Appendix J

Most of the excerpts from letters include only a sentence or short paragraph.
This is a letter dated July 31, 1905 in its entirety.
This is a typical letter written by Leoline to James from Brighton.
Silver Lake
July 31, 1905

Dear Jim,

I am afraid my postal of yesterday did not reach you, and you have been wondering why we do not write. Saturday was probably cooler in Salt Lake than the proceeding part of the week. It seemed quite cool until we reached the mouth of the canon. The little boy we started out with took us all the way. He is a nephew of Neilson of the hotel. At Millcreek we met his father coming to town with crates of peaches. He put one in the wagon for the hotel and also gave us one to eat on the way and I bought one to carry along. When we got to Holiday, a large bundle of bread and a case of raspberries were put in (also 20 lbs butter somewhere) so we had no room to spare for our feet, though we had plenty of seat room and were sorry Beth was not along. Another time we must sit closer together for the children bounce about so. There were more stages bringing people here than I have ever encountered in the canon before. One, having amongst other passengers, Mrs. Richard Brown's mother and son, was stopping in the road near Mill D with something ailing the horse. It proved to be a broken leg and the driver rode the other horse to Brighton for a new animal to bring in the people. We got here at the same time as Granter's one horse stage from Murray. All went well until turning on our road to our cabin when one wheel sank deep in the rut and when the team made an extra effort to get out, the single tire broke. Ross and Bintz had been standing out at Carol Bintz's tent near the creek as you enter Brighton and Creighton and the dog found them. They all came along when they saw our predicament and strapped things up so that we got along to the house.

Andrus had unloaded our provisions two hours before. (He got to the half-way house Friday night.) and Ross and Bintz had everything unpacked. The house had been thoroughly scrubbed by a girl whom Ted hired and Ross, with the assistance of Edith and Tessie and Lucile Godbe, Virginia Beatty and Elsie Parsons, washed all the dishes in the house and cleaned windows and shelves. It is certainly a great improvement on past ways to be able to go into a clean house. Ted had put up some draperies. Ross, Bintz, McIntyre and Beck had been living in the house. Ted was still with the Godbes. It was after one o'clock on Saturday when we arrived.

The new grate went into the stove without any trouble and we made cocoa and ate the lunch we had brought sitting in the house instead of in the grove. Creighton did not eat. He and the dog went to bed and stayed there until Sunday morning. C thought he had the grip. He could not get warm. He was better yesterday and went fishing, putting on extra clothing for it was dull and rainy most of the day. He brought home one fish which he ate.

While we were at the tea table on Sat Paul Williams came to the door and invited the camp to their bonfire. Ted was not here, C in bed. Margie and Lavinia put the small ones to bed while the maid washed the dishes and Ross and I went to the bonfire. Toasting marshmallows and singing were the features of the gathering. It was a small fire kept at one size by renewal of fuel. The maid is contented and happy apparently and very agreeably surprised at Brighton which she had thought would be like the canon on the western side of the valley, dry and dusty. Her two cousins have visited her and she them. She is willing and active, but quite inexperienced and only seventeen.

The Godbes and Ted with the help of Dr. Beally have decided that Nell must have a new bit. This is too narrow and the corners of her mouth are sore. The she gets the bit in her teeth and they cannot do much with her.. I enclose a string, between the knots of which is the inside measurement of her present bit, the straight part with turn or ring in center.

It was quite cold last night. Creighton complains the most of the cold. We have plenty of bedding. That dance was last Wednesday night before the house was cleaned. It was not thought of until the morning of that day and was small affair. Ted not happening along did know of it until he saw lanterns along the porch. The music was two mandolins.

At the bonfire I sat beside Mr. and Mrs. Woolley. They are thinking of building here. Mr. W. and Mr. Fabian were strolling about on the north side of us this morning.

I left my Euthymol toothpaste beside the clock in sitting room. I think Edith's gingerbread and fudge were found excellent. Please give her Ross and Ted's thanks for the latter. The bloomers and Elizabeth's skirt are in much use till [????]. C is fishing now, Ross started but has returned. Ted and Lawrence are drawing away last year's rubbish. We breakfasted at nine and the maid after sweeping the living room is washing dishes. Then she will proceed to the few clothes. M and L are riding with Lucille and Francis. Elizabeth is at Hooper's. Leoline is at the writing table with me after having made a call at the Godbe's with Ted. My tuning fork is lying about somewhere. If you should happen to see it please send it with the bit but do not search for it. Hope you are feeling better. Leoline wishes me to tell you "Maybe it will be raining." It is thundering. Keep this letter for the log book of the cabin. I forgot my stamps.

Lovingly, Leoline

The storm is settling over us.