A Letter written on Sep 20, 1908

Burlington W. Va
Sunday night
Sept 20. 1908

Dear Mary,

I never thought when I got your letter nearly a month ago that it would be this long before I answered it. We have had such a great run of company since campmeeting [sic] that I could not find time to write more than a post card now and then. People coming in to spend the day or to stay all night and seems to demand more time than visitors that stay longer. Carrie Vandiver went home last Wednesday and we have no one with us at present. We feel a bit lonesome now. We were on the go so much while Carrie was here that it seems very tame since she left. Ed is away today and Arnold is away too and Ann and I are left to while away Sunday as best we may. Hattie Wilson spent the afternoon with us and the time that I should have been writing this letter was taken up in talking to her so if the letter should perchance, spin out a little short, it is because bedtime has arrived too soon.

Our part of the country is very much stired [sic] up over the campaign as is usual at about this distance from the election. My father is the democratic candidate for the House of Delegates from our county and you never saw any body so enthused. He does not stand the least bit of show of election as this is a Republican county but he is enjoying running just the same.

I have been following Bryan's tour through your part of the country and it is lots more interesting to me to think that I have been to some of those places. For instance, the papers said he spoke from the back of the car at Camden and I could just imagine I could see Camden. The paper went on to say that his train stopped at lots of little places between Camden and Burlington, and I wondered if that took in Woodbury. I hope you went down to the depot to get a look at the coming President, even if you are not on his side. Please pardon me for taking up so much time talking politics but for until after the election I will talk, think, dream, and hear nothing but politics. We think we are going to carry W. Va. this time. Ring off.

Well, Katherine is gone and you will be starting in a few days. Has not the time just slipped away too fast to keep account of? It does'nt [sic] seem any time since I was with you all but in reality it is several days for over a month.

Last night Ann and I talked real late into the night about my visit. I was telling her some more about it. Every time we talk about it there is something new that I have'nt [sic] told yet and so it seems I never will get done telling about it. You are all so nice. You don't mind my saying that, do you? I am afraid that when you are away from Woodbury that you will forget to tell me what goes on there but maybe if I asked you real nicely, you would keep me posted on the happening of interest in that town and any little thing that happens there will interest me.

How is my Friend George? I often think about that visit with your father to the Meeting House and what he told "George" about my being inclined a little towards being a Friend. Minnie and Ann had a good laugh over that and thought it was a good joke on me. They think I must have behaved very undignified while I was with you and since I come to think of it I believed I did too. I am sure I did not behave as a young lady of almost twenty-two, should. And that reminds me that twenty two is getting pretty old and it is up to me not to grow old.

I shot a cat yesterday.

Does'nt [sic] that sound terrible? I have been feeling right badly about it ever since and the only consolation I have it is that the cat was sick and had to be killed and Ed had sworn that he never would kill another one, so I was the only one left that had the nerve. I shot it right between the eyes and it never knew any thing about it unless somebody has told it since. Minnie and I want to go squirrel hunting as soon as it rains. It is so dry that you make so much noise walking in the woods that it scares the squirrels away. We are having a very hard dry spell now. So much dust. It is no pleasure to go driving in it and the automobiles kick it up in clouds.

We girls had such a nice drive home from the mountain stopping on top of Knobley mountain at my Uncles for supper. Maybe you remember the place. It is where my mother was raised. We left there at 8.15 and got home at nine sharp. That makes six miles in fourty [sic] five minutes. Ask Wayne what he thinks of that for West Virginia, "Jersey Cows." We met one automobile and one skunk. The skunk scared me more than the auto. I saw Rowdy in the field a few days ago and am very much pleased with the progress he has made this summer.

The colt show has been postponed indefnitely. I am afraid that the men are too much interested in politics this fall to think about a colt show. I will be very much disappointed if they dont [sic] have it.

I got some new songs last week. Among them is, "O dry thoes [sic] tears," which is very beautiful and is all right to sing in church. I have not sung much since I got back from Jersey except to try over the new songs. It is a heap more fun to have somebody to sing with, like Jay, and somebody to play the accompanyments, [sic] like Katherine and somebody to listen to it, like you. You spoke in your letter of comparing shades of tan leather and you hoped I was not doing it that night you wrote the letter. Why? Or has it been so long that you have forgotten why, or, that you even said it? Here I go rattling away over the fourth page and still have loads to say if I would just get it to come out on this paper. I reckon I had better leave the rest for some other time. Please write at your earliest opportunity and tell me all about your new surroundings and if your room mate is everything that Miss Carrie said she would be. Give my love to all the others and, good bye.

Sincerely Mary.

P.S. I felt real flattered when you said you missed me. Hope Ned and Wayne have found some consolation by this time. Of course Miss Bronson could help Ned get back to normal. I have a soft spot in my heart for those boys. I feel like a grandmother to them, even if I did not act like one.

Ann sends much love to all.

M. W. V.