Two Aylmer Boys Return Home, 1905, Part: 2
Sept 16, 1905 from Mary, Mother in Bayham to Frank in Port Arthur, “Just received your splendid letter last night and I tell you what it relieved my mind a lot to know you were all right and had such a good place but Fred, Smith’s had a letter from Tom this morning and the poor fellow is sick and has had to give up his place. He only worked seven or eight days. They put him stooking at first and he stood that very well and then pitching but that was too much for him. He has an Uncle out there at Holland if you know where that is and he said he was going there and surely they would keep him for a little while till he felt better. He said he went through Holland on his way from Winnipeg to Souris and a man showed him the house where his Uncle lived but some way they don’t seem very anxious to have him there I guess they don’t think very much of his Aunt. And to cap all the poor fellow has been all alone and has never had a word from anyone although they have written. He said, “I feel quite alone.” poor fellow my heart just aches for him I tell you it makes me think of my own dear boys and you know how plucky his poor mother was when he went away but to-day she is nearly wild.
Now Fred could’nt you do something for the poor fellow. Is’nt there another team where you are that you could get for him to drive or some light work of some kind even if it was’nt any big pay and write to him and tell him about it so at least he can feel he is with some one he knows. I think he fully expected to be with you but of cource all plans were upset when Frank was hurt.
We are trying to do something in the neighbourhood to help him. Vi headed the list this morning with $5.00 and pa with another 5 and Will Pound with another and Parker and Abell each gave one dollar. This afternoon Vi and I are going to town and will stop at quite a number of places around Summer’s Corners and see what they will do. I am sure they will nearly all do something. Of course I don’t know whether he will be able to do anything or not but see what you can do and show him you are trying to do something for him anyway.
His mother said this morning she wished he was home she thought he would be as well here as he will ever be any place. I thought we had trouble but theirs is worse yet.
Tom’s uncle’s address is Mr Samuel Smith, Holland Manitoba. If you write to him put it in care of his Uncle. Write to him any way whether you can do anything for him or not it will please him. The man’s name where he worked at Souris is Herriot.”
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Sept 17, 1905 from Mary, Mother to “My dear Frank” in Port Arthur, “Poor Tom is having a hard time of it too. I thought our hearts were pretty sore but yesterday morning when Tom’s letter came I made up my mind that their trouble was far far greater than ours for in the course of a few months you will be around again and can go right on with your studying but poor Mrs Smith is completely broken down and it seems so hard when she does give up for you know how plucky she was the morning Tom went away.
I went over yesterday morning and she said she was trying to work but did’nt know what she was doing and I told her I knew exactly how she felt. She said she wished he was home she thought he would be as well here as he would ever be any place. He said it must take a long time for letters to come there as he had’nt had a word from any one since he had been there. He also said he 'stooked', if you know what that is I think it’s something like shacking up, the first few days and he stood that very well and then they put him to pitching but that was too much and he had to give up his place and go to his uncle’s. He wrote as though he did’nt care to go but said it was all he could do and they seem to rather hate to have him go.
Mrs. Smith told Vi yesterday that his Aunt used to drink before they were married. Poor fellow he said 'I feel quite alone.' Said he would try and stay there a few days that surely they would keep him till he felt a little better and he would try and get some light job that he could’nt go in town and board for it would cost quite a lot so yesterday we started out in the neighbourhood to see if we could’nt raise a little to help him.
Vi headed the list with $5 and pa with another 5 and Will Pound with another and Parker and Abell each $1.00. In the afternoon we went west to Wheaton’s and did’nt stop all the places either did’nt have time and got $26.40 all together. We were only refused one place and that was Leon Demcey’s. He said he had had a pretty hard pull himself and was having it yet and I guess he was out a little with the Smith boys anyway something over hireing them last spring but he was very nice about it and besides there were several who said they had’nt the money but would give it the first of the week when the checks were out so I am quite sure they will make it 30 or over this side of the corner we have heard to-day of several boys who said they wanted to give something. Everybody seems to want to help. Vi and Edna Cascadden are going west to-morrow. Tom said he could’nt see as it was going to be any better for him there and he liked it better here anyway and thought he would come home said he did’nt want to stay the winter. So many say they would like to see him go to the sanitarium for a while. Poor fellow instead of going to Manitoba to work he should have been nursed.
I wrote to Fred yesterday and told him to see if there was any light job he could do there and gave him his address so he could write to him anyway. The boys think they have a pretty good place but they have to do their own washing.
Now Frank just as soon as the Dr thinks it safe pa is coming after you we can’t bear to have you undertake that trip alone but my dear boy I can see by your letters you are getting very anxious to get home and we are just as anxious to have you but we don’t want you to run any risk so don’t come till the Dr is real sure you’ll be all right and then let us know and pa will come right away.
We went in to inquire what the rates would be and he can get a return ticket from Aylmer for $34.75 that is by water. I feel anxious about your trunk but if it is’nt there when you need your clothes just get some more they won’t come amiss any way. Will close with lots of love, from Mother.”
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Sept 17, 1905 Murray in Bayham to Fred working the wheat fields of Fairfax, Manitoba “I suppose you heard about Tom’s trouble it is certainly to bad isn’t it his father and mother feel awful bad about it….We are taking up a subscription for Tom and are going to send it to him.”
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