Paul Family Letters 21 - 30

 H. Brayton Paul Family Letters, 21 - 30

21]  Split Rock, Minn.  March 5-1899

Dear Brother,-

Perhaps I will have a chance to mail letters tomorrow so will write a few words to you and send you some copies, as I believe you said you wanted some more.

We are both real well and hope you all are the same. Am wondering if Father has been to Duluth yet?

I probably will not have a very full attendance the remainder of the term for several of the children have the measles and Stans Micholska broke all out with them in school last Thursday. Had a letter from Arthur last week. He had finished sawing and was working around the mill.

Also had a letter from Mrs. Newcomb and she sent me her picture taken with John Noyes’ wife. It is on a square card the size of Bessie’s, but very good and was real glad to get it.

How are the violets and moon flowers flourishing now-a days?

Mrs. Kwapick is as jolly as ever again now, and has been borrowing a little again.

I know of nothing more to write, so will have to stop

It is most eight o’clock and Clara is eating a little lunch.

You can cut one of those copies off each day at the dotted lines.. Hope you are having a good time, working, playing, and studying.

Your loving sister,

Grace

[ Note attached by WEP: I went to school with Grace from Sept 1 until Christmas, then Clara went from Christmas until School was out. The lines she enclosed for me to copy in practice writing.]

[ The lines written in a fine hand are lengthwise on three pieces of paper 8” long but of varying widths. The paper has pale blue lines crosswise but Grace drew ruled pencil lines lengthwise alternating with dotted lines. The text of her models is this:

One enters through the open door,/ One leaves us to return no more./ And which is happier, which more blest,/God knoweth best. // We greet with smiles the one who comes/ Like sunshine to our hearts and homes./ And reach out longing hands with tears/ To him, who in his ripened years/ Goes gladly to his heavenly rest. // He guards the gates, We need not dread/ The path these little feet must tread,/ Nor fear for him who from our sight/ Passed through them to the realms of light/ Both in his loving care we rest:/ God knoweth best.]

[ Letter written in black ink on 5 X 8" tablet paper with light blue lines; envelope address- Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Minn.; the postmark shows- Moose Lake Mar -- --M 1899; a postmark on the reverse shows- Mar - 18-Minn-; The postage is a red Washington two cent stamp; on the front of the envelope someone wrote in pencil the division of 11.24 by 2.]

22]  Bemidji, Minn.  Monday evening, Nov. 13-1899

Dear Brother Walter,-

It must be your turn to get a letter by this time; don’t you think so? George has just gone to attend a business meeting, so I’ll write while he is away. He was awake most all night last night with the tooth-ache. It is better today but his face is swollen quite badly.

I did the washing this fore-noon and washed the windows this after-noon, so was quite tired tonight, but am getting rested since supper. Tomorrow I calculate to clean as many of the floors as I can before noon. In the afternoon the Ladies’Aid Society have a special meeting at the home of the President Mrs. Phibbs, to tie some quilt for Miss Bye, who takes roomers. Last Wednesday P.M. we tied two quilts at Mrs. Dudley’s. The society gets 50 cts for an afternoons work. We usually meet once in two weeks and each member is to pay 5 cts at each of those meetings.

Did you know that Cousin Eliza was married again? She sent us a paper containing a piece about it. She married a Gilbert C. Arnold, who is a real estate man of San Diego. If Mother did not get one of the papers, I might send this one to her.

We are looking for a letter from some of you every day now.

Tell Clara we sent that ring back, asking them to exchange it for a smaller one. Don’t know whether they will or not, but guess perhaps they will. If not, what will she do for a Christmas present? By the way, you tell Ma to let me know if there is any little thing that would be nice to get for you a Xmas present.

They expect to begin the wall to the new church to-morrow. Am afraid the building of the church is going to be rather hard on George as he has to be right “on the ground” to keep things moving at all. There is one man, a Mr. Johnson, who is a splendid hand to take hold and help. He and George have spent several days lately hauling lumber, stone, sand etc. and he is going to begin the wall. He is a widower with several grown children, and lives on a home stead a few miles out of town. We three went spearing fish one night last week and had the good luck to see about two fish.

We are invited to attend an entertainment and banquet given by the “Lady Bees” at the Woodman Hall Wednesday evening.

We also understand that we are to be invited to the banquet given at the opening of the new hotel here, next Friday evening. It is a fine building and has been put up since I came here. To-day, Mr. Higgins gave us complimentary tickets for the lecture to be given in his church next Monday evening. So you see we have something to go to occasionally.

I never saw a town grow as fast as this one is growing. It is almost impossible to look in any direction from any part of town, without seeing new buildings going up.

Well, George will be back soon, and after telling me the results of the meeting, he will be ready to read to me from some of the magazines or papers, if it isn’t too late, while I sit and rest. So good night.

We are real well and hope you all are the same. You must write a good big letter to us some day.

Much love to you all from

Your sister

Grace.

Bemidji, Minn.  Monday evening, Nov. 13- 1899  cont.

P.S. George is getting home sick again already. (Here he comes) Every little while he tries to think of a good excuse for us to go to Deer Park. So doubtless you will see us down there some time before spring anyhow.

G.

[ Written in black ink on 5 3/8 X 8 1/2" unruled tablet stationery, five pages on five sheets; envelope address- Master Walter E. Paul., Barnum, Minn; the postmark reads- Bemidji Nov 14 1899 Minn.; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]

23]  Bemidji, Minn.  Dec. 18-1899

Dear Brother Walter,-

Guess it is your turn to get a letter this time, is it not?

We had quite a fall of snow a few days ago for the first time this winter. It will be nice if we can have sleighing by Christmas time. A great many people are having hard colds and sore throats. We have a sick man staying with us just now. He was threatened with Pneumonia and the Dr. said he would die if he could not have a warm room to stay in. He was staying at one of the boarding houses, with no fire in his room. As soon as George heard about it he went right down and brought him up here. He has not been sick-a-bed but was in bad condition and very weak. He is getting better now and walked down town today, but coughs quite badly yet. He is a Swede by the name of Freeman, and is a tailor by trade. He is a very fine man.

Did I ever tell you that our neighbor, just across the street has a tame bear? Well, he has and he is going to send it to Dewey for a Christmas present. The men around town have been chipping in to help pay the expense of sending it. He is real tame and Mr. Brown, the man who owns him, plays with him just as you would play with a big dog.

Had a nice letter from Alice Perkins. She seems quite glad to get home again. says her sister is to live with Arlie’s folks this winter.

The Business Men’s Carnival was quite a success last week. They cleared about $50, which goes towards building the new church. Now they are busy pracicing for the Christmas Cantata, entitled Santa Clauses Dream.

Tuesday morning

We will send you folks a box by express to-day, hoping you will get it by Christmas time. I put my little gray jacket in for Clara, not for a Xmas present but so she can have it to wear next spring. Please preserve the magazines and Epworth Heralds for us to get when we come down next time. George and I are going down to the depot now to see Dr.Forbes as he passes through on his way to Duluth so have no time to write any more now.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With much love from

Grace

P.S. Had a nice letter from Arthur the other day. He is well and getting along all right.

G.

[ Note attached by WEP: When this was written Grace’s husband Geo. P. Watson was the Methodist minister in Bemidji. Dr. Forbes was “Presiding Elder” now known as a Dist. Supt.]

[ Written in black ink on 5 3/8 X 8 1/2" unruled tablet stationery with watermarking (Commer- Val-  -edger/ Linen led-  Paper Co); no envelope exists.] 

24]  [ This stationery has a letterhead with the following information.]

All kinds of legal Papers

Justice of the Peace

Real Estate Bought and Sold on Commission

Drawn and Acknowledged                                                                      

George P. Watson

Notary public

Big Falls   ripple , minnesota    Dec. 10-1906

My Dear Brother Walter,-

It don’t seem possible that it has been so long since your “line” was received and if I don’t answer it before long am afraid you will be sending me some kind of a reminder. We are all real well and getting along nicely. Andrew coughs some yet but not as badly as he did. I am inclined to think ha has been having the whooping-cough. He sometimes strangles very much the way you did only not as bad.

We are counting the days now the days now to the time when Clara will be here. How I do wish you were coming too. Hope you can come up before another year is passed.

Think Lillian was saying something about hearing that Bessie and the children were planning on being down home for Xmas. Did not understand whether Melvin was planning on being there too or not. I do hope they can be there, as it will make it so much more pleasant for you all. I am wondering if they will stay until Clara gets home from here. We have a few little things for them and I rather send them by Clara than to mail them if they are going to stay that long. And by the way, if Pa gets some books from Montgomery Ward & Co. during the holidays, you may tell him that Santa Claus sent them. Guess you  and Ma will get something when Clara gets home again from here.

George has ordered that book case on page 1173 of the catalogue for my Christmas present and I have ordered the Morris Chair No. RF 117 in genuine leather and with foot-rest, for him.

We sent $80.00 worth of Dividend Certificates to-day and ordered as our premium the rocking-chair upholstered in imitation leather.

I say! George has just handed me $10.00 to send to you and we want you to come along with Clara and spend the holidays up here, and perhaps you could plan to stay longer than that, we would be so glad if you could. Now we will look for you and Clara on Saturday night Dec. 22d. O, how glad I am you can both come and what a great time we will have! You probably know about the excursion rates. If not, Clara can tell you.

If you could plan to stay a month or two after the holidays you could easily get any amount of work to do. Men are very scarce here this winter. George says he could furnish you with work that long and at just as good wages as you can get down there. He is doing a little building up town now.

But any-how, be sure to come and spend the holiday vacation with us, whether you van stay any longer or not.

There is to be a town Xmas tree in Lackapelle’s hall, probably on Monday night.

Then we are to have a little tree of our own on Tuesday for the children.

Well, it is bed-time now and I don’t think of any more to write so good-night.

Will answer Pa’s letter before long.

Love to all from

Your sister

Grace V. Watson

[ Written in black ink on 8 1/2 X 11" business stationery; envelope return address- Return in ten days to, Geo. P. Watson, Real Estate, Ripple, Minnesota, Address- Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum Minn, Deer Park (lower left corner); the postmark reads- Big Falls Dec 11 PM 1906 Minn.; the postmark on the reverse shows only-19-- Rec’d; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]

25]  Big Falls, Minn. Dec. 11-1907

Dear Brother,-

Expect you are having a nice time at home by this time. Am looking for a line from you but have not had our mail yet to-day so will write a letter anyhow.

Guess you got out of town just in time as there were nine cases of ditheria reported last evening. Don’t know whether there are any more this morning or not. Foster Richards came down with it yesterday P.M. so Andrew did not come down to supper last night and is going to stay in the parsonage nights for a while. The doctor says it is a mild case and there might be no danger of Andrew bringing it down here but that the only sure way was for him to stay away. I am going to insist on Andrew getting some sulphur and fumigating himself there in the parsonage every day so as to prevent getting it himself, as some of the young people are having it now. Young Brevik has it, also that last hired girl that Mrs.Greeley had. It seems that Mrs. Johnson had it a while ago but no one knew about it. That girl was there taking care of her and now she and one or two of the Johnson children have it. Dont know who the other cases are except a little boy living back of the telephone office. At first the doctor was not real positive that it was diptheria. So he sent for doctor Withrow of Int. Falls. He came yesterday and they decided there was no doubt about it. So the schools were closed and all public gatherings forbidden until after the holidays at least and the town Marshal was ordered to keep all children off from the streets unless with their parents. We fumigated ourselves here in great shape last evening and shall do so every day or two. Of course we shall not go anywhere with the children except to Lillians so we do not expect any trouble.

Dr. Withrow took dinner with us yesterday. He says the safe in the P.O. was blown open the other night and over $400.00 worth of stuff taken. Isn’t that great? He says they suspect some parties right there in town and are watching them, but don’t know yet.

Mr. Greeley is sick a bed. He had a consultation of doctors yesterday and they say he will never live through another winter if he does not go to a warmer climate. I an afraid he will not live through this one. He has been coughing for quite a while and was taken with hemmorrhage of the lungs night before last. Mrs. G. is about sick with a cold and sore throat but it is not diptheria. Miss Finley is real nice about helping them, now that school is closed. George was over there three times yesterday looking after things for them. It makes him feel pretty badly to see Mrs. G. so poorly.

George went to Grand Rapids this morning and will not be back until Friday night. So it is going to be quite lonesome here for “us children”. We miss you and it seems strange to think you are not upstairs asleep.

The freight killed a man up here that morning you went. Think he had been cooking up the line some-where. he came to town Sunday and got a $40.00 check cashed. He was going to take the passenger that morning but missed it by a few minutes. Then he went into Old man Robinsons saloon and was treating the boys until he got pretty full himself. When the freight got ready to go he ran to catch it and tried to jump on after it started. Of course, he fell under and was killed instantly. His heart was cut right in two. Andrew saw him before he was picked up and he acted about sick all the rest of the day. George saw him after they got him over to Jensen’s. They say Mr. Van Nort was watching him from their window and saw him fall.

Had a nice letter from Aunt Lucinda yesterday. She says cousin John has a little girl born

Nov. 26.

Well, guess I will close this and take it up to Lillians for Arthur to mail.

We shall be glad to see you back again.

Your loving sister

Grace

[ Note attached by WEP: When this was written Geo. Watson was U.S. Land Commissioner at Big Falls. I had been working in the depot during the summer while Andrew was on the homestead. When he came back to town for the winter he took the job and I went home for awhile]

[ Written in black ink on two and a half sheets of linen finish, watermarked yellow paper

6 7/8 X 10"; each sheet is folded crosswise to make four pages and the first page of four has

Mrs. George P. Watson printed in Old English font in the upper left corner and Big Falls, Minn. printed in a Roman font just right of the center and 1½" down from the top; the paper is watermarked Damask; the envelope has Mrs. George P. Watson, Big Falls Minnesota printed in the upper left corner and the address is Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum Minnesota with Deer Park written in the lower left corner; the postmark shows- Big --- Dec 12 PM 1907 Minn.; the postmark on the reverse shows- Barnum Dec ---; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]                             

26]  Int’l Falls, Minn,  Jan. 9-1913

Dear Brother Walter,-

Your letter containing the good news was gladly received and we send all kinds of congratulations and best wishes for your future happiness. I appreciate your letting us know about it at this early date, as you say you are not telling the rest just yet (except Pa - Ma) and I can assure you that not a word will be said about it until you say so. Anytime that you can both get off, we would be glad to have you bring her up and let us get  acquainted. That is if you think we would not scare her out. I have forgotten what you said her name is, but if you will send me her name and address, I will write her a few words of congratulations etc. and invite her to visit us. That is if you do not think it is a little early in the game yet for me to do so. If you rather I wait a bit yet, just say so and I will do which ever you wish. Am sure I shall like her and shall be very glad to have another new sister.

Guess I’ll have to tell you what the children said. You see i read the letter right out without seeing what was coming, so they all heard it. But the secret is safe with them. Paul has been doing  a lot of talking and planning for some time, to the effect that when he gets old enough he was going into partnership with Uncle Walter and that you two were to batch together, as he says he is never going to get married. So when they heard the news, Emily said right off, “Now Paul what are you going to do? You can’t batch with Uncle Walter” Did not notice what his reply was. Florence did a lot of sputtering because you are going to wait so long before getting married, and said that when she gets old enough to have some one ask her to marry them, that she will want to get married right off and not have to wait a whole year. I tried to explain and reason with her but she said she didn’t care, she would rather sleep on the floor than have to wait so long. Ha! ha! They are all in a hurry to meet their future new aunty. It is a great relief to me to know that your health is improving and hope it will continue to do so. Was quite worried about you for a while there.

We are all quite well now. This is a messy looking letter but have written it in a hurry.

With lots of love from your sister   

Grace

[ Written in pencil on blue lined tablet paper 8 X 9 7/8"; envelope address- Mr. W. E. Paul, 215 North 2d St., Brainerd, Minn.; the postmark shows- International Jan 8 PM 1913 Minn.; the postmark on the reverse reads- Brainerd, Minn. Jan 10 7 AM 1913; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]

27]  West Duluth Minn.  Sept 18, 1904

Dear Brother Walter:-

I guess it’s about your turn to be honored by a letter from me, is it not? Please excuse me if I make lots of mistakes or my writing looks like hen scratches. I have got to write to Minnie and I want to write to Aunt Lydia and I will have to do it this afternoon or wait ‘til next Sunday so excuse haste.

Everything is as fine and dandy as ever although me lessons are getting harder and my teachers crosser every day. There is only two teachers left who seem to have any sympathy for a person and one of them is beginning to show symptoms of loosing all she has. My Eng. History is something fierce. He gives us about thirteen pages of the stuff at a time and then we write the recitation But then, I keep bumping along somehow. I like physical geopgraphy and we have a lovely teacher for that. He has promised us an excursion some time, to study rocks and streams.

Now I must tell you about the time we had yesterday. Lysle had a day off and so he got the gasoliene launch and we took a lunch and went on an “exertion” First we went way up the St. Louis River. It’s pretty up there, there is so many islands in the river. At one place we landed and climed up on a cliff where we could look way out over the river. Carrie took two pictures of us all in the boat and I took one with her in. Then we embarked again and came back and over to Minnesota point. there we ate our lunch and built a bonfire on the lake shore It’s just lovely over there it hasn’t been cleared off any and the woods are filled with pretty little cottages. We staid there until dusk then took the car over to town. We got there just as a big steamer came in and we stood on the pier and watched it go through the channel. And O yes, as we started up the river we saw the largest freight steamer on the Great Lakes, I believe it is called The Wren, or some thing like that. We came home on the car and got here about eight o’clock.

My! I should hate to have my compisition teacher see this It would give her fits. I can’t think straight some how.

Say! when I come home for Thanksgiving I want you to plan to come back with me and rubber around a little I should like to have you awful well. You could go over to see Richard too.

Ask Ma what she ever did with those pictures that she took over to Doe’s that day. I can’t find them any where.

Now you must write and tell me about every thing at home. I want to know how the League is getting along and all you can find out about the school.    

Evening.

Carrie and I just got back from church I went morning and evening both this time. I must close now and be getting my beauty sleep

Tell Ma I got my her letter all right.

With love to all

from Clara

P.S  Are those pumpkins ripe yet or did the frost kill them?

[ Written in black ink on 5 X 8" faint blue lined stationary; envelope address-Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Minn.; the postmark reads- Duluth, Minn. Sep 19 3:30 PM W. Duluth Sta.; the postmark on the reverse is indistinct; although the envelope is sealed by the gummed flap, green sealing wax with an imprint is at the point of the flap; the postage is a red Jefferson two cent stamp.]

28]  West Duluth, Minn.  Oct. 30, 1904

My Dear Bubby:

It’s a quarter past nine and I have just finished a letter to Arthur and will now scribble a little note to you The folks are away at Church and the boys are sound asleep so I have everything to myself (here the folks come this minute) What do you think, I did a very extraordinary thing to-day. I taught a Sunday school class. Burt Wheeler phoned yesterday and asked me to take it and I did. He wants me to take it all the time but I couldn’t do that. I am too “busy”.

I have been having such a lovely time this last week went to the dentist’s four times I am going back once more to have my teeth cleaned and then I will be through He has filled five and it cost me $8.50. One tooth alone came to three dollars for he had to take out the nerve and bridge the tooth. There is more that need fixing but he told me that it would come to $11.50 so thought I would wait till spring and see how much money I have left.

Lillian Felt has had a three weeks run of typhoid fever and was seriously sick Lulu called in to day and said that she was much better and was sitting up to day. I haven’t seen Lillian since the day we were all up there but I intend to go now just as soon as I can find time.

Come to think of it, guess I told Ma about her in my last letter.

Friday afternoon our algebra teacher gave our class a little spread. We gathered in one of the rooms and ate fruit and played games. I had a nice time but didn’t stay all through because Carrie was cleaning house and I wanted to be home to help her.

I am glad you are getting along so well with your book keeping. Why don’t you take up algebra too?

I believe you asked me about my studies. I thought you knew. I am taking four, Algebra, Eng. History, Eng. Comp. and Physical Geog. The algebra and geography are dead easy but the others make up for them all right. I enjoy the school very much and keep liking it better. There is some very nice girls and others that I wouldn’t give two cents for.

It’s nearly ten now and I must “remain” or I will over sleep and have to streak it for the car in the morning. O, say, Ma said something about Mr. Simpson’s going away. Where is he going and what is he going to do?

I will be coming home in a little less than four weeks now. It seems as though I had been gone a long time.

Well, good night, sleep tight, etc

Your loving sister

Clara.

[ Note attached by WEP: Clara was attending the Duluth “Normal”. The Lillian Felt she mentions afterward married our brother Arthur. Her sister Lulu became Andrews wife.]

[ Written in black ink on 5 X 7 7/8" smooth tablet stationery with faint blue lines; the envelope address is- Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Minn.; The postmark shows- Duluth, Oct - 13 P-- 1904; the postmark on the reverse shows- Barnum Nov; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp; someone has written on the reverse in pencil some arithmetical calculations.]

29]  W. Duluth, Minn  April 30, 1905

Dear Brother Walter,

At last I have got around to write to you again. Please excuse pencil for I am sitting out on the front porch writing and can’t manage a pen very well. It is a beautiful day and I want to go some where awfully bad. Maybe we will go riding by and by. I suppose you are in church now, wish I was there, too.

What do you think! Cousin Alfred Doe’s house burned about a week ago. Isn’t that awful? Neither of the men were at home when it started and Lulu and her mother couldn’t put it out. They are going to fix the house up again but they lost nearly everything in it, and there was no insurance either. They don’t know how it started but it was up stairs somewhere. Carrie was over there to see them and she says Cousin Mary is all broken up over it. She is afraid she will get down sick before she gets over it. Richard is going to stop school and go to work in the mill. It seems to bad to have him do that but of course he will have to.

It is beginning to look quite pretty here now. The hills are getting green. I suppose the farm look nice now. I wish you would write and tell me a lot of news, all about how you are getting along. Did the strawberries come, and are they set out yet? Have you been doing any work in the flower garden? (You can take that as a hint if you want to). Say, I have got a new hat wouldn’t you like to see it? Every body says it is very pretty. It is brown and trimed with brown and blue ribbons. I had to have some thing to wear to school this spring. Last Sunday Mrs. Robbins and I went down town to the First Church to hear their Easter music. It was very nice and I enjoyed it immensely. Did you people have nice exercises?

Last Friday evening the Ladies Aid gave a supper at the church. I helped wait on table. The last time I did it I thought I never would again but Carrie put me in again. I didn’t have it so hard this time for we had more helpers.

It doesn’t seem possable that there is only five more weeks of school but that is a fact. Lulu Felt wants me to stay a week with her after school closes and have some fun. I think maybe I will ( if Ma will let me) Then I am going to bring her home with me to stay a while. We will have great times then I can tell you. She is just as full of fun as any one could be.

I am going to in close my bank certificate and wish that the next one that goes to town would draw the money for me. I have got to have a little more before I come home.

You see I am almost out of writing paper and have to use up all my scraps.

Mr. and Mrs. Robbins went down to the farm last week so we are all alone again I guess there is nothing else of importance to say this time so will close. I have seven letters that ought to be answered right away but they will  have to wait a while.

Please write as soon as you can

Your loving sister

Clara.

[Written in pencil on three sheets of 5 X 7 7/8"  smooth tablet stationery with faint blue lines; the fourth piece of stationery is unlined blue paper cut 5 X 6 1/2"; no envelope exists.]

30]  Tuesday Eve.

Dear Walter,

Will just write a little note to you to night to say that you may come for me Saturday instead of Friday if it will be convenient Pearl is coming home with me and can’t leave the office until Saturday noon So plan to leave town about that time. You needn’t come away out here as I can walk into town and save you that much. I am inviting the flinch club to  our house for Saturday evening so be prepared.  Tell Ma she needn’t make any preparations for lunch for we will have fudge and I will bring sugar and every thing with me so that there will be plenty in case your supply is low. Did you go out to Herberts that evening. We girls were so dissappointed that we didn’t get there. Will tell you why when I see you.

Mr. Richardson asked me to go out to Deer Park with them Sunday and I wanted to awfully but Wittrupp, the old stiff, wouldn’t let me. Said it would be too much load for the buggy and he was afraid to let us go alone for fear the horse would run away The trouble was he wanted to go him self too bad.

I am getting along fine, my cold is almost well. My Mrs. W. made me mad tonight and I came up to my room and bawled Will explain later. Have to write five more notes to night so will close.

Hope you are all well  Lovingly  Clara

[ Note written by WEP on the back of the letter: Clara was teaching 2 miles west of Barnum when this was written.  WEP]

[ Written in black ink on 6 1/2 X 10 1/4" watermarked linen finish stationery folded across the middle; the watermark reads W&W AUTOCRAT; the address is- Mr Walter Paul, Barnum, Minn.; the postmark reads- Barnum Oct 31 12M 1906 Minn.; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]