Martha transcribed all the letters with their unique spelling, punctuation, and grammar — or lack thereof — so they are immortalized here as originally written.
Nevis, Minn 1
June 20, 1932
Monday
Dear Daddy,
Did you get home all right? John is having the time of his life up here. This morning Darold Shaw came over and we played on the shelter quite a while and then we went to play in the barn and we found a house. I do not know now if it was a bird house or not but John and Darold got stiks and smashed it all up. John found a bent square nail in one of the logs in the barn. Mother didn't want us to play there so we went to the chicken coop it was too dusty so we went into the house and had dinner. Darold stayed for dinner with us and then after dinner we played on the shelter then Derold's mother wanted him and John went over with him to his house, then I went to play with my doll, her eyes wouldent open so I called Mother and she fixed it. Yesterday John had accidentily noct her down. a needle had been prest against her eyes and they wouldent open up. after supper the old cat caught a squirrel and was eating it. then John and me played cop and robber around the house. When I got tired of playing cop and robber I said I would write a letter to you and so am. well this all I can think of now. I hope you like this letter John and Mother are going to write in a few minutes so this all for today so good night to you.
From Ruth to Daddy Linsley
P.S. Here are some kisses for you
xxxxxxx
here are some more difront kinds
++++++++
Nevis, Minn 2
June 20, 1932
Monday
Dear Daddy,
This morning we went to find the moose tracks but we couldn't seem to find them, but we found some fresh deer tracks instead. I sawed some wood for Mother. I painted one window sill. I found a new path in the woods. I went over to Darold's house and had lots of fun playing tag in the hay manger and I saw their little blak calf to. We went over and got some rhubarb and I fixed it and we put raisons in it. we fixed the holes in the ceiling. i'm sorry that this is the end well goodby but i have to go to bed and heres a few kisses****++++.
Map that Ruth & John drew of how they found the deer tracks
John
Nevis, Minn 3
June 20, 1932
Monday
Dear Jim,
I hope you got home all right. We have been thinking of you all day. We were pretty lonesome but tried to keep busy so as not to mind it too much. We have just got home with the milk and a big bag of beans, and I left an order for another pail, butter, lard, bacon and a can of corn. I fixed those openings into the old house and I must have done a good job as we found only one miller in there tonight. Of course there was some sweeping to do. I painted the window frames and the East kitchen window and all the sills inside to keep from getting slivers in our hands. I am sewing the drapes into one curtain to hang at the foot of the bed. We can leave the rings on and stretch a wire across the room if we had the wire. What did you do with that old wire clothes line you found in the yard? That would be the thing to use.
I wish you could send me some white thread No.60 and the needle case. We all went to bed while it was still daylight last night and I got up and dressed at 6:15 A.M. I was awake a long time before that though. I wish you could be up here James. Fix that sewer right away, that gas is poisonous. We are all feeling fine.
Lots of love,
Martha
Nevis, Minn 4
June 21, 1932
Tuesday
Dear Daddy,
Larkspur
How are you I am fine. we found some wild tigerlilys. we picked a bouqet of pretty flowers. I found a wild larkspur too. We found some cat tails but they werent ripe yet. Down by the corn feild we found a pretty Norway pine. I sawed some wood for Mother and then Ruth and I went to the hunter shelter and played a game called "Captain" well goodby and heres some kisses
John Linsley
Nevis, Minn 5
June 21, 1932
Tuesday
Dear Daddy,
I bet it was hot in the city today. I got sunburned on my neck. This morning John and I got some rhubarb and fixed it. Mother is going to make a pudding out of it. After that when I saw that the kitty was asleep I put on a doll dress. I was surprized at the way he acted. Then we went for grocreys but the men had not come home from town yet so I went home and built a fire with Mother we had dinner and after dinner we called on Mrs. Shaw and got some eggs. well I guess this is all for today so goodnight from Ruth.
