in which you have, [[inserted above]: had]], anything to say about Jack since that time that K & some lady came & wanted one of your little girls to raise. Now, you say he is still with K. How was I suposed, [supposed], to know that K had him at all? What makes you so mean & sly about it? Are you afraid to tell me anything or do you feel you can't trust me or is it because you are ashamed of yourself for letting K take him (which I think

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you had a right to be. You also speak about K.'s friend writing to you. Don't K write to you at all nor don't you hear from him or know where Jack & K is? I don't know how to express in words my feelings about it. You on a farm & where a boy ought to be raised & a great help to you as he grows up, but Katie raises him when she can't take care of herself & half crazy? What kind of a boy & man will he make under such a teacher? What was you thinking about? But one thing, you are his legal guardian & will be held repsonsible for him until he is of age. Poor little fellow, no father nor mother & with a crazy woman. Terrible.

Inclosed [Enclosed] is a clipping I took out of

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our daily paper. Was you damaged any in that big flood?

We have been haveing, [having], [Zero?], weather here for sometime, but it has been a nice winter so far & today it is thawing some. I will be glad when March is over & warm weather comes again.

Well, I don't know of any news to write about so will say good by with last wishes from all to all & to hear from you soon.

As ever your bro.,

Archie

How long has K had Jack?