Los Angeles 12 14 1905
O my darling baby
I wish you were here on the Granda with me. I believe your dear
little heart wuld keep real quiet and listen to the birds singing
in the big tree. They sing in the morning but when they are getting
ready to settle down for night they have a grait time fighting.
Its to bad that even weet little birds will fight. Baby if you
were here I could trim you all up with roases and smilax with
out steping off the Granda wouldent you look pretty just covered
with roses and smilax And I believe Prince could do big things
in the real estate bus he surely could do as well as he can in
Chicago. I guess I would better not say much about your coming
this winter but wait till next winter when you are back in Esn
then Prince will be glad of a change. But next winter is a long
way off but xxx xxx is right here now and my baby needs to be
quiet. It is such a long time since I have had a letter I dont
missd that for Dell writes that you are alright and getting rested.
If you are all sure that Doctor Erimst under stands your cace.
I suppose if he wont let you write he wont let you ready very
much so I better stop.
I had the little man get me an indelible pencil so I could sit
on the veranda and write. i hope it wont rub so you cant read
it. Vennie always writes with a pencil so I just though i would
try it and if it is hard to read you tell me.
I hope this will find my baby much better and a good little girl
who minds the Doctor. for he is a good Doctor you know baby. I
bet he asks where Pince is every time he comes. I will never get
stoped. I keep ratling on. Lots of love to the sweetiest baby
in the world.
Envelope Addressed:
Mrs A. Scott Ormsby
246 E. 47th St
Chicago Ill
Feb 19 1906
My precious baby
You are not quite so far away as you will be but far enough to
make California seam awful far.
I hope you are not working to hard. I am glad you are not waisting
your valuable s??e spring hours. It is realy to bad that poor
Jessie is no better. The lady who lives next door is going to
Italy she and her son they leave about the last of April. She
has been getting ready for the past three months.
I would not be surprised if she killed her self getting ready
to go. She is working so hard. I suppose Prince is trying to teach
yu a few French words and he is probably thinking of nothing else
but going. It makes me sorta cross when I think how prince gets
the best of me all the time. he can see my pretty baby all the
and I cant. My but he ought to be greatful to Mr. Wright for marring
me for I would be bound to go every where you did and he would
have to take me to Italy and every where else.
I began this letter Sautrday but did not finish it so now I will
tell you I am going to a spook meating this afternoon - I have
been I am home again and not much wiser than I was before I went.
I got a nice long car ride. wore my sewl black dress. It is only
the second time I have worn it. am going out again this evening.
But all this disnfiative does not make me want my baby less O
well, I will have her again sometime. I will write again soon.
I am very well just as well as I ever was in my life and I knocked
on wood when I wrote that. I must stop it to dark.
Mamma loves her sweet baby more then words can tell.
We were on the Ocan in April and surely it was my enugh So
I guess Merch wont be any worse (I dont care if Princey is sick)
Los Angeles Feb 24, 1906
My sweet baby
I tryed to write to you the day befor my birthday and on my birth
day but culd not find the time. Sister Jessie wrote to me to come
over and spend the day with her. she seamed to be so happy to
have us there. and we were alone Louis and his father and Hollis
and the two Iowa Halls men who are building the house for Mother
Jones went to a picnic. I dont know as I told you that Mrs Jones
was going to build a house she has a larg yard and she thought
she mite as well have a house to rent on the other end of her
lot. It realy is very bad to see one so old. just thinking of
business and money. Louis is realy no better just holding his
own as it were. he lost two pounds of flesh when he went back
last summer and he can not gain it back. Jessie says she knows
he will not ever be abel to live in Iowa again he sleeps out of
dors every night and has the best care Jessie can give him You
darling baby you sent me such a pretty bag. and such nice handkerchiefs.
I said Sunday if my baby dont send me som handkerchiefs for my
birthday. Little man you will have to buy me some soon. I wonder
if you made the pretty bag or just run the ribon in th top after
Dell sewed it or rather made it. wall its lovely any how. and
my little baby girl does not have to sew becaus she had typhoid
fever. and whats worse she married a black headed Prince. Who
takes her away from her mamma. I think the littl album with thoses
photographs are lovely or would be if you had filled it with pictures
of my angel baby that on picture of you is awfuly good. I am so
glad you put Katties and Maryes in and they are such good pictures.
Tell Kattie I love her and I know if she dont come back when you
get back from Italy and take care of my baby for me she will be
sorry. Of corse if you dont think best to tell her what I wrot
dont. O say baby here I have been sitting writing and there your
dear letter was out in the box waiting for me to come and get
it. It has been there almost two hours and here I sat and let
it wait. Bessie and Mrs Tenn have gone to a picnic and I am alone.
You remember Mrs Tenn who lived in Oregan she has been living
here for a year and now Mr Tenn has gon to Panama he got a very
fine position given him she leaves for Panama next week she has
been with us two weks Mamma wishes her baby was here tho minute.
her picture stands on the piano and a large vace full of roses
always stand by it But the picture dont said a word just looks
at me. You dear you must not worry your self ill again. I far
Ernest has not quite cured my baby yet you are not strong or you
would be more interested in your appertunity to see the old country.
I wish you did not have to have sewing done you dont want to fill
your trunks so full that you cant bring home Paris gouus. You
can get things cheaper there and better. So what is the use of
wereing your self all out fussing with dressmakers. There is but
one objecton to your doing now I think March is a bad month to
cross the ocan. I dont see why it would not be a good plan for
you to see all you intend to see befor you go to Italy. I tell
you how you mite have a few weeks of quiet. you mite bid all your
friends good bye then stay at home quietly for two months know
one would know that you had not gone you could not do that in
Emmitsburg but you could in Chicago. Let Clara be your last visiter
dont have any more before you go. Now that would be a novel way
of taking a rest before you start It mite prove as funny as three
men in a boat. But you could not loose the butter for Kattie takes
care of that. Then if you want to you culd apear again in Chicago
on the first day of April See Your problem is easer to solve than
poor Sisters Vens. I have said meny times years ago that she was
foolish to live with him. But I fear she would have a very hard
time to get red of him. O how I wish I culd do some thing for
her. O how meny couples have lived together and spoiled a life
and in the end had to separate. It does not seam right that she
should suffer onlger but will she suffer less if she casts him
off. I am so afraid she wuld get to feeling so sorry for him she
would take him back and then her life wuld not be worth living
for he never forgives or forgets what he calls arong done to him.
If she could be firm and never take him back it would be better
than living with him. Poor darling she had had nothing but trouble
with him.. he has never been any kind of man I even cannot help
to be sorry for him and I know she is to. I realy would be happy
to go and help her and take care of father and wife till they
die if Mr Wright could see it as I do and what would be still
harder for me to convince my son Horace of corse he to needs me
in a way. We word have much longer to wait on the land deal for
the option runs out on the second day of March they are trying
hard to borrow the money they could have sold it a month ago but
liofied to be able to raise the money. Horace was the only one
who wanted to sell the other three did not want to so of course
he does not feel very good. he says we had our opertunity and
lost it. Still while there is life there is hope. I dont believe
I like to be in the land business. I dont want may baby to worry
about anything for it wont make Aunt Venes troubles any less and
may make her sick again Mamma wants you to be well and dont worry
about leaving me I am well and I dont see you now and you wont
be gone very long and I am quit happy to be able to say my daughter
married Prince Ormsby they are now traveling in Europ. Dont that
sound swell. How I wish I could keep Dell with me while you are
gon but I am fraid she would not be happy. Now baby dont worry
any more just be mammas happy baby. When we get to Heaven we will
just have a little house all to our selvs if prince and Mr Wright
come around bothering us when we want to be alone we will just
shoot stars at them I dont know as you can read this I have just
scratched it off. Good by darling dont worry every thing wil come
out right. Any way be thankful you do not hve to worry about (my
baby) that is my greatest blessing you always have been the bright
spot in my life every since you were layed in my arms by my dear
Mother Love to Dell and prince and O so much for my blesed baby.
Envelope Post marked April 14, 1906
Los Angeles, Cal.
Mrs Grace P Ormsby
North Shore Health Resort
Ninnetka, Ill
Good Friday
My precious baby.
I am going to keep this day holy by writing to a real angel. I
suppose Sister Jessie is at church and prehaps Prince took my
baby. O he is in Emmetsburg so of corse he is at church. They
will see that he remembers his easter offering. I guess the poor
little quarreling church needs all they can get. I should think
it would be awfuly discouraging for Doctor Jackson to have been
reading thoes prayers for so meny years and see how little good
it has done. I tell you if he could have made them love each other
more he would not have preached in vain. still they mite have
been worse if they had not had a preacher. and the poor old man
must have a living and realy people need to have something preched
to them. preaching is only teaching some will learn and some will
not and I dont know as it is the teachers falt. I got a long letter
from sister Ven today. she is a head of me. she says I have been
cleaning house cleaned early becaus Dell is coming home and Louis
is coming the first of May and Grandma will have her baby now
see all that Vennie is going to have. and all I have is going
to be taken away from me. Just for the summer darling that is
all. I am realy glad you can have an ocean trip. It wont be dusty
like the old auto car will it darling but it may be just as ruff
and it wont run off the track like the trains do. But the chance
for picking up will be just as good. Of corse Prince wants you
to pick up and get real well and strong. I hope the shaking up
up old Italy has been getting has frightened Mrs Ornsby almost
to death. I wish it would frighten Prince out of going. (But you
cant go but this once) Prince can go alone if he wants to go.
I am going to send you som pictures of our house so you can see
the home of my birds. you will see how near they live to me. and
how I must hear them sing they waken me every morning. and I go
to sleep again they realy sing me to sleep and it is realy interesting
to sit at the window and watch them go to bed. My but they do
have a time of it befor they get setled down for the night. I
believe there are a thousand birds in that tree.
I can see them flying in and out of the tree. it takes them so
long to get ready to go to sleep I keep a pan of water down by
the tree. and Bessied bouy lit som wheat. and we feed them every
morning. O baby the postman just brought me my little chickens.
It is so sweet and looks just like a live chicken Now I am going
to fill the box with orang blossom and send it back to you I have
been asking them to get me a box for the longest time but no one
could remember it. I know they wont be pretty but they will smell
sweet if they are wilted.
I hope Mrs Mayns reached her in a fair state of wilted beauity
of corse they would not look fresh. Wall baby I have to go and
take care of my chicken for Bessie and some of the neighbors have
it down on the beranda and I am afraid they will brake it. You
knew what kind of a chicken I like best a little yellow one.
You alays remember your Mamma darling. God bless my baby.
April 13 Lots of love to Dell
Say baby My P always tip over when I address your letter I guess
I will leave them off
Los Angeles Aug 11 th 1907
My precious foolish baby
The postman just brought a letter from prince to Mr Wright. I
opened it as I wanted to see what his royal highness had writen
and found he was just writing becaus My baby was worried Now darling
if you dont want Prince to get the ax and saw you would better
not worry so much about me. Where is my sensible girl who used
to say dont less worry mamma I am not going to, you see baby you
have had all your worry for nothing. I amperfectly well. I dont
worry if I dont get a letter from you just when I expect to I
have been rather busy as Bessie is still at the beach. I think
she will come home Saturday she has had enough of it for a while
she had got so anxious for a change that she just was sick. said
she though she should die if she didnt have a change but Horace
got a letter to day saying shw wanted to come home so he is going
after her with the automobile She will be all right now we have
a car and she can go to ride. I have realy enjoyed being house
keeper and have had no one to please but my self. I guess I will
have to tell you all about your brother. and see if that wont
make you hapy. Well he is turning out to be a big real estate
dealer he is so busy and so happy he realy has very bright prospects.
It is remarkable how his raising the money for that ranch last
winter has brought him out. That sounds funny but I dont know
what else to call it. that was a big deal and business men heard
of it and now they want him to handel there property. he has a
girl to run the type writter and he said well Mother I hired a
girl to day there were about twenty five girls answered my ad
but most of them were to good looking. the one I have hired is
so homely I sure Bessie cant be jelious. she has red hair and
freckles. and I guess I am safe. It though I would tell you all
about every thing but I guess that would be silly It will be enough
for you to know that he has a good start and that he has already
closed a deal where he made five thousand dolars of course half
of that goes to mr Wright. I wish you could have seen him when
he came home with a check for five thousand. he had to bring it
home to show me. Poor Bessie has missed lots of excitement not
being here. And she does love it so she was willing to come home
just as soon as she heard we had a car. I dont blaim her she has
never had money and that has been very hard for her. I trust they
may have smoother sailing in the future. (Now baby will you be
good) and not borrow trouble. I dont see why you did not get a
letter I did not know that I had been any longer about writing
then usal. I am going out to a meating tonight so I must stop
as I want to post his. You see baby your mamma is such a goer
she dont have as much time as she did when she stayed at home
like a good mamma. Love, love to my precous baby.
Mrs W. S. Wright
1343 Kellan Ave
Los Angeles, Cal
Post marked Dec 27, 1906
Mrs A. Scott ormsby
Emmetsburg, Iowa
(Post mark on back of envelope: Emmetsburg, Iowa Dec 31 7:30 AM 1906)
My precious Angel
Your letter of Dec 12. was quit a stiring one. and I felt that you and Prince were indeed angels. but the letter I received this morning proves you not only angelic but a general to manage getting the Tyson family straightened out as you have It is a pitty that it could not have been managed twenty years ago. It was awfuly hard on you both and Prince is a wonderful man. and not meny men would bother with your relations as he has done, he is surely a real Prince. I know darling how very hard it has been on you. and I do hope this will be the end of it. I would not be surprised though to hear he never got to the place you sent him (If he went alone) If he had money enugh he would go to Thief River Ia instead. He will not let Vene live in peace if he can help it. It was nugh to make you sick and feel old. you poor baby how mamma wishes she had been with her baby. Realy that man is the cause of so much trouble. How much better off Mr Wright would be if he had not tryed to help him. I wish baby you had put him in care of the state. that time Sister Vene came to Counail Bluffs. You had a time with him then. poor bably. I am glad he is out of the way befor we have any cherubs on the way. Mr Wright wanted to send Prince wine for Christmass but I said no not wine to that house now. I wish Harry could be made to beel that it is not safe for him to even drink one glass of any kind of liquor. Poor boy Auntie is so sorry for him I hope you can enjoy your L.B. company it was so sweet of you to invite the girls to spend their vacation. I know how they will enjoy being with you you must tell me all about the visit after they go home. I wish they all could marry a Prince and be happy Now darling I must tell you about our Christmas your beautiful presenants came several days befor xmas I put the box away and Christmas eve we opened it to geather. Horace took out the packages and handed them to us. Befor he opened the box he said mabe i wont get anything. but the first one he picked out was for him. O darling you did send us such lovely things. Bessie was so pleased with her gifts she wanted a card case and of corse everyone wants gloves. Horaces face just beemed he was so happy. and so did the little mans. the Lace collar and fruit. darling are to nice for me and the perl arnement for my hair they look just like my baby she ought to have them. and what lovely soft fine handkerchiefs. every thing was so lovely. O baby when I began to unwrap the box I felt at once that skull. I said I wont unwrap it. I know it is something to scar me. Go on says the little man dont be so silly. (Dont that sound like him) I kept saying I wont take of another paper but they made me. Just wait till I get hold of that black hair I sent those monkeys to him. becaus I thought if he was going to have such a larg family all winter. he would need to pattern after the monkeys (I hope he will understand what they mean) but Prince is so slow I suppose you will have to explain it to him. Poor Sister Vene I cant keep her out of my mind I am afraid she will not hold out. You must not worry baby and make wrinkels be my happy baby I love all the beautiful things you sent. You had them all fixed up so nice. dear Jessie gave me a little stand to set at the head of my bed to put any bottles on. I cant see to write all the little things i got it is getting so dark Bessie gave me cloths for a waist. I want this to be posted tonight so I must stop. I did not send Dear Dell a thing she sent me a nice pare of gloves. I intended to send Vennie money and let her get something for her self and Harry but Mr Wright sent the money to Harry so if Vennie gets any thing he will have to buy it. O baby I must stop mamma must see her baby in march but tats a long time.
O how I love my baby
Kellan Ave Los Angeles
My precious baby
What will come next. I am afraid that if Prince could have heard
me talk about his Mothers going off to Italy and leaving her children
he mite have said, (Shut up Doce). she has a right to do as she
pleases and the money to do it with so I mite as well keep still.
I am glad that you can take the trip if you will enjoy it and
I suppose you will. any way you will have some thing to write
in your journal I know you were lots worse when you were ill then
you told me you were and prehaps you are not very well yet. I
spoose you will all come home so in love with Allices husband
that you will be sorry you were not born in Italy. It seames to
me you are going in a hot time of the year
This is surely a restless age half the world seams to be on wheels
and the other half unhappy becaus they are not. people must go
some where. I bet the automobel that mr Wright did not get that
you stay a year in Italy you mite as well give me your home in
Ebury and I will go there and stay In loving memory of the dear
man who worked himself to death to make his family have every
comfort and live near each other. Of corse i hate to leave you
go but I hope I am not so selfish that I would keep you if I could
from a plesant voige. But I believe I do hope prince will be good
and sea sick. He is the only person who has me conquered he took
my all when he took my angel and he ahs me under perfect subjection.
If I did not love more than some do. I would make such a howl
about your going that (you would not go) and Mr prince would see
he was not the only one with authority. I dreamed last night of
pulling his black hair just as hard as I could and I pulled out
so much hair he was bald in spots. and I was so tired when I got
through. but very happy. and stood and laughed at him (He was
soing just what he would do) if I really pulled it out Looking
in the glass to see if his beauty was gone. I knew he was not
studying french for any thing. but to air it in Italy. I bet he
cant speak it so well that Allice will not corect him. My but
you will have a dry time with so merry french scollard it is to
be hoped Mrs O has not learned the Italian. prince need not feel
to smart I may spoil his plans yet (I could) Mr Prince and he
nver could have gotten my angel baby if I had said Dont get married
baby. I want you to stay with me. I cant live with out you. I
think you derserve all the merry blessins you have and I am more
thankful then I can tell that you have them. I dont know what
I would do if you did not have. It was such a comfort when you
were ill to know you would have every thing done for you that
could be done. I must stop writing or I will say something naughty
I dont know what but I know I will begins on poor Prince again.
Dont try to have much sewing done it will be to hard for you and
tire you all out. I will write to Dell soon. Good bless my angel
baby.
The Ranch Jan 12
My darling Child
Just read your letter of sad advents Ormsbury always has been
like a dime novel to me. things cannot run smoothly for any length
of time. I am very sorry to hear that dear little Gurtrude is
not well. You did not say what was rong with her but me thinks
it must be her lungs. I would like so much to take her if it was
posible to make her comefortable ut just think of our six room
house we have only three bedrooms and they are just little rooms
not so large as the room you had for the servent room and one
room upstars. it is not like any other up stars just one room
in the middle of the roof and we have three beds up there. So
where culd we make a bed for Gertrude and keep her happy she could
not ride horse back. now it is to muddy and will be till the midel
of may. then it will be dust for it does not rain here at all
in summer. Of course I am sorry I cant have here. I hope she will
not hink I do not want her. I would be so happy to have here.
if I could. I saw the rector Mr Dawson and asked him if he could
take here to board and he said he could not that his sister was
with them and a very delecat girl he would be very glad if he
could send her away for her health has never been good since she
came from Ireland. she was a strong girl any he thinks she wuld
be alright if she was back in Ireland. Of corse if it is not her
lungs this climat is lovely in meny ways. it does not rain hard
and there is not a bit of wind it is just cool enugh so se have
to have a fire in our little stoves we have a cole and cole air
tight stoves made in Council Bluffs. I was so surprised when I
saw the name on the stove and we have one in the front room and
one in the middle room so we can have our bedrooms warm if we
wish to we close the door between the rooms usely in the evening
and that gives both familys sort of a home just now Vine is reading
to Harry and mr W is lying on the sofa in our evening home just
dying to read to me. But is must write. We got a letter from Horace
today the letter we got last week was very hopeful but the one
we got today was to tell us the work he had been working on for
some time had fall to the ground poor boy he will always have
to worry. He has had a hard life. It is hard to be a Mother I
hpe you never will be. That was rong for me to say that darling
for you would have a father for your children. I really ought
to be ashamed of my self to write such things to you. You must
not think I am not hapy for realy I would be and am just as happy
as most people I have only one caus for not being very very happy
If I could see my boy well started in something to make an honest
living I would be very happy and we all have something. You are
such a comfort to me I it is such a blessing to know you do not
want for any thing and that you are happy in the Princes house.
It was so sweet of you to say you would like to give your brother
half. you would be so happy dariling if you were not so woried
about others I cant see why Alex cant give Albert work I am so
sorry for Clara and the sadist is that she has a little baby and
Clara Safer what is to become of her with two babys. My letters
will get to be a night horse. I said horse because I am not sure
of spelling the other. I hope dear little Gurt will not be disapointed.
If I thought this a good climat for her I would take her and put
a cot in the sitting room but the men have to go through to get
upstars. So I dont see what I could do. I will use all my paper
if I dont stop.
God bless my angle baby
Rosenburg
Sept 19, 1902
My Dear Grace
Your letter of the 14th written to you mohter came to hand this evening and I just set right down to tell you about Mothers eyes they never have been so well in her life as they have been since she left Chicago she speaks of it all most every day and says how good it is not to think of your eyes all of the time for they are so free from pain that she does not think of them. The only time that they felt bad was one day when she hand pushes now I will tell you that having Riaches is bad for the eyes. The Girls in the packing house say that it makes their eyes sore it is the fire fuzz that they say get in the eyes that does it.
Yes dear Grace you can be sure that your mothers eyes are as well as they can be and she is as happy as I ever saw her. We have been very busy with the peaches and now we have got the prunes Mother and Nina went to the orchard this afternoon and picked prunes they picked about two bushels. They had a lot of fun.
Say you ought to see Vene came in the other day with the double barrel shot gun on her shoulder and a pheasent in her hand Win shot it near the house. The other day Vene and I set in the wagon and Win got out and shot two near the orchard. My but they are firm to eat.
Well I guess you will rest easy about mothers eyes after you read this. For I have given you the fact about them.
With lots of love and a sweet kiss I am
Yours
W.S. Wright
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