Margaret Wylie Mellette to Louisa Wylie Boisen, 05 February 1879

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Margaret W. Mellette, Springfield, Dakota Territory, to Mrs. Louise W. Boisen, Bloomington, Monroe Co., Indiana, Care Prof H. Boisen

Springfield, D.T.

Feb. 5^th 1879 (Wed.)

My dear Lou,

            I received your letter and one from Aunt Susan yesterday. I am always so glad to hear from home. I intend writing once a week to some of you and so far I have written the first of the week so you will get it either Friday or Saturday.

            I have not had time to feel lonesome since I came, as I can get no girl and with a family of 7 I am kept busy. Wylie is a great help to me in my work. He washes nearly all the dishes for me. The other day when Arthur spoke of Wylie looking pale, he (Wylie) looking very sober, said he thought it was dish washing. Charlie I can’t get much good out of. He is willing to saw wood but if any thing is said about washing dishes he is sick.

            While I like this place very much. There is only one lady that I feel that I am acquainted with. She is very nice and has been kind to us. Days when I did not feel well sent me bread and cake to save me cooking. She is rather intellectual. The worst that I see about her is that she does not seem contented. She is a brave woman. It is known of her that years ago when the new country was filled with men that were as hard as could be and that men were afraid to talk to she was not afraid of their pistols. One Sab night a lot of the men were stopping at their Hotel and with their pistols on the table at their sides were spending their Sab eve in card playing and gambling. Her husband was afraid to stop it and she walked in the room, asked them if they would not please stop playing when they were through the game. Told them how differently she had been raised and they all threw down their cards and did not even finish the game. She is a descendant of the Scotch and an old covenanter. Well Mrs. Meade is filling too much of my letter. You ask about snow. I might say there is snow here. When we came here there was a little in the grass and none on the streets. They are dusty and have been since we came. It’s hard to keep a house dusted in this country. I was so disappointed to hear you talk about not coming in the Summer. I wrote Aunt Em about the cat getting Dixie. Poor little darling. I did not know how much I did care for it until I had to give it up. The blue headed one is safe. I lost the cage coming up here. I had to put them in a little paper box to keep them warm. I will be nicely fixed when we get all of our house. We have some very pretty new furniture. I have written this so fast that I don’t believe any one but you could read it, but it is only for you. So write often. We are all very well. Children will get strong. It’s just the place for your Anton.

I think my throat is getting better. Some days I don’t know I have a sore throat at all. Other day I feel it as I did at M. Arthur says he never felt so well. Best love to all. Wylie has written this letter to Brown and I will put it in this for you to give to him. I feel anxious about his baby. It is much sick. Love to all

M.W.M.

Theophilus Adam Wylie Family Correspondence, 1806 - 1930, (bulk 1850 - 1930), Collection 2005.003.2849, Wylie House Museum, Indiana University, Bloomington.