Letter from Helen Muir to [Wanda Muir Eanna], [1908 ?] Jul 12.

Creator

Helen Muir

Creator

Helen Muir

Recipient

[Wanda Muir Eanna]

Transcription

[3]

do you know about that?
The F.s are all well. Buel finds his greatest pleasure in teasing me. He's a nice boy, at the "pin-feather age" according to Bro. Dick, but is an awful tease - something like Thos. R. in that respect. He calls me "Swiftwater Bill" - threatens dire things to my cats (I have two) puts salt in my coffee, steals my choicest food off my plate, and pours water over me.
A few evenings ago I came in late and very thirsty. I said as much and received a very generous drink

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[letterhead]

"Idleawhile" - July 12th

Dear Wandy -

Ive thought of you a good deal this last week - principally because I knew how unhappy you would be if it happened to be your fate to be in this part of the country about now. "The hot weather" I kept speaking of as being ahead when you were here, is here now. The hottest day so far was last Friday, when the temperature got real ambitious and hiked up to 115° in the shade, but it cheerfully reaches 109° and 112° right along without a bit of trouble. I've moved my

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bed out into the yard, for even the nights are "pretty ho[illegible]" - in fact anybody who sleeps in the house nowadays - that could get out - is considered "dippy in the head." But its really great weather. I sometimes stop to think that it is funny I enjoy it so, but the fact remains I do. I ride morning and afternoon, as usual, and sometimes when I sail forth toward the corral for Art, when the mercury stands at 112° in the shade, Dick remarks that if he didnt have anything more to do than I have, he'd "have sense enough to stay in the shade". He said once that he didnt like to say I was "crazy" but a "gal" that would ride all afternoon in such sun when she didnt have to, "wasnt normal." Im thin, but feel perfectly well, and eat much more than I did when you were here, and I am most cheerful. Artie is ditto.
Paul and Herbert went "inside" on the 2d and celebrated the 4th. Paul is still there and nobody knows if he intends to come back. Herbert got home yesterday. By the way, he and Mary are very good friends - now what
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gaze at myself in the c[illegible]bly sort of mirror I had.
In a day or two Im going to send you a shirt for Tom, and those books. And in return for the shirt please send me my blue & white crepe [diacritic] one (like Tom's that you dont like" and a good-looking white one I have - you'll find both in the drawers in my closet. Send them soon, if you can - also the tan stockings and night gowns, for this hot weather I need more. The other things I wanted are not so urgent. Just roll up these few by Express. Im sticking to my chair so guess it's time to move.

Lovingly Helen

[in margin: P.S. got a very cheerful letter from Papa yesterday - is well & having fine time at Sante K[illegible] Lake. Expected to stay another week there.]

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[letterhead]

in my face - not where I wanted it at all. And later while I was eating my solitary supper, Mr Boggs came by and just as he whistled my "Hello" - Buel poured half a pail of water on my unsuspecting head.
I had a postal from Barney last week. His brother in Mo. is dead and he was on his way there - Maysville, Mo. I just missed seeing him too, for the day before he went thro' here Mary and I were in Barstow, That reminds me, Carrie wrote me about three weeks ago that Cousin Jim

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and Ha[rr?]y were going east and that I could say "Hello and Good bye as they went thro' here. I rode up to Barstow and had a fine visit with them - No. 8 stopped there an hour. Say - isnt Ha[rr?]y beautiful to look at? They both jumpped off the Pullman to meet me and then while Cousin Jim went to have some lunch put up Harry took me into the car to visit. The Porter got business-like right away and asked if we wanted a section, but Harry "squelched" him promptly. They had brought me wonderful chocolates and flowers - isnt it "nice" to have cousins? The Barstow switch engine grabed our car and I had a free ride - ran us all over the yards. They are to be gone till October. Im surely glad I met them and had such a good visit.
I suppose you got an announcement of "Forbesie's" wedding. Now w-w-what do you know about that? And am I supposed to write to both of 'em or who do I congratulate?
I bought a grand new mirror and a rocking chair not long ago, and no longer