Two Aylmer Boys Return Home 1905, Part: 4
Sept 21, 1905 Tom Smith, Holland, Manitoba to Guy Loop, Souris, Manitoba
“You will think I am never going to write to you, it is over a week now since I left Souris, I have been pretty bad since I came to Holland, I landed in Holland about 4 o’clock, it cost me a doller ninty from Souris to Holland, don’t you think that a lot, the day after I got here I went & saw the Dr, he said I had got chronic Bronchitis Asthma & infazema the last named caused by the Bronchitis with coughing so much and stooping my back had cause my lungs to expand he said I was not in a fit state when I came to undertake the hard work here.
The next day I was in bed all day also the next, so the Dr came to see me he said I had got a little Pleurisy but I must get up so I did and went out doors. I felt much better out doors breathing the fresh air, I have been down to the Dr again to day, he examined me and said my condition is better than when he first saw me, but I don’t feel much better myself, I feel so awfully weak, if I go for a short walk, it fags me out. I thought if I had a short rest, I would get a light job, to try and earn enough to get home with, but the Dr says I shall not be fit for anything this fall, and I must never in my life do any hard work, it made me feel that I was no good any more, I have had to send home for money to get back with, I never thought of that when I came out, the Dr says I am to weak to travel yet.
I hope I shall be stronger before the third. There was a P.C. from Frank for me the night we were together in Souris, but I did’nt get it until next morning I was mad, he is suffering a lot. I bet it hurts him, for quite a while yet.
I also had a letter from Fred & Claude on Tuesday. They have got a very good place, and are getting on fine, they sleep together & work to gether, are getting 2 ½ a day. Fred was driving a stook team, he said he loaded one load in the morning & lay on the load until noon, did’nt get a chance to unload the engine was not working very well, they started threshing as soon as they were through stooking. I wish they had had a little stacking to do they would have found it harder I think.
Well I think I have told you all my news, I hope you are getting on alright with your painting & making lots of money. Mrs Benner was kind enough to write to me to day I was very pleased with her letter, I wish Frank was able to go back when I am, it would be nice to have some one to go back with, but we should be a fine pair of harvesters, landing back in Aylmer, shouldn’t we, Frank’s mother did’nt come to see him they found out that they had some very kind friends in Port Arthur, so that made it better for Frank did’nt it, now I must close, hope you make your fortune before you leave Souris. Believe me to remain your Friend, T.Smith”
Sept 21, 1905 from Mary in Bayham to Frank in Port Arthur,“We got a fine purse for Tom. $41.85. We took it to the bank to-day and explained to them what it was and who it was for and they made out a draft payable at either Holland or Winnipeg and at par so it won’t cost him anything to get it. I thought I was very kind of them to do so. Pa just came back from Smith’s. Took the check over and said they were very very thankful indeed. Mr Smith is just writing to Tom and sending it.”
Sept 22, 1905 from Frank in Port Arthur to Fred in Fairfax, Manitoba, “Say Fred do you know that Tom Smith is not better and has had to give up his job. I think he is coming back home and I also think he is coming back to die. Poor fellow, he hasn’t had a letter from anyone yet and I don’t know how it is for I wrote to him about two weeks ago. I wrote again yesterday but Tom’s is not the only one of my letters that has gone astray.”
Sept 24, 1905 from Mary in Bayham to Frank in Port Arthur, “The poor fellow must be in a pretty bad shape for he said the Dr told him he must never try to do another real hard day’s work in his life, and he advised him to come home. Said he also had a little touch of pleuracy. I do hope he will get that check all right.
Jack Smith and John Irwin Lindsay were here to dinner to-day and just went away a short time ago. He wanted to get to Springfield in time to catch the 5.35 train for St Thomas and was going to walk from there to Glanworth about six miles.
We had to laugh at Jack. He said he got the automobile fever pretty badly last Spring and nothing would do but he must have one so he got it and such a time as he is having. He and another fellow came down Friday to the Springfield Fair and then started to go to Aylmer but only got as far as the 8th concession when something went wrong with it and they had to get it towed into town and he has it there now getting fixed. He says they are really the worst thing to balk that ever was made for you can just coax and hammar and blow to your hearts content, and then you can get out and walk.
You would have laughed to heard him tell that. He never said one word to Pa or Ward about it but just before they went away he came in the house to bid Hetty and I goodbye and told us in such a funny sheepish way that we just roared. I suppose he thought they would laugh and poke fun at him so he never mentioned it.
But he said if the thing don’t object he is coming down this Fall and give us all a ride so there is a treat for you, that is if you don’t have to walk back.
Pa went out to town yesterday to see about the boat, and Jack Trim gave him a guide which he got this summer when he took his trip up there, and he supposed that would tell all about it but he does’nt quite understand it so is going out again in the morning so as to be sure of no mistake. He would like to be there Sunday and Monday if he could and go with you over to John’s for a visit. I think they could take you so it would’nt hurt you any. I am so anxious for you to come home I can hardly wait for the time to go by till you can come.”
__________
No comments:
Post a Comment