It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. Alvin Fielding and Amelia Smith Letters, Mar. 1907 MSS 7952 [notes by transcriber are in brackets] [ltr. 1, p. 1] #140 Salt Lake City, March 7 – 1907. My Own Dear Alvin:- I have two letters to answer one I re- ceived Tuesday and another yesterday I was glad to get them but I am sorry that your throat is no better I was in hopes when the operation was over it would heal and get better but it looks as though it is going to take its time. Dearie I do hope you will take Dr. Allens advice and do as he tells you. I am glad he did get after you for not doing what he told you. I should have thought you would have taken his advice befor for your own comfort. If I was [ltr. 1, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 3] 2. over there I would beat you if you did’nt do as he told you. I do’nt know Dr. Allen but from what I have heard of him I think he is a very bright man. You do’nt know how it worrys me to have you sick so long you tell me you are well but I know better. I know what a sore throat makes one feel like Say Dearie for goodness sake hurry and get your throat better so you can talk lots when I get over there because I know you will have lots to tell me. You know I can hardly make up my mind to leave Ruth although I think it will be best – what do you think? She is the sweetest baby she gets cuter every day. She says she will stay with Grandma if I will go and bring Papa home and she wants me to bring her a [ltr. 1, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 5] 3. teddy bear. So Alex is going to tell me a few tell him all right remember us to him when you write. It would be nice if his sweet heart was over there when I came. Yes I hope there are some nice people going when I go. Dearie I think you trunk would be so big and I do’nt want to bring a lot of clothes and if it was only half full it would be libal to be mashed I thought I would bring Joe’s trunk but if you think I better bring yours I will. Yes we are still having mild weather we have had such a peculiar winter. You ask me how big Ruth is I intended measuring her before I wrote you but it slipped my mind and she has gone to bed so I will [ltr. 1, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 7] 4. tell you next time. Bro. Nelson telephoned me yesterday and asked me if I wanted to sell our Uncle Sam and I told him I was thinking of it and he said he thought it a good time to sell so I told him to sell and he telephoned later that he had sold it for $.50 he wanted me to go down and indorse it but later he found out it was indorced but he said if you are coming down come in I want to see you so I went down and he handed me a check for $250.00 – $150.00 for the stock and $100.00 for my fare I told him I thought it would’nt take that much but he said well if it dont that will come in handy. Last night he telephoned and asked me if I would [ltr. 1, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 9] 5. like to go to the Orpheum and I told him I would he said he had three tickets and he could only use one and for me to bring some one with me so I took Eva Tud. and we met Bro. Nelson there and enjoyed the preformance You know he has a pass there and at the Salt Lake he told me I might use his pass once a week at the Orpheum but I havnt asked him for it yet. He certainly is a very fine man and I do appreciate what he has done for us. He and Bro. Langford are sole owners of Salt air and the road to it what do you think of that? He told me last night that he had made $100,000.00 if not 200,000.00 since you [ltr. 1, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 11] 6. went away – I am glad to hear it and I hope he will make as much more in the next two years. Dearie you aught to see Nony she is fatter than I ever was and she does’nt wear corsets and she looks as though she was ready to go to bed. My but Bertha has loomed this last week. she has’nt looked at all bad until lately and now she is enor- mous. She is supposed to go until the 25 but she looks as though it would happen before then. I will be glad when it is over. It was your Mamas birth day last Sunday so I thought I would go down for a while and I did. Emma has some little rabbits and they amused Ruth she calls them cats half the time [ltr. 1, p. 12: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 13] 7. the folk were all well Aunt Bashabee was there she seems to keep pretty well. Well Dearie the cows are gone as you know by this time I know I did’nt get much for them but while it was so rainy then was so much mud in the corral and they were mean and I got so sick of my job I was glad to take what I could get to get rid of them I would have kept the little one but she was mean and she gave such a little milk. I thought best to let her go and get a decent one when you come home. “Forty five minutes from Broadway” was a good show there was a quiet little town only forty five minutes from Broadway. So you think Ruth is a funny kid because she [ltr. 1, p. 14: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 15] 8. hangs onto her Mama yes she is funny some times but she is all right if she do’nt want to speak to any one she tells them so. Ruth always comes for her hugs and kisses when I get a letter. The other morn ing she woke up and I was on the edge of the bed and she put her arms around me and held me as tight so I turned over and she said “I holding you in bed I faid you fall out.” She often wakes up in the night and puts her arms around me. Then she tells Mama that she loved Mama in the night. Eva Tud leaves two weeks from last night. I went up to Tud’s Monday evening and Alice Reynolds was there and she was so pleased when I told her I ex- [ltr. 1, p. 16: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 17] 9. pected to go to you next monthe. She looks much better than she did when she was up before she told me a good deal about her trip and she send her love to you then she asked me if I allowed that and I told her yes. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love to you May the Lord bless you continually. Love hugs and kisses from your loved ones Millie and Ruth. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX excuse scribbeling. [ltr. 1, p. 18: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 1] Salt Lake City, March 11 – 1907. My Own Dear Alvin:- Your letter of Feb. 26th came today and I was pleased to get it and to learn that your throat has started to improve and I hope it will continue to improve until it is en- tirely well. I hope you will be careful and not get more cold. Yes I read about the wreck of the Berlin off the Hook of Holland it was an awful affair it must have been a horrible sight to see the people clinging to the wreckage. [ltr. 2, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 3] 2. That is certainly a fine picture of Alex and R[---] is going over to come home with Alex I will try to find out when she is going I heard Saturday that Silves- ter Cannon’s wife and child- ren are going with him and they are going soon after April conference so I guess I will find some one to go with. Ruth is right at my elbo and she picked up Alex’s picture and said “this looks like my Papa – see his slippers” You ask me if I think A. G. Boman’s wife is a good woman I do’nt know she cer- tainly acts very queer. You aught to see how gray his hair is. Dearie I do’nt see how it is you cant sleep better – I do’nt [ltr. 2, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 5] 3. see how you keep up with so little sleep. To renew the insurance was seven dollars for one year or fourteen dollars for three so I renewed it for three I thought that best. Will Bruce came to see us last Friday he looks differ ent to what he did when he came he is taller and I think thinner he was’nt very well last week but she is all right now. He is sick of the hospital and I do’nt blame him. He has just passed another examina tion – he got 100 on it. I am invited to two parties this week one tomorrow after- noon at Eva Owens and one Thursday afternoon at Alice Tuddenhams they are both for Eva Tud. [ltr. 2, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 7] 4. I heard today that John Nickel son has gone to the asylum his mind has been affected for some time. Alan Lovey the cartoonist died early this morning I guess you will see an account of it in the paper it seems so sad he leaves a wife and one baby about a year old and an invalid mother. His wife is a very dear friend of Ella Hart’s her name was Bobby Ruth before she was marrid. We are all well. We had a snow storm last night but the sun came out to day and the snow dissipeared but it is snow- ing hard tonight. The birds are starting to warbel a little. Mama and Papa and [ltr. 2, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 9] 5. all the folks send love. Well dearie it is getting late and Ruth wont go to bed without me so I guess I will have to quit. I do love you with all my heart. Last night I dreamed I went to the depot to met you and you did’nt , I watched all the people come up from the train but you was’nt there and I was dissapointed and I though I would wait for the next train but I woke before it came. May the Lord bless you con- tinually is the wish and prayer of your loveing and affectionate wife and baby, xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx Millie and Ruth. love hugs and kisses xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [ltr. 2, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 2, ins. 1] [a photograph: a man and a woman on a front porch. The man is sitting on the stairs and the woman is standing behind him] [ltr. 2, ins. 2] [a photograph: a house. There is a woman on the front porch] [ltr. 2, ins. 3] [a photograph: three people on a front porch. a man is standing to the left of a sitting woman and another person] [ltr. 3, p. 1] 142 Salt Lake City, March 18 – 1907. My Own Dear Alvin:- I have just got home from Eva’s farewell reception and it was a huge success. It went off without a hitch and she got something over $90.00 About all I did last week was go out Tuesday after noon Eva Hudson Owen gave a party for Eva T. and I went to that – Thursday afternoon I went to Alice Tuds. to a party and Thursday night to Sharlotte Stewarts to a reception – Saturday after- noon Aunt Mary invited Eva and I to the matinee [ltr. 3, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 3] 2. to see the musical comedy “The Tenderfoot which we enjoyed very much and Saturday night I went up to Hazel Calders to a hand- kerchief shower. And I had a lovely time at every one and you see from the begining of the letter I have been out again tonight last night we went down to Nells for a little while. Eva goes Wednesday night and I must go to the depot so you see I will be out again. I took Ruth to the matinee and she did enjoy it she likes to go to the theatre. Well Dearie you do’nt know how pleased I was to get your letter of March 2nd Which came last Thursday and told me your throat was [ltr. 3, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 5] 3. getting better I do hope that it is entirely well by now. And I do hope you will be careful and not take more cold. I told Aunt Mary, when I was talking with her Sat- urday, that I was going to England to come home with you and she thought that would be lovely and she did want to do some- thing for me she wanted to know what she could get me and I told her I did’nt think there was any thing she was so sweet about it and she said she thought so much of you and she always did that you was as kind and good to her as if you was her own and she would like to do something for me because she she said she knew I was’nt rich neither was she but she never got rid of her last feather [ltr. 3, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 7] 4. but if I wanted to take that feather for a while I was welcome to it. I think that was lovely of her. She told me she was going to dis- own me because I hav’nt been to see her I am ashamed of my self but I am going before I go away. You know dearie I am hav- ing a time with my self to make up my mind to leave Ruth at home but near- ly every one especially people that have travelled advise me to leave her at home and I really think that will be best for her but I am afraid I will get awfully homesick for her. Alice Reynold’s was up Saturday and she said she told all the girls that I was going and they are so pleased and she is also and she said do’nt [ltr. 3, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 9] 5. take the baby it would be cruel when you can leave her with your mother she will be better off at home and then some people think I am cruel to go with out her. It is the hard- est question I have had to decide for a long time. What shall I do? I am glad some of your friends went to see you while you was sick We had a ten inck snow fall last week but it has been windy ever since and it is all gone and the streets are drying up and it is quite warm again. Yes there has been quite a lot of spinal meningitis but there are not as many cases just now. Maggie and Bert Davis lost a daughter, Irene aged twelve, last weekend with it she took [ltr. 3, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 11] 6. sick one day and died the next. I did’nt know any thing about it until I got home from the Matinee Saturday while I was gone your Papa and mama and Aunt Julina called they had been to the funeral and the called come- ing back. So Bro. Penrose offered you a cange of field too bad it did’nt come before. Your Mother wanted your Father to send for you to come home when she knew about your throat and he would’nt do it so he cabeled to find out how you was and they answered the cabel with out consulting you. That is a great way to do. Dearie I too wished you was home or that I was where you was so that I could try to do something for you while you was [ltr. 3, p. 12: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 13] 7. sick but I felt that if your health would permit I would rather you would stay and finish your mission while you are there and I do hope the Lord will bless you so that you may. I was in hopes I would get my letter today but it did’nt come but I guess it will come tomorrow. There has been such rough seas and one thing or another that is the reason the mail is late at times. Yes Stratford paid $2.55 on the books but he said that part of them belonged to Jones so you would pay part and the birds cost him about $50 a piece I did’nt have any change when he was here or I would have paid him but he was to come up in a few day and bring the books and I told him I would [ltr. 3, p. 14: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 15] 8. pay him then but he has’nt brought them as yet. Aunt J. told me she had’nt written you about the lace she did’nt like to bother you when you did’nt feel well but if I went she would get me to bring her some They did’nt get much for Mrs. E. things, but I am glad you have got that much over with. I wish it was all setteled. I see by tonights paper that Mable Derrick Rigby is dead it does’nt say what she died of she was in the hospital some time ago and her life was despared of for days but I thought she was getting better as I hav’nt heard any thing about her of late. I am sorry for her Mother this makes two girls and a boy she has [ltr. 3, p. 16: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 17] 9. lost since I knew them. We are all well for which we are very thankful. Mrs. Adams has been down today she wants me to go to Windsor if I can and try to find out if her sister is dead or alive. She has’nt witten her for several years. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love. I think I must quit as it is getting late. May the Lord bless you continually with his richest blessings. Love Hugs and kisses from your loveing and affectionate wife and baby, Millie and Ruth. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX [ltr. 3, p. 18: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 1] #143 Salt Lake City, March 25 – 1907 My Own Dear Alvin:- I received a letter from you last Wednesday and another today and I was glad to get them and I was glad to learn that you was better I will be glad when your throat is entirely well. In both of these letters you say bring Ruth. Well Dearie I hardly know what to do. I asked your advice and your fathers you say bring her and your papa says leave her home. In the letter I received [ltr. 4, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 3] 2. from you today you say people should’nt ask advice unless they take it when it is given and abide by it. I do’nt know what to do I ca’nt do both for my part I would rather take her – she says “I want to go see papa – he squeeze the daylights out of me” “I kiss him and squeeze him too” The things she does say I often wonder where she gets them from. Your Papa and Mama were at the theatre the other night and I told them you was feeling better and I told your Papa you wanted me to bring Ruth and he said he had written you about it and it would be all right and the best thing for all of us to leave her home. You Papa is afraid she will [ltr. 4, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 5] 3. get sick and that she will get so tired but I may bring her. It is hard- est problem I have ever had to solve – but as a rule if I follow my first impression I am right and my first impression was to take her. That is certainly lovely of Bro. and Sister Crofts and please thank them for me tell Bro Crofts I guess I will be able to stand his jokes and I am not prejudiced again st people because they do’nt belong to the same faith as I do. Dearie the furniture policy ran out last fall they sent me a notice but I did’nt re- new it as I knew it would be of no use [ltr. 4, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 7] 4. but the insureance ran out on the house on the 9th of this month so I renewed it for three years. I told you about Bro. Nelson selling Uncle Sam Stock for $150.00 and he gave me a check for $250.00 that was giveing me a $100.00 for my transportation I do’nt know yet how much it will cost me and if I bring Ruth there are several things I will have to get her and there will be her fare on the boat and I will have to have a berth on the train I hope to have enough for my expenses without the $250.00 I think the company leaves here April 17 do you recognize the date? Bro Grant is home now. The case against him [ltr. 4, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 9] 5. was dismissed. I went down to Bro. Nelsons yesterday at first he was in favor of me taking Ruth and now he says the best for the baby is to leave her home They are all well and wish to be remembered to you. My but Nony is fat and so is the baby he got his first tooth yesterday. Bro. Nelson is building a fine brick barn and he is fixing up his ground[-] in fine style. They have a fine home there – Newy has started to build next door to them. And I actually went to see Aunt Mary last week Last Thursday your Mama invited me down to supper it was Hyrums birthday and she had your Papa [ltr. 4, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 11] 6. and I do and Hyrum and the Bomans. I think Zina and Henry are just a little sweet on one another. So Bro. Hanson gave you another watch fob with Ruth’s and my picture in it where did he get our pictures? I looked at Joe’s trunk the other day but it got mashed up so coming home that I thought it would’nt stand another trip even if I did have it fixed up so I will bring your big trunk. Bro. Bateman brought the books and that box of things the other day I paid him what was due all together it was $2.85 he stayed and had dinner with us he went from here up to Bro. Sears. So Lillie Price has decided not to come at last. We have been having [ltr. 4, p. 12: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 13] 7. lots of wind for the last week and it is raining tonight floods every where Southern Pacific and Salt Lake Route both tied up between here and Califor- nia and will be for some time floods in Ogden. The creek down by Mellissa’s is just booming It is Ben Hampton that is going up with Fred. Today is Bertha’s limit but she is still walking around I hope it happens before I leave. We are all well. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love to you Eva Tud left last Wednesday night. May the Lord bless you continually and with love hugs and kisses we are your loveing and affect ionate wife and baby, XXXXXXX Millie and Ruth [ltr. 4, p. 14: page is blank]