Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Family trouble? Another letter from Anna Mack to young Thomas Higginson

Unfortunately my scanner is not working at the moment so the transcription below is not backed up by the original letter - I hope to rectify this over the next few days.


Anna's letter is quite difficult to read as not only was it written in pencil but there is almost a complete lack of punctuation, however I have done my best. Now is just needs interpreting!

                                                                                                                           April 6 – 21
                                                                                                                            Write soon

Dear Friend Tomy
                            Received your long look for letter. Well Tomy everything looks good just waiting for the well to come in. Art will have all he wants and you sure will come as soon as he got his hands on that money. It best that you would be here if A. don’t intend to go back to Cleveland and I don’t think he will. Tomy A. will buy ranch & all will live on it he said you could learn to farm & we get a machine
Make some good trips around the country you sure would enjoy it. Well Tomy I haven’t heard from the bunch or rather A he had letter from herself saying she would come out here he wrote back to stay where she belong they didn’t go to court as she wrote as he told her to go ahead Well Tomy A is anxious to make as he has give away all he has made now everything he has will be Art you know susin was married Art wrote me that he has his eye on white large house & 40 acres if there is oil in that well he will buy it. That will be good size farm Poor Art is out there for --- waiting for something to turn up Tomy the oil business is very slow until you get your first start they have been trying to get oil for years here  for 3 years and no oil yet times are so bad Tomy men walking the street begging for work I will sell this place the first chance & if Arthur has luck to buy the house I will buy the machine with the money I get out of this so we can all have one round of pleasures Art said that the first trip will be to Yellowstone Park you Mrs Hig & girls
I know Mrs Hig will enjoy it Tomy we are as anxious as you to have you all out A tell me everytime he comes what work we all can do on the farm of all cows and milking well when you come we can tell better Tomy we had it hard this winter if it was for some I had & I will tell you when you come my sister has been very good to me you know Art had – money and didn’t do anything here he had been sending it all out there but he is looking out for hiself now he has learned a lesson after all the money he gave them when he missed 2 months they threatened to bring him to court
Tomy I will tell you something that intended to keep to myself but you going  to come out it best you and Mrs Hig was on your guard when Jay Roane came to my place he told me Arthur had wrote you a letter telling you how he wanted you & your family out here so Art forgot to mail it so May opened it and read it here is what she said if he ever tries to come out here again I will write his wife and what I will tell her meaning ---I guess it was about --- Arthur friend she did know Mrs Hig knew about A. why I am writing this to show you it best you don’t let them know a she may try to come out here Tomy tell me if they wrote or said anything about Anna it best she knew as old Jay Roane may be doing his --- work again well there is one thing about it if they start again on Anna Art will never see her again as they have done so much & she left her place and people not to cause them any worry as Jay Roane and the bunch made it very unpleasant for her so far as going to the Landlord about her but was sadly disappointed as they recommended her an angel that made them mad & --- sent filly (filthy??) postcard on the back all about Art but did not mention his last name now Tomy you warn your brother until you are out then you don’t care I myself think it was George who opened the letter & gave his mother it. They don’t know your mother died did they send any presents they still think her living Well Tomy Art know she said all this I don’t think he could care for me telling you Tomy I know you think it mighty slow waiting to come out here that way we felt about the well I sit here week after week & month every day expecting every day something to turn out to success so you all will be here it best you were with Art. Tomy I hope the next letter bring good news it late & I am about to fall asleep writing hope all are well & hope it will be but short time until I see you when we know for sure that you are coming I will send some money for Mrs Hig to buy me some table linen as it much cheaper there I will write & describe it
Well Tomy it late
Saying goodnight
Anna
Box 813
Quanah
                                                                                                                                      

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