[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. The first letter is from son Willie to mother Mary N. Mateer; the second letter is from Willie's wife Anna to her mother-in-law.]Carthage. Mo. June 14th 1894
Dear Mother,
We have your letter and also the one you enclose from John. Anna had a letter from John also. A sort of a love sick affair, telling how happy he was, and a lot of stuff of that kind. I believe I would pay my first wifes doctor bill before I married another. But it is not worth while for you to worry about the matter, for he is bound to do it anyhow, and it may possibly turn out all right. I will enclose a draft of $50.00 and $48.00 for Horrie. [no longer with the letter] He can get it cashed and give you your portion of it.
Lloyd [William's son] has been right sick for some days but is much better this morning and, we think entirely out of danger. Had inflammation of the bowels, and we were right uneasy about him. Harvest is just on us. I have about a hundred acres of wheat have to look after cutting the most of it.
You can come from. [sic] Crestline to St. Louis without change of cars, and if you would write to Ross. Mateer, he would meet you, and help you on the train for Kirksville, and they would not need to meet you. When do you expect to reach Carthage?
As ever your loving son
WDMateerDear Mother -
The enclosed note has been paid off please sign on the back, and return to me, so that I can release the mortgage.
WDM-
[Second letter, from Willie's wife Anna]
My dear Mother,
Willies letter has been waiting for me to write some too, and this is the first minute I've had. After Willie wrote, Lloyd had a hard chill and was much worse, We came very near losing him, He is much better today, though very weak. Helen Amerman [?] just left yesterday, I tell you I have had my hands full - as well as my heart I'm nearly used up myself. I hope to get rested again now that Lloyd is on the mend.
I do wonder what put John on the track of Miss Sellars? I would not worr[y] about it though, if I were you, He is bound to marry her, and it may be she will suit him better than someone else he could have chosen, I don't think he would have stayed single long any way. It is a pity he didn't marry her in the first place, She surely could not have been a greater burden than the one he had.
Lillie [the former Lillie Mateer, now married to Rev. Walker of Monroe, Georgia] is anxious to have you come on for your visit, She writes me that they are going back to Georgia, Mr. Walker and Horace going there, and she and Clarence coming here to spend September. She also tells me she will be "six months along" at that time and cannot go out any. I'm real sorry to hear this, as I guess she has about all she can manage now. Mr. Walker stopped to see us on his way from Texas, he had then no thought of leaving Mo. Lillie didn't give me their reasons.
I do hope you will keep well till you get here, and feel that this is indeed home when you do. We are going to keep Lloyd off the farm after this, and I have taken your advice, to "let him help me". he is so good at it, and I'm sure we all will be happier with no girl to bother us. I will get one while Lillie is with us, I am going to have your room papered before you come. Did you send a carpet for it, as you once spoke of? or shall I put down again the one I have? If you have yours - shall we get it and put down, or would you rather we should wait until you come? Let me know about this please. When you are ready to come to us, we will meet you at Nevada, so you will have no trouble, I don't think you will want to wait and come with Lillie as they will be breaking up, and you cant stand the confusion, Give ever so much love to all at Horries, and Jennie, and kisses to the babies, I almost envy Lizzie with a mother to go to. How glad I shall be to have my good mother with me.
Now I must stop this scratching - Willie is waiting to go down street. Please write me soon about your plans - and when we may hope to look for you here.
Lovingly your daughter Annie