Emma's Letters

Maple Lane Farm Sunday evening 26th Nov '22 My Dear Son, You certainly have put us all in your debt now! Doris got those dandy pictures (and, I guess, two letters) and I've had two fine letters since I wrote two weeks ago, and last night about 8 o'clock some one 'phoned us via Runnells that a deer was at Solina station for us. It was soon hanging in our woodshed. Tomorrow we'll divide "tastes" of him around the neighborhood and your stock will go up about 25%. Your ears will probably burn considerably this next week. Any way it's a fine buck and we are very thankful for it. You should see the "chesty" way your Dad marches every body that comes around to see it!  Now listen, we would have shipped you more apples before this but for two reasons, one being scarcity of sound bbls. I am sorry that it's been left till it's so much [illegible word] but when they reach you have the top on and throw some blanket or something over t...

Maple Lane Farm Hampton 12th Nov 1922 My Dear Joe, Doris got your letter yesterday and we are sorry our letters of two weeks ago were so slow getting to you (Likely you got 'em since you wrote) but we are pleased your apples made the journey safely anyway. Last week I got a nice kind invitation from Aunt Ida to go down there for Thanksgiving. If we could have known the weather would stay so mild we might perhaps have gone, But there's always such a plenty of work to do this time of year and of course I'm farther behind than ever now because I've not only lost time, I've got so I cannot hurry.  There was a Ladies Aid meeting last week and I didn't go because I didn't want to - and Doris told them over the phone that I wasn't well enough - so they sent me nice plant along with other ??? like "Mrs Robins, etc. The family think the joke is on me. I went to church this morning just to prove I was able and because it will be the last chance ...

Maple Lane Hampton 26th October 1922 My Dear Son, When your letter came Doris allowed she'd answer this time - tonight she confessed that she hadn't done it "yet" - so here I am starting a letter almost bed-time Thursday. that might just as well have been on it's way Monday morning.  Mrs. Stainton's class are having a sort of Halloween social tomorrow night and Doris is being [illegible] shirts of a [illegible] (you know the kind of thing and making out (illeg)) etc. for it. They are to go "masked" and in costume - just fancy! think of me with at least three of 'em to fix up! this conveniently is getting too strenuous for me any way -- The ladies Aid are giving a chicken pie supper next Wednesday. I'll bake for it what I'm asked to do - but I've no intention of going near it. Which will give some of 'em a "jolt".  Dr. Sleemon advised me to cut out "doin's" as far as possible for some time. I w...

Hampton R.R. 1 6th March '21 My Dear Son Perhaps you have written and we have not got the letter, but do you know! the last word we had from you was dated 6th Feb'y. Both Doris and I have written to you since and perhaps your letters went astray. I have been trying to think maybe you were homeward bound and would bounce in some night instead of a letter but you haven't done that either so far so I'll try to reach you once more. At S School today Nora told Doris that she has had a letter from you, so I guess I'll have to give up my one theory - that you are laid up. Do you know I wonder what has made Granpa Chant decide to come down here so early this year? He has written to say he will (if it suits us) come this month. I thought maybe Aunt Ella has to come to Toronto for treatment for her teeth or something and didn't want to leave him, but he doesn't give a hint of anything of the kind. It's all right anyway if the weather isn't any cold...

Maple Lane Farm Hampton 29th Dec 1920 My Dear Son, By this time you must just about think you are forsaken. We just got your letter (of 22nd) from Camp 5 to-day. I hope in the meantime you've had our letters - Doris's & mine - if you haven't the bit parcel from North Bay. Well! Christmas is all over again. It was pretty tame here seemed to me. Beulah & Charles came in time for the Christmas tree on Wednesday and stayed over Sunday. Went up to Vivian's Christmas for dinner & tea. So there were three less here than last year.  Florence Cameron was here for tea Sunday. Today Trace Glaspel and Hazel were married (Wes G. and wife are fixing up the little house!!)    School meeting today election - I mean - J. Cameron is the new trustee in Herb Pascoe's place and Papa is Secty Treas. I s'pose Doris told you Miss Cruse again reconsidered her resignation - Frank Pascoe is home again. Miriam has had a great Christmas - 2 dolls - a little broom, ...

Maple Lane Farm Hampton R.R. 1 20th Dec 1920 My Dear Boy, Last week your letter didn't get here till Friday - and then you never mentioned Christmas so we are divided in our opinions about your plans. But I'll send this anyway; and if I don't get some word to the contrary I'll pack a parcel for you in with the other things for North Bay - as I suppose if you don't get home you will be out that far over Sunday.  It is getting kind o' excited and "Xmasy" around here now, but with mild weather and no sleighing it is very hard for me to realise that Christmas comes before the week is out.  Uncle Anson actually got here for overnight Thursday last - drove in to Oshawa with Papa and me and a load of milk on Friday to catch a GTR train at 10:20 AM (My first trip to town since you went away!) Very quiet in town and store keepers inclined to be "grouchy" because of "no Christmas trade" I couldn't notice much of a drop in pric...

Wednesday 27th Oct 1920 My Dear Son, I hope you won't think I am indifferent or slow to answer your call - your letter just got here Monday afternoon and I was laid up yesterday and anyway it wasn't any use to write til I could say something.  Papa is off to Oshawa this morning and when he gets home I'll know just what can be done in your behalf. If we had the ready money we'd send you some but all we can scrape up - milk cheques, etc. has to go to pay apple-pickers this week - over $100. I guess by the time they're done and of course we get no returns from our apples till mid-winter or whenever the Association disposes of them. However we can't see you stuck. I hope you've been able to "Hang tough" till this reaches you. 3 PM Papa just got home no other way presenting itself for relieving the situation - he wrote to Uncle Stan asking him to give you what help you need and you can arrange to repay him when payday arrives - Knowing I was...

Maple Lane Farm 8th Dec 1919 My Dear Son, It's getting deep into the time of year when I'm always farther behind with my "works" than at any other times, but I'm going to write this letter before I go to bed, so there! I'll have to mend Chris's overalls and hear Stanley spelling and see to bread afterwards. Well! Papa's trip "up north" was pretty successful in everything but seeing you and we knew you couldn't have made it on such short notice - I didn't know for sure when he'd be going when I wrote and Douglas didn't get my letter till after Papa got there!  The venison has been quite a treat, so many of our neighbors never tasted it before. Last Wednesday night Mrs Percy Langmaid "entertained" the L. Aid and their husbands.  Papa and I went up to Toronto on Friday and came home Sat, stayed at Uncle Arthur's. It was raining "cats & dogs" when we came home from the station (by the way Jo...

Maple Lane Thursday forenoon 12 June 1919 My Dear Son, It seems foolishness to send your letters to Echo Bay when we know you are working in Sudbury - but you might be   long time getting his if I sent it to Sudbury, so.. "Grandpa C" got here Sat evening - and as he had seen you Sunday that was quite like hearing directly from you, but your letter coming Monday was none the less welcome. I wish we had you and your paint and varnish brushes here for a while - How did you hear that Irene was sick? I wrote to Douglas as soon as we got the news about Bell, and asked them to write soon again - but we haven't heard. They're building an extension to the mill and more houses and a new R.C. Church etc. in Espanola this summer. I can't get them to say anything about coming down this summer - but last year they didn't let me know until they had set the day & hour. Last Wednesday was the S. School picnic - We all went - locked the house for the first t...