Mahone Bay, N.S.,
July 7, 1910
Dear Mother:
Your most welcome and interesting letter of July 1 was duly received and highly enjoyed. We were also much interested in the clipping containing the Observer’s account of the wedding. Bonnie said though, the most interesting part was left out and that was the list of presents the bride received. You might furnish that in your next or have Mrs. Hefner to send it. It will be nice that they are going to live in Hickory. Jennie Lee who seems to have been your man of all work can still give you a lift occasionally. We were glad to hear that you were so favourably impressed with Mr. Childs and trust that he and Herminie will be as happy as Jennie Lee and Walter when their two hearts beat as one. I wish we could have some of your super abundance of fine spring chickens, apples and peaches. So far we have had only strawberries in the fruit line and not very many of them. Today however, I bought a dozen little runty apples for five cents and we stewed them whole and they were quite palatable. But our fruit season will come on later when yours is past and gone. I trust Pearl is enjoying her vacation and visit at Blanche’s. What does Bikle intend to do at Mr. Peg[?]? Will he do farm work? I’m afraid he will not find
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that very remunerative. I wish he could strike something to make some money this summer. I feel for a fellow when he is hard up for funds. I know what it is from present and prolonged experience. I wouldn’t mind it myself and never did worry much over it, but Bonnie worries all the time and worries herself almost to death over our debts. I don’t believe she has one happy moment in her life on account of them. So my advice to Bikle is not to get married by any means until he has a good practice and is wholly free from debt. Living expenses here are very high. My store bill up to date amounted to $195.10, besides what I paid cash for. Of this amount I have paid $55 leaving a balance of $140.10, which debt has accrued in the last nine months. Most of the amount, however, was for the barn and for wood and coal. The bill for horse-feed alone was $99.12. $47 was for wood and coal and the balance was for the horse. Of course in that time I have reduced our indebtedness to Mr. DeLong from about $200 to $145 and have met the quarterly payments of $25.00 on our piano. But I borrowed $40 on the policy to pay my insurance, and so on the whole I am getting in about as fast as I am getting out. I try to get Bonnie to give up worrying and take it patiently as I do, but it is of no use, and I am very sorry. She thinks I
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should never have got married as I did, having nothing. And I agree with her on that point. If I had had any idea that she would take it as hard as she does, I would not under any circumstances have made her so unhappy. She says she won’t live long at this rate and I really don’t believe she will. But I have tried everything in my power to get her to give up worrying and be happy and it is all in vain; and I feel that I am wholly to blame for it. I love the little girl and hate to see her grieving so, but am powerless to help it. Don’t say anything to anybody about this, as I have never mentioned it to a soul before and wouldn’t do so now only that I thought you might be able to write something that might help her a little. If she could only take things as I do, but it is not her nature and it is just spoiling her life the way things are going. We all went down to Chester last Saturday. We had perfect weather and a delightful drive along the shore . The baby enjoyed it immensely and was as good as pie all of the time. We got home Sunday evening just in time for Church. I had to preach that night without supper. But I must close. With love and all good wishes, I am
Most Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H. Little
