27 chapters
4 hour read
Selected Chapters
27 chapters
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
The writer of the following letters is a young woman who lost her husband in a railroad accident and went to Denver to seek support for herself and her two-year-old daughter, Jerrine. Turning her hand to the nearest work, she went out by the day as house-cleaner and laundress. Later, seeking to better herself, she accepted employment as a housekeeper for a well-to-do Scotch cattle-man, Mr. Stewart, who had taken up a quarter-section in Wyoming. The letters, written through several years to a for
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IToC THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK
IToC THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Are you thinking I am lost, like the Babes in the Wood? Well, I am not and I'm sure the robins would have the time of their lives getting leaves to cover me out here. I am 'way up close to the Forest Reserve of Utah, within half a mile of the line, sixty miles from the railroad. I was twenty-four hours on the train and two days on the stage, and oh, those two days! The snow was just beginning to melt and the mud was about the worst I ever heard of. The first stage we tackled wa
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IIToC FILING A CLAIM
IIToC FILING A CLAIM
Dear, dear Mrs. Coney,— Well, I have filed on my land and am now a bloated landowner. I waited a long time to even see land in the reserve, and the snow is yet too deep, so I thought that as they have but three months of summer and spring together and as I wanted the land for a ranch anyway, perhaps I had better stay in the valley. So I have filed adjoining Mr. Stewart and I am well pleased. I have a grove of twelve swamp pines on my place, and I am going to build my house there. I thought it wo
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IIIToC A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER
IIIToC A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER
Dear Mrs. Coney,— This has been for me the busiest, happiest summer I can remember. I have worked very hard, but it has been work that I really enjoy. Help of any kind is very hard to get here, and Mr. Stewart had been too confident of getting men, so that haying caught him with too few men to put up the hay. He had no man to run the mower and he couldn't run both the mower and the stacker, so you can fancy what a place he was in. I don't know that I ever told you, but my parents died within a y
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IVToC A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE
IVToC A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Your second card just reached me and I am plumb glad because, although I answered your other, I was wishing I could write you, for I have had the most charming adventure. It is the custom here for as many women as care to to go in a party over into Utah to Ashland (which is over a hundred miles away) after fruit. They usually go in September, and it takes a week to make the trip. They take wagons and camp out and of course have a good time, but, the greater part of the way, the
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VToC SEDALIA AND REGALIA
VToC SEDALIA AND REGALIA
My dear Friend,— I was dreadfully afraid that my last letter was too much for you and now I feel plumb guilty. I really don't know how to write you, for I have to write so much to say so little, and now that my last letter made you sick I almost wish so many things didn't happen to me, for I always want to tell you. Many things have happened since I last wrote, and Zebulon Pike is not done for by any means, but I guess I will tell you my newest experience. I am making a wedding dress. Don't grin
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIToC A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING
VIToC A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING
Dear Mrs. Coney,— ... I think every one enjoyed our Thanksgiving programme except poor Gale. She was grieved, I verily believe, because Mr. Patterson is not Mormon and could not take Sedalia and herself also. I suppose it seemed odd to her to be unable to give way to Sedalia as she had always done. I had cooked and cooked. Gale and Zebulon Pike both helped all they could. The wedding was to be at twelve o'clock, so at ten I hustled Gale into my room to dress. I had to lock the door to keep her i
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIIToC ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME
VIIToC ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Our Thanksgiving affair was the most enjoyable happening I can remember for a long time. Zebulon Pike came, but I had as a bait for him two fat letters from home. As soon as I came back from his place I wrote to Mrs. Carter and trusted to luck for my letter to reach her. I told her all I could about her brother and how seldom he left his mountain home. I asked her to write him all she could in one letter, as the trips between our place and his were so few and far between. So wh
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIIIToC A HAPPY CHRISTMAS
VIIIToC A HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Dear Mrs. Coney,— My happy Christmas resulted from the ex-sheriff of this county being snowbound here. It seems that persons who come from a lower altitude to this country frequently become bewildered, especially if in poor health, leave the train at any stop and wander off into the hills, sometimes dying before they are found. The ex-sheriff cited a case, that of a young German who was returning from the Philippines, where he had been discharged after the war. He was the only child of his widow
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IXToC A CONFESSION
IXToC A CONFESSION
Dear Mrs. Coney,— I find upon re-reading your letter that I did not answer it at all when I wrote you. You must think me very indifferent, but I really don't mean to be. My house joins on to Mr. Stewart's house. It was built that way so that I could "hold down" my land and job at the same time. I see the wisdom of it now, though at first I did not want it that way. My boundary lines run within two feet of Mr. Stewart's house, so it was quite easy to build on. I think the Pattersons' ranch is abo
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XToC THE STORY OF CORA BELLE
XToC THE STORY OF CORA BELLE
Dear Mrs. Coney,— ... Grandma Edmonson's birthday is the 30th of May, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy suggested that we give her a party. I had never seen Grandma, but because of something that happened in her family years ago which a few narrow-heads whom it didn't concern in the least cannot forgive or forget, I had heard much of her. The family consists of Grandma, Grandpa, and little Cora Belle, who is the sweetest little bud that ever bloomed upon the twigs of folly. The Edmonsons had only one child
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIToC ZEBBIE'S STORY
XIToC ZEBBIE'S STORY
Dear Mrs. Coney,— It was just a few days after the birthday party and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was with me again. We were down at the barn looking at some new pigs, when we heard the big corral gates swing shut, so we hastened out to see who it could be so late in the day. It was Zebbie. He had come on the stage to Burnt Fork and the driver had brought him on here.... There was so much to tell, and he whispered he had something to tell me privately, but that he was too tired then; so after supper I hu
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIIToC A CONTENTED COUPLE
XIIToC A CONTENTED COUPLE
Dear Mrs. Coney,— ... I once "heared" Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and she said she "surreptitiously stole along." One day, when I thought the coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws, and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned. The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are usually kept locked. Now the "gude mon" has an idea that a "woom
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIIIToC PROVING UP
XIIIToC PROVING UP
Dear Mrs. Coney,— I think you must be expecting an answer to your letter by now, so I will try to answer as many of your questions as I remember. Your letter has been mislaid. We have been very much rushed all this week. We had the thresher crew two days. I was busy cooking for them two days before they came, and have been busy ever since cleaning up after them. Clyde has taken the thresher on up the valley to thresh for the neighbors, and all the men have gone along, so the children and I are a
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIVToC THE NEW HOUSE
XIVToC THE NEW HOUSE
Dear Mrs. Coney,— I feel just like visiting to-night, so I am going to "play like" you have come. It is so good to have you to chat with. Please be seated in this low rocker; it is a present to me from the Pattersons and I am very proud of it. I am just back from the Patterson ranch, and they have a dear little boy who came the 20th of November and they call him Robert Lane. I am sure this room must look familiar to you, for there is so much in it that was once yours. I have two rooms, each fift
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVToC THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER
XVToC THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER
Dear Mrs. Coney,— ... This time I want to tell you about a "stocking-leg" dinner which I attended not long ago. It doesn't sound very respectable, but it was one of the happiest events I ever remember. Mrs. Louderer was here visiting us, and one afternoon we were all in the kitchen when Gavotte came skimming along on the first pair of snowshoes I ever saw. We have had lots of snow this winter, and many of the hollows and gullies are packed full. Gavotte had no difficulty in coming, and he had co
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVIToC THE HORSE-THIEVES
XVIToC THE HORSE-THIEVES
Dear Mrs. Coney,— ... I am so afraid that you will get an overdose of culture from your visit to the Hub and am sending you an antidote of our sage, sand, and sunshine. Mrs. Louderer had come over to see our boy. Together we had prepared supper and were waiting for Clyde, who had gone to the post-office. Soon he came, and after the usual friendly wrangling between him and Mrs. Louderer we had supper. Then they began their inevitable game of cribbage, while I sat near the fire with Baby on my lap
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVIIToC AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP
XVIIToC AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP
My dear Friend,— At last I can write you as I want to. I am afraid you think I am going to wait until the "bairns" are grown up before writing to my friends, but indeed I shall not. I fully intend to "gather roses while I may." Since God has given me two blessings, children and friends, I shall enjoy them both as I go along. I must tell you why I have not written as I should have done. All summer long my eyes were so strained and painful that I had to let all reading and writing go. And I have s
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVIIIToC THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL
XVIIIToC THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Every time I get a new letter from you I get a new inspiration, and I am always glad to hear from you. I have often wished I might tell you all about my Clyde, but have not because of two things. One is I could not even begin without telling you what a good man he is, and I didn't want you to think I could do nothing but brag. The other reason is the haste I married in. I am ashamed of that. I am afraid you will think me a Becky Sharp of a person. But although I married in hast
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIXToC THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
XIXToC THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
My dear Friend,— I have put off writing you and thanking you for your thought for us until now so that I could tell you of our very happy Christmas and our deer hunt all at once. To begin with, Mr. Stewart and Junior have gone to Boulder to spend the winter. Clyde wanted his mother to have a chance to enjoy our boy, so, as he had to go, he took Junior with him. Then those of my dear neighbors nearest my heart decided to prevent a lonely Christmas for me, so on December 21st came Mrs. Louderer, l
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXToC THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING
XXToC THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING
Dear Mrs. Coney,— I am afraid all my friends think I am very forgetful and that you think I am ungrateful as well, but I am going to plead not guilty. Right after Christmas Mr. Stewart came down with la grippe and was so miserable that it kept me busy trying to relieve him. Out here where we can get no physician we have to dope ourselves, so that I had to be housekeeper, nurse, doctor, and general overseer. That explains my long silence. And now I want to thank you for your kind thought in prolo
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIToC A LETTER OF JERRINE'S
XXIToC A LETTER OF JERRINE'S
Dear Mrs. Coney,— I think you will excuse my mama for not writing to thank you for black Beauty when I tell you why. I wanted to thank you myself, and I wanted to hear it read first so I could very trully thank. Mama always said horses do not talk, but now she knows they do since she read the Dear little book. I have known it along time. My own pony told me the story is very true. Many times I have see men treat horses very badly, but our Clyde dont, and wont let a workman stay if He hurts stock
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIIToC THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY
XXIIToC THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Your letter of April 25 certainly was a surprise, but a very welcome one. We are so rushed with spring work that we don't even go to the office for the mail, and I owe you letters and thanks. I keep promising myself the pleasure of writing you and keep putting it off until I can have more leisure, but that time never gets here. I am so glad when I can bring a little of this big, clean, beautiful outdoors into your apartment for you to enjoy, and I can think of nothing that woul
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIIIToC HOW IT HAPPENED
XXIIIToC HOW IT HAPPENED
Dear Mrs. Coney,— Your letter of the 8th to hand, and in order to catch you before you leave I'll answer at once and not wait for time. I always think I shall do better with more time, but with three "bairns," garden, chickens, cows, and housework I don't seem to find much time for anything. Now for the first question. My maiden name was Pruitt, so when I am putting on airs I sign Elinore Pruitt Stewart. I don't think I have ever written anything that Clyde would object to, so he can still stay
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIVToC A LITTLE ROMANCE
XXIVToC A LITTLE ROMANCE
My dear Friend,— I have had such a happy little peep into another's romance that I think I should be cheating you if I didn't tell you. Help in this country is extremely hard to get; so when I received a letter from one Aurelia Timmons, saying she wanted a job,—three dollars a week and not to be called "Relie,"—my joy could hardly be described. I could hardly wait until morning to start for Bridger Bench, where Aurelia held forth. I was up before the lark next morning. It is more miles to the Br
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXVToC AMONG THE MORMONS
XXVToC AMONG THE MORMONS
My dear Friend,— I have wanted to write you for a long time, but have been so busy. I have had some visitors and have been on a visit; I think you would like to hear about it all, so I will tell you. I don't think you would have admired my appearance the morning this adventure began: I was in the midst of fall house-cleaning which included some papering. I am no expert at the very best, and papering a wall has difficulties peculiar to itself. I was up on a barrel trying to get a long, sloppy str
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXVIToC SUCCESS
XXVIToC SUCCESS
Dear Mrs. Coney,— This is Sunday and I suppose I ought not to be writing, but I must write to you and I may not have another chance soon. Both your letters have reached me, and now that our questions are settled we can proceed to proceed. Now, this is the letter I have been wanting to write you for a long time, but could not because until now I had not actually proven all I wanted to prove. Perhaps it will not interest you, but if you see a woman who wants to homestead and is a little afraid she
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter