
It is now the winter of 1886. I am sitting in the kitchen and I am going to write a letter to Nell. The lamps are lit as Ma came for a visit with baby Eva and built up the fire in the stove before I got home, so it is warm. Ma is better but not strong yet. She brought soup and fresh bread so I will not have to cook tonight. They have gone now to visit with the neighbours before Pa picks them up in the sleigh to go back to the farm. Sometimes I wish I could just go with them, but that is not going to happen. I have made my choice and I am determined to succeed.
I will pour myself a cup of strong tea and take my pen and ink pot to the table to write to Nell and Ab and Will in Toronto before I begin my homework It is quiet except for the hiss of the gas lamps that Uncle John had put in over the summer past. I think I like gas lamps. They are easier than the old coal oil lamps, and certainly give more light than the candle that I take up the stairs to my bedroom
I will pour myself a cup of strong tea and take my pen and ink pot to the table to write to Nell and Ab and Will in Toronto before I begin my homework It is quiet except for the hiss of the gas lamps that Uncle John had put in over the summer past. I think I like gas lamps. They are easier than the old coal oil lamps, and certainly give more light than the candle that I take up the stairs to my bedroom

I shall tell Nell all my news of home…
Dear Nell,
I am using the pen that you gave me to write this letter. It it a pleasure to have such a fine instrument. I am getting along pretty well at school. Latin is still hard especially that Euclid. I am not embracing it as I should, but I have the same professor as you had and he tells me I am progressing.
I saw my brother Tom today and he was just after having a pitch out of the old sleigh. He got his cheek pretty well bashed around the eye. He had Gramma with him and she is at Dr Jones and is pretty bad. I hear she will need surgery. The horse took a fright at a sleigh with two little boys in it shaking a horse blanket. I hope Gramma will be well soon.
Ma told me that Mr..Laurent’s cow broke into the Addison’s barn and took a great gorge of their potatoes. It bloated up and died a few minutes after. A great loss for the poor man and sad for the cow, too.
The men are busy at the pumps today and all this week as there is flooding on the farm. I hope that you are not studying too hard, Nell. I will write again soon.
Lovingly, Jennie
Dear Nell,
I am using the pen that you gave me to write this letter. It it a pleasure to have such a fine instrument. I am getting along pretty well at school. Latin is still hard especially that Euclid. I am not embracing it as I should, but I have the same professor as you had and he tells me I am progressing.
I saw my brother Tom today and he was just after having a pitch out of the old sleigh. He got his cheek pretty well bashed around the eye. He had Gramma with him and she is at Dr Jones and is pretty bad. I hear she will need surgery. The horse took a fright at a sleigh with two little boys in it shaking a horse blanket. I hope Gramma will be well soon.
Ma told me that Mr..Laurent’s cow broke into the Addison’s barn and took a great gorge of their potatoes. It bloated up and died a few minutes after. A great loss for the poor man and sad for the cow, too.
The men are busy at the pumps today and all this week as there is flooding on the farm. I hope that you are not studying too hard, Nell. I will write again soon.
Lovingly, Jennie