Description Jessie McKenzie Gunn

Earlton May 4^th

My Dear Sister Maggie

I received your letter last mail and was glad to hear that you were well and got a place so soon  Well we had quite a hospital since you left  we were all sick but Maggie Bell and I hope she had her turn in Dalhousie  They were all very sick  they were a few days scarcely able to lift their heads  Fortunately Emma was not quiet so bad as the rest  Millie and Dora were very sick  they were three nights we had to sit up with them  if you would meet Millie in Boston you would scarcely know her  she got so pale and thin  they are getting better  I never had such a cold  if I may call it a cold it was more like a fever I am getting [over] it very slowly  I don’t feel one half as strange as I did when you went away  I just do my work with a kick and a shove  Angus was two days pretty bad  he was so sleepy that old salt  Poultice or anything else would not keep him awake  it is the first time we were sick that we did not see anybody from Dalhousie  I have not seen any of them since you went away  Angus was over the day after you went away but he did not see anybody but Father and John R so I cannot give you any news from that quarter

Well I hope you will not be sorry for the last day you stayed with me if you had not stayed that day my dress would not be finished yet  so it is a queer gale that don’t blow in some favour  I finished it next day and like it very well

I finished my quilt and cut the most of my mat Rags  that is the Bulk of what I done since  I intend putting a mat in the frames tomorrow if all will be well  Kate was here this morning  she has finished two large mats  I cannot tell you what they are like as I have not been over since you left  Kate sends her respects to you  she still intends to go to Boston in the fall

Grandma Gunn was quite lonely that you did not call in the morning you went away to bid her good bye  she said she would have come over the night before if she knew you bade the rest good bye  she sends her kind love to you

I had a letter from Annie this morning  she seems to be enjoying herself  first class she says  Mother is quite well  has not been a day sick since she went there  that she can go up and down stairs as fast as she can.  So much for city life  I am longing to see C B and C.H. but the roads are almost impassable snowbanks in all directions  the weather is very cold  we did not get any sap this spring  I am glad Mother is on her visit  this cold weather as they say they have warm weather and the streets are quite dry  Angus is busy working with the wood cutter for the last few days  He wants you to excuse him for not writing  this week that he will write you pretty soon  He got our wood cut on Monday  it is working  very well  Now I think I have written you a pretty long letter of nonsense  I am glad you had such a quick  passage  I hope you enjoyed your cakes  you have no idea how surprised we were to find a package of cakes in the paper bag some time afterwards

Now I want you to write me as soon as you can and give me lots of news  Tell me what you are doing  what kind of people you live with  what kind of preaching you get  if your minister is as good as Mr Carruthers and lots of things I am not to inquisition  They have taken Mrs Gillis away to the asylum  she was carried out of the house poor creature

If you have not heard any other way you will be glad to hear that Mother is so well  Rest assured her prayers are following you although you are far away  What a privilege that we can pray for one another when we cannot see one other and that God has said call me in the day of trouble and I will answer and many such precious promises are found in the Bible may we all improve them to our souls salvation

I must stop for fear you will think my letter a task to read  The children all sent their love to Aunt Maggie  Angus joins with me in sending you our love  write soon

Your loving Sister Jessie

Excuse this scribbling  My pen is bad My ink is pale My love for you will never fail