The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-30

with. Our home, as you know, is
practically on the edge of the desert.
Behind our house, which is quite
small, are a few bare hills, but the
landscape is dreadfully monotonous.
This is not the part of the country
where the orange groves are. 1t is
hard to make a living from the land
and we have to make the most of d
very few comforts; but it is lots of
fun, in a way. My darling works
from early to late and l have to do
all the homework. Imagine me! My
hands are the chief sufferers. But
we never see a living SOUL mean
any one who matters-so I don't
mind that. Our nearest neighbors
are ten miles off, but as they are per-
fectly horrible the distance is rather
an advantage than otherwise. The
life is, not exactly romantic. 1t is a
grim reality. 1t is very lonely and
very hard. So much the better,
though, for proving my theory, which
you always laughed at. We are more
in love with each other than ever.
So long as we have each other, what
does anything else matter?" [Etc.]
Letter 9-"When you write next
tell me what frocks are being worn
and describe all the pretty hats you
see in the shops. 1t seems dreadful
extravaganza to hear of you paying
$500 for a gown! I can't believe I
ever did such things. When I read
your letter I said at once, Where
can she get the money from?' I
have two cotton gowns and a big
straw hat lin which 1 look a fright,
and these will have to last a long
time because we are dreadfully poor.
OF course l still have all the frocks
l had when we were married, but n
couldn't wear such things here.
Don't think I am grumbling. dearest,
but sometimes / remember what you
used to say and wonder whether my
darling husband will not begin to
love me less when l go around all
day looking so different from the
smart young lady of the old days.
But this is very wrong and very fool
ish for me. He is the most devoted
and loving husband in the world
IA young wife's opinion Of her hus-
band follows.l
Letter 1O.-Your long letter was
a real delight. 1t was sweet of you
to tell me about the dances and the |
aters. What / miss above everything
is a Woman friend with whom l could
have a good chat-and perhaps a
good cry" [The end of the letter
rather shaky.]
Letter Ill have. not written be-
fore because there really was nothing
to say. We cannot afford to go any
where and II day on the farm is
just like another. We both find it
very m~onotoaous, bun we grow fond
er Of each other every day. My dar-
ling is SO thoughtful and kind. He
wants me to agree that he shall
work out for q little while and 50
save enough money TO send me
=ast for a rest and change He keeps
IN referring to this but of course I
viii not hear of it. Many. many
for the fashion papers. over
which / have spent lots of happy
ours. I am low reduced to one
Eorkaay dress, but I am making an
It Is quite an experiment, be-
:ause | know nothing about dress
making and I.hate sewing. And. oh.
lear, there is SO much mending to
10. We live in mended things. The
crops have turned out badly, and we
hardly know where the next meal is
coming from. You viii not be able
to realize what that means. I don't
Tor myself, but I am dreadfulIv
sorry for my husband. He is the best
and dearest of men. He suffers much
than l do because I have not got
any pretty clothes to wear and be-
cause the life is so different from
what | expected or from what I had
been brought up to. Imagine-mush
and bacon three times a day-with
bread baked by me-my love always
toasts his. He says he likes toast.
| know it is because he can't eat
my bread! All, dearest, dearest. II
sit here and see the wooden walls and !
and the patched-up things that
lave to do out here, and the pile of
socks and stockings that has got to
be darned and washed, and through
the window the dusty, dreary land
scape--
Il think I have been crying. Only
\ little. But l am ashamed. See, I
brush the tears away. After all, II
rave the only thing that really counts
my husbands love.
Letter 12.-"only just a line to tell
you some bad news. The mortgage
IN the farm has been %foreclosed IT
7hink that's the right expression),
md we have got to go. Where? Who
lnows? First, 1 think, to Los An
seles. My husband hopes he may be
lble to get work there, but he is 90
ng to try also at Pasadena, where a
rlend OF his owns some livery stables.
is a very pretty part of the coun-
~; and | should look forward to the
'hange, If it were not for the terrible
'nxiety of finding ourselves without a
and practically without money.
ny husband begged me again and
gain to allow him to borrow sufi-
lent money to send me home, at all
vents, until his affairs were more