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Subject: A letter from Grandmother Ida Helle to her son Royle
Date: aprox 1928-1929
Dear Royle,
Received your letter the other day. Well I suppose you heard the place didn't sell and Joe bid it in. So I feel lots better but it sure gets monotonous up here. Wouldn't stay another year like this for anything. The boys can't do half enough work to suit Pop and yu know how he is. Think he better get back in the mill. The have sale for lumber now and he isn't satisfied here and won't let the rest be satisfied. He wants to go with Joe to Burlington Sunday so we may come down Saturday eve. Will stay all night at Ethels, then go to Nellies and see Ma on Sunday. Well we had to plant the sod field over. Something eat the corn right up so they are at that now and will finish it tomorrow forenoon. Then they have a day or two in the peat but will lack 30 or 40 acres of getting it all in. Will have in 300 acres anyway and are plowing the corn in the third field. Have three cultivators going part of the time. Will put in one more. Could put in two, but Pop thinks he can't run one of the riders, but have to get the rest of the corn in first anyway. We have lots of strawberries but it takes lots you know and lots of fish. But can't catch them. We had a mess last night for the first time, but they are in the ditches great droves of them Guess we will get a net to get them, but I am afraid for the boys to go after them. Walter said he heard two rattlers yesterday. Gene claims he saw one stick up its tail and rattle it at him. I am so afraid they will get bit. Oh yes, I got the rug and like it fine. The boss brought curtains so it is beginning to look like a house & my flowers are coming on fine. But it will never be home to me. I went and left you kids. I could have stood it if you kids had of left me, but for me to go and leave all of you where you can't even come home to me, for this isn't home. Well we have nice neighbors. I like them fine. Lots better than Ola Rock, but that is about all the nice part about it. Just the same I would make the best of it if Pop would try harder. There is only one thing to do and that is after corn is laid by for Joe to go on to Burlington and let him go back in the mill. If he does, Royle, I want you kids to look after him a little. I suppose roger could stay and work for him and maybe Atha & I expect Sheldon would have to part of the time. Well Royle, I have wrote you a long letter. Tell alta I will write to her some other time, but come up when you can Royle. Let us know as Dan has got a car and we might not be here. Royle go back to your chiropractor again and let me know how you are and if we go down, will expect to see you at Nellies.
With Love, Mother