To: Sophronia Troupe – Fostoria, OH
From: ? - South Milford, Indiana
April 10th, no year
Well Sophronie, [Sophronia Troupe] I received your kind and welcome letter Saturday and it pleased me so that I thought I would answer it right away.
We are all well at present. Mabel’s finger is almost well, she can run all over and can say Pa and Ma and tatey (for potato). She has 8 teeth.
We haven’t heard from Frank’s since last Sunday. They didn’t have anything then, but I expect they have before this.
Alice Barber was a working for Mother the last time we was there. She wished for you to come and stay all summer. Jone didn’t cry about Mary Sidle getting married. He goes with Alice Barber. She is as pretty a girl as I know and a good girl.
I have been a doing my work alone but it keeps me a hopping. I haven’t made any garden but I have my house cleaning most done. I just got my carpet home for the kitchen. I tell George that it is too nice for the kitchen.
We board the school teacher (Ella Barber). We boarded Mat Emerick last winter. She taught this school, she was married before school was out to Dave Milbourn. Some folks say that something was wrong, but I didn’t see it, if there was.
Manerve is alive yet but she is a failing fast.
Louisa [Louisa Shipe Hutchins] is a doctoring for her hearing. She thinks that she can hear better. Ellen is a working for Shifely’s. She takes her boy with her and gets a dollar and a half.
Well Fronie [Sophronia Troupe], I must tell you how many eggs we eat. I cooked 33 and there wasn’t any left.
Bert was here last week and he stayed til yesterday afternoon and Owen (Hand ?) was here for dinner. Bob Fields and Mabel eat three. We have a fresh cow now.
Fronie [Sophronia Troupe] I wish you would tell me where to address letters to Amos [Amos W. Troupe] and to Lizzie [Sarah Elizabeth Troupe Lown], if not the same. I was a going to write to her, but I didn’t know her name nor where to send the letter. Where is Israel’s [Israel S. Troupe] address? Is Amos [Amos W. Troupe] married yet?
I haven’t heard Jone say anything about his barn lately. He hurt his arm and he carried it in a sling for a week and it didn’t get better and then he went to the doctor and he said that it was broke.
Jake Bickle will work for Pa this summer. I don’t know how much he gets a month.
Fronie [Sophronia Troupe] we heard that Bell was married, is it so? Write and tell me. And if Ola Hollapeter is married and Emma Bechtell. I would like to see some of the school girls. Who does Will Foster go with?
Fronie [Sophronia Troupe], I have a lot of news to tell you but I am afraid that it would be seen.
What has become of William Henry [William Henry Beuchat]? I haven’t heard anything of him since you left. Good Bye. Write soon.
I guess that I have told you all I know. I will wait til some other time to tell what I don’t know. Good bye. Write soon.
From ( ? ) to Sophronia
I bought me a new cashmer dolman for 9 dollars and bought the stuff and hired it made. I have a lot of little chickens. I don’t know how many.