Sunday, February 10, 2008

Letters from home - post 5

This is the fourth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in San Diego, California after 1887. An explanation of the family situation is here.

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Letter from Davie Smith in McCook Neb to his mother Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego Cal. No envelope. Letter on letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor, Livery, Feed and Sale Stable.

McCook Neb, Oct 24 1888

Dear Mother and all,

It has been some time since I have written to you and hope I will try to make up for lost time.

I send you a package today for a birthday present did not know what else to get you or if their is enough or not 7 yds double width and over yard to hem it with. Think it will make you a nice rapper.

I have been waiting. Was about to sell my stock and wanted to surprise but guess I will not sell out now as times are so hard but he may come yet this month. Don't know he lives in Illinois.

Well I got the $300.00 all OK Oct 13th and send Austin draft for one month's intrest of $4.50. Matie has a birthday present to send you but it is not quite ready but will send it shortly. We are all well and hope this will find you all the same. Mrs. Pinder wanted to hear from you so I gave her your address.

Love to all By By Davie


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Davie Smith (Della's brother) talks more business, and sends his 1.5% for the month to Austin for the loan of the $300 obtained from selling the timber claims. Apparently, the potential buyer of his livery stable lives in Illinois.

How I wish I had the other "half" of this correspondence! Oh well.

1 comment:

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

The business of the day didn't interest me nearly as much as the gift. I have no idea what a double width would have meant in 1888 but 7 yds seemed like a lot. A quick google and I learned that the bustle was in style.