Transcription

Ross River
June 21, 1930

Dearest Anna,

This doesn't seem like the longest day – on account of our early season – though the birds keep us awake during the night with their continuous singing. We are doing splendidly with our supplies this year – and have not felt the urgent need of new ones by the boat – which should be coming now in several weeks. We don't want it so soon this time – because we are hoping for the return mail – which – if too late for the boat won't reach us before next spring. However – things seem so contrary – I shouldn't be surprised if it made a record trip this time – and reached us about July the first!

We still watch with interest the proceedings of our Indian missionary and family. They have a mid week service and three on Sunday! I never saw our people so dressed up in their lives – as they are for the Sunday activities now. The church bell is a piece of old cast iron pipe – upon which they beat vigorously – not very musical – but effective.

[…]

Mary has school every day – and there is quite a number attending by this time..

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The Medicine Unit is also in operation. Yesterday I went to look at a boy's very badly sprained ankle. It certainly is a mess . He did it last fall – and agitated it by continuous use – so that now it is just a big swollen mess – from his ankle to his toes. […]

Did I tell you that Claude has started giving Mary Martin lessons? She practices on a little old portable organ which belongs to the Church – and she [is] most anxious to be able to play hymns at the services. She tries hard and is getting along alright.

I started at the same time – and am enjoying it very much. My fingers aren't what they ought to be – by any means – and it is annoying to be able to read the music much faster and better than I can play it. However – Claude is so helpful and encouraging – says he can't say how much he regrets that I didn't start when we first came up here – for he feels sure that I would have been playing quite well by this time. With proper exercise – I find my finger control much better – even now – and we haven't been at it three weeks. Even if I don't learn to play really well – I get a tremendous amount of pleasure out of it – and Claude is tickled to death – and is so particular about everything – my fingering needs to be just right . He is a darling to help me, I think. I find my knowledge of the notes a good help – and shall always be thankful for my Dawson efforts in learning – though Claude doesn't know about that.

Sunday June 29

Well Anna dear, -

I certainly must be hurry upping with this letter – as it would not be impossible for the boat to arrive at any hour now – though we hope it will another week or two before it comes.

This is only my second letter for the boat (the other one to Mamma) – but I think I overdid myself last time – and shall wait for replies before starting again in earnest.

Meanwhile my plants and music keep me more than busy – to say nothing of cleaning up for the boat – and entertaining the Martins – *who come here much too often.

I certainly have been having a hard time with my plants. First – the frosts – which continued up to the middle of June – then – the miserable sandy, ashy soil in our yard – then the cut worms which have destroyed quite a few plants – then the birds – who feed on the young tender leaves – and now – the extremely dry weather. Of course I water them every day – but its not like a good soaking rain. The soil is so sandy – it doesn't hold water more than an hour or two at best – and it's a job watering them as the mosquitoes nearly eat me up – every time.

With it all however – some of them are doing very well – and I can reasonably hope for fair success though they seem to grow so very slowly.

Last evening Claude brought me numberless stones – to put around my flower beds – and it certainly improves the general appearance. If only I had some grass seed – I [will?] order some next year – for – aside from the beds – our yard is just one burning hot sand bed – dry as dust.

This has been a nice quiet Sunday – we had lunch at noon – so I did not even start the fire. The kitchen gets so terribly hot with a wood fire – we find it much pleasanter to have lunch in the middle of the day at this time of year.

The Indians are slow in coming in – none of the Pelly Banks bunch has arrived – much to the concern of the Parson.

I hope you all are well – and that we shall be hearing from you soon. We are fine – I have headaches – overpowering ones – which last about twenty four hours – and they come every week or so – but aside from that – I am fine. Claude never was looking or feeling better. I do hope David is well, too.

I wonder if you are planning a summer holiday? But it's foolish to ask questions now – for I shall get no reply for many a month – and you always tell me everything – at any rate. You shall hear from me again – when Mr. Drury goes down – several weeks after the boat – just as last year so – as there is isn't much news – I shall close

With all our love to you both from

Med

P.S. I wish you could visit us! I'm homesick for you sometimes.