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 116
January 14, 1933
Saturday
Dear Daddy,
I hope you see and like what John and I are sending you. Yesterday Henry brought over the lamb we had some for dinner today. John and I have farms out of colored paper. John will tell you about his in his letter to you. I have cows and horses and sheep, a round roofed barn and a silo with a round roof a cow shed a sheep shed a chicken coop and a cute little house. Below you will see a picture of it.
We have arranged the bed room so different you wouldn't know it if you came into it. Here is a picture of it. Mother sawed the end of the cupboard off so the bed I used to sleep in goes clear to the back wall. It gives us a lot more room and we can have the clothes basket and vanity stool in back of it and a shelf besides.
Do you like what we are sending you in this letter? The blotter and calender are from me and the picture of the bear from John. well I guess this is all the news from me so I hope this reaches you O.K. Love from Ruth.
P.S. Important. please send me a pair of pink beads like you got for John's Christmas present. Mother said she liked them so I am going to give her a pair like them for a birthday present.
Love from Ruth.
Nevis, Minn 117
January 16, 1933
Monday
Dear Daddy,
My ax sure has been busy splitting kindling. I'm not lame from riding Fly. I got over it the day you left me. I made a little farm out of colored paper. It has sorrel horses and guernsey cows and shropshire sheep and a round roofed barn and a chicken coop.and I have a house with shutters and a brown door and a truck and a team and a wagon and a granary.and a hedge. We just got the lamb and we ate some for dinner. Well I have to stop because Mother has to scrub the floors. goodby with lots of love from John
Nevis, Minn 118
January 17, 1933
Tuesday
Dear James
We were glad to get your letter. It snowed all day and all night and today we are snowbound for fair. John is out making paths and Ruth was out before him so I have lots of help. I don't know whether the mailman will be able to get thru today. There is lots of snow but it is light and dry. Everything looks beautiful. How would it be if you sent Gores a little money now, say 5 or 10 dollars and agreed to pay the rest at $10 a month? You must do something about it soon and I believe they will be reasonable.
I must close now. I hope Esther gets along well. Keep us posted. We haven't heard any more wolves but it is an eerie sound, makes the chills run up and down your spine.
Love from us all, Martha
Nevis, Minn 119
January 18, 1933
Wednesday
The mailman got thru yesterday and brought your package. What you sent will last until the middle of Feb. The children say thanks for the paper and calendars. The garters, rickrack and buttons are just right, It was snowing again this morning but has stopped. There are 9 inches of snow on the level. There is lots of good wood in the pile yet, the small sticks are heavy and give off a good heat. We are all feeling fine. I'm going to work at the sheep skin today. I'll melt snow for soft water. The children are playing store and send love. Martha
Nevis, Minn 120
January 18, 1933
Wednesday
Dear Daddy,
Thanks for the purse and paper. I got a letter from Tose and one from Carol. We have a lot of fun playing store. The other night John and I were talking about our uncles and I told John about Uncle Martin and the last time we were there and he called me Unca Pigmush and I called him Unca Mickey. we made a round box and made some candy to put in it to give to Mother on Friday. We are sending you a nice surprise, I hope you like it. today for dinner we had mutton stew. The calender we got from Bishop's is mine now and the one you sent John is his and the one from Freeman's is Mother's. Well I guess I'd better stop now and help Mother do the dishes, so tell me if you like the surprise.
Love from Ruth L.
