Transcription:
Dear Brother John I read your wee short letter this morning you seem to be very much engaged in your studies it aint as it
used to be you forget to write and when you do tis only mere scraps Perhaps you will say I don't do any better. but the truth
is I am no better perhaps worse than when you saw me, and it is very hard for me take car of the precious concern as you call
her But she is strong and healthy and for this I may be thankful she laughs and begins to relish fun. So John has great times,
while with the baby, the pup and the kitten. Sarah was over here yesterday she looks and feels real well Anna is getting to
be a big girl she is learning to sew and does real well for her age George is a broad, sturdy, pretty plowman looking fellow
Father is storing his wheat up at the depot just now. they are drawing every day, sometimes they have taken more than a 100
bush, down with the two teams at once. Nell don't like it much and sometimes stands and looks over her shoulder till she pleases
herself to go on. I was down at portage for a few days but was a good deal the worse for it I saw Dr Prentice when there he
gave me some pills and a bottle of stuff to take when very sick I dont know whether the pills does me any good or not but
I thought the bottle hurt me every time I took it so I do not take it at all. there is a doctor from Cambridge proffeasing
to have great skill, coming to Mrs Cripps and he is to come to see me the next time he comes up If he cant do me any good
I dont think I shall try any more This is Sunday John and John has taken Elen Whitehead home (she works for me just now) and
father is by his own fire in the bedroom he is driving one of the teams so I thought I would write