20 ave west

                                               Oct 23/1900

Dear Sister Annie A

    I received your letter and intended to answer it long ago  It hardly seems possible that October is here again  I never felt such a short summer in my life

Our time is taken up with the duties of life that we often forget to write to our very own that we love so much more than strangers  I had had so much company this summer and all strangers that I scarcley get any time for myself   But the cold weather is coming and some of those Ladies that has nothing much to do will stay at home HaHaHa and then I will have more time to write

I miss Christy Bell so much this summer   I trust she is having a fine time Oh how she will miss the Dear Mother in the old home   I am glad John R got such a nice woman and poor Jessie can get to school  June will never miss the year she lost in school because she has done a noble work and shall not forget her   Well Sister we have the small pox and Typhoid fever are very bad in Duluth this fall  I hope kind Providence wil protect us from them   The Small Pox was with in one block of us all summer and tis getting worse with the cold weather   Every one that takes the Small Pox is taken to the --- house? that is the worst? about them   Well Florence got along fine at the Academy and I have no doubt but what Edna will in J--- a successful this winter  Did Christy leave for Sandstone yet   Hope she will have a safe journey home   Annie A I hope the day will come that you can come out west and visit us yourself and Katie Roy is well so is Howard   Howard got his curls taken and he looks so funny boy? is a boy every time

Angus Gunn wife in Sandstone had word that her sister Mary was not expected to live and she Mrs Gunn went to Canada so Millie is chief cook again   Well sister this is all I can think of this afternoon   I will try and do better in writing this winter   Kind love to John A and all the children and lots for yourself    Maggie