Transcription:
Martinez Calif. July 11, 1896 My Dear Papa, I got your nice letter yesterday aftenoon I was so glad to get it and to hear
that you are a thousand miles nearer home for O/ you seemed a long way off before. This morning there was a thunder shower
over our valley and we saw a great many flashes of lightning that I thought were very beautiful and I liked to hear the thunder
roll. My poor little black kitten 'Panther' was so scared that he took a fit, and I was so sorry for him. We have not found
any little dog yet. We, that is Wanda, Enid Bird, and I, went over to Uncle David's house and then we climbed the east hill
so we had a delightful walk and we heard a coyote and saw a 09243