Letters from Rachael Austin to Horace J. Austin

not go very far or did not stay as long as you thought you would.

I am sorry that you were so worried about me. I am not sure that you could cure me if you were here, but I think there is one thing certain it would help if I do not get too bad before you get here. I might have had a chance of the same kind of help if I had made known the other day. It was a great temptation.

I got my trunks at night the next day after getting here and the extra charges were $4.55. I got the telegram. I paid ten dollars for a ticket of twenty five baths. there are twentyfive numbers on it and when you take a bath they punch the ticket.

After I had been here two weeks or more, the papers commenced to come.

I thought I told you that the place was three times as large as last year and they are building all the time. The hotels do not accommodate all who come.

I think that young [Disbro?] was at our house visiting the boys.

Our house is on the way, but it seems Evans did not tell him of a fireplace and chimney. I do not know what any one

Aug 22nd

Mrs Woodford came down today, she and Lucretia are playing checkers and Johny is looking for [illegible] has gone to bed and I wish I was there shall be snow, wish you were with me. the evenings seem long

The baby is much better they are encouraged.

Melissa has been to Parmers today - she could not get any girl and she needed her more than I did. They will leave a girl tomorrow.

How I do miss you [illegible] at home. [illegible] friend [illegible] [illegible]

Vermillion Aug 21 Evening.

My Own Dear Boy

Wish you could have been to dinner with us. had tomatoes, lima beans, potatoes, bread and butter and tea. I got your letter this morning. it came from Yankton. You bet we were glad to hear - am glad you are getting along so nicely. hope you will be home sooner than you expected. I think it is a great note for you to carry off my pinking iron. I did not know you needed such a thing on your trip, I shall [illegible] [illegible]

all pink your shirt tails during your leisure evenings.

The day after you left there was a letter came for you. I forgot to put it into the other letter and will take the envelope from it and send it now.

Mrs. Burgman and I are staying at Palmer's again tonight will sit up till two and then Sile and Hattie will get up. They are worn out, have had to carry the baby all the time, but tonight he seems stupid and lays with its eyes rolled back so that some of the time you can see nothing but the whites. Dr Owens is attending - he has but little hopes of his recoverey. it may seem strange to you that Dr Lewis is not the man, but when the baby was first taken Hattie would not stay alone while Sile went on the hill, so he went for the nearest one, his disease is called cholera infantism a disease peculiar in infants. it is similar to disentery in older [illegible] may be afraid too and will do too much. but I will try and take care of myself. last thursday Mr. Mannings youngest boy (three years old) fell into the tank where they steam the blocks of wood for shingles and was quite severely scalded, but they think he will get well.

Freddie Miner starts for Mt Hermon school next [illegible]. The skeleton [illegible] became flour [illegible]

Monday morning

Little kitty is dead, we nursed her and after while we "smelt a rat" and yesterday mother found her under the cellar door. I wrote some to your Aunt May yesterday. Mr. & Mrs. [Miner?] started to Sioux City with Freddy today. There has been two dogs shot lately and there ought to be some more; the other snowing when we got to the meat market I [illegible, stained] after six in front of the [illegible, stained] and nine in front [of the?] post office. The Methodist Conference meets in Sioux City next month and Gertie wants Josie and I to come down to Woodbury and stay while it is being held. I would not wonder

if we went; I think I would like to, it would be very pleasant and not very expenseive I guess, if we go with the horse and buggy. Tanny drives nice, I like her better every day, she seems quite gentle, but there came pretty near being a catastrophe yesterday - I thought we must start home from Shaws at five o'clock; the men were out after long so Joe and I got the horse and put him to the buggy, hitched him and started to get my bonnet, then Amos and Manlin came up with a load of hay, Amos wanted to know if we were fixing to break our necks, and came to see, when he made the discovery that the horse did not have the bits in his mouth. Mother is going to write a little