Volume 11 , Issue 24

Insight Into Grandma

We are including two letters this week that John C. McClure of Altona, Illinois, wrote to Miss Constance Warwick, who was living in Alva, M "Woods" county, Oklahoma Territory, October 4 & October 24, 1904.

The first letter was postmarked, Altona, Ill., Oct. 4, 1904, 4 p.m. and received in Alva, O. T., Oct. 6, 1904, 5:33 a.m. It begins: "Altona, Ill., Sun. Eve., Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla., Dear Friend Connie:

"It has been over a month since I have heard from you, and cannot imagine what the reason can be. If you don't care to correspond longer, of course it is my loss and your gain.

"I would like awfully well to know what you heard about me. Won't you please let me know what is wrong. If you wish to quit writing, can I keep your picture or send it to you, but I hope we will not have to quit. Write soon. Ever your True Friend, R.F.D. No. 13, J. C. McClure."

The second letter was also postmarked Alton, Ill., Oct. 25, 1904, 4 p.m. and received in Alva, Okla., Oct. 27, 1904,5:30 a.m. "It begins Altona, Ill, Oct. 24, 1904, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, O.T., Dear Connie:

"I received your most welcome letter a few days ago. I didn't know whether you should ever write me a letter again or not. I'm glad you did not send that fierce letter, for it would have killed me off.

"We put up a wind mill today, so I had to work hard. It is the same as we have in Okla. I would like to see that place now. I'll bet it looks tough. It looked fairly decent, except the house. You may go over and take a look. Tell Bert you came over to see him for an excuse. Lie.

"Oh yes, I must tell you what those people wrote back about Bert Knox. When our cousin (Mr. Bolte) rented the place out there last Spring some of the neighbors told him that Several neighbors had lost wheat and said they guessed Knox could tell where it was if he wanted to. Did you hear anything like that. Don't say who told you.

"I went to a wedding last Thurday eve. I was a waiter, so I sure had plenty to eat. He was a classmate of mine in the country school. Next thursday eve another one of my classmates marries. He is the last one of a large class leaving me alone. It seems queer to see all the boys and girls married, who were in my class. Of course, several of them are older than me. Although, there two boys were but little older. Everybody is guying me about getting married, and I make them believe the day is near at hand. Everybody wants to know who the Pretty black-eyed girl is.

"Yesterday morning we had a big white frost. The first of the season. We are going to commence husking corn tomorrow. We have eighty acres to husk. Southern people do not know what corn husking means.

"It means to rise from your peaceful slumbers about 4:00 o'clock (two hours before day light) get the chores done which are more plentiful here than in Okla.; get to the corn field a little while before day light.

"Corn is the main crop here, and farmers have only about a month and a half to gather the crop to get it completed before snow comes. You may tell me how people did in Virginia Perhaps you may know more about someday.

"I expect I will go away to work the winter but I don't know where it will be yet. Say! I haven't had that Big fire yet. I will close. Sincerely yours. Answer soon. Bye Bye S. H. (Sweet Heart), J. C. McClure. P. S. You may depend on telling me about Other known fellow."
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