Transcription:
Collyer, Kan., June 1st, 1890. My, dear Brother John: Well, by the heading you know where we now are. We have been here
about (or rather over) two weeks, and a busy time we have had trying to convert an ill-kept bachelor's hall into something
like a home. Harry did not trouble himself much about how things looked, and I am glad May and I are able or have a chance
to make our men folks more comfortable, though we have Mr. pile, the Englishman I spoke of who wants to go into keeping a
few sheep with John. He has written home to his father for some money for that purpose. How things will come out I do not
know. We did not succeed in selling our house, but it is rented for twelve dollars and a half a month (as we had to reserve
one room to put some of our things in) to one whom we owe. For about three weeks it has been dry, with dreadful hot winds
--- over 100 in the shade, and people are getting troubled about the crops. Oats are very much injured now. Think of cooking
and eating in the same room in such a heat and wind, and not one tree to shade or break the wind. As May says, it takes all
the starch out of one. Yes, bodily and every way, but here I am complaining again. When we started May and I went around
by Lincoln and stayed over night, John and Johmie going on same day to Beatrice, and we met them there next morning and went
on to Kansas. Dan and family are well --- four nice girls and D. H., Jr. is a beautiful boy with large dark eyes and they
are all so proud of him and cannot do enough for him, every one. Dan looks thin, but Emma is chubby as ever, and Dan has a
splendid practice. How are you getting along with your writing? I hope you work moderately and don't get too nervous. I hope
Louie and wanda and Helen are quite well --- also Doctor and Mrs. Strentzel. Remember me to them. And now, dear John, with
much love to you and yours, I am as always. Your sister, Maggie Margaret Muir Reid