July 1915

Allenton, Michigan

July 28, 1915

Miss Madeline Lucas,

Arkona, Ontario

Dear Friend:-

You will no doubt think I have forgotten you entirely. But not so, I often think of you.

I have been busy ever since I came home from Ontario, but I could have written sooner, if I had just gone at it, and said, “I must write.” Like I am doing tonight.

It is raining here to-night one shower after another all day. It has rained here very nearly every other day, since the first of June. The farmers feel pretty discouraged.

Papa only has twenty four loads of hay in the barn, has a lot cut down. But he will not draw in wet hay, or too green hay. One farmer in this vicinity had to draw out twenty-five loads of hay, that he had put in the barn too wet.

This week they (the farmers) are cutting their wheat and leaving the hay. Papa was intending to cut his wheat to-day. But couldn’t because of the rain.

Two weeks ago tomorrow my Sunday School class has a picnic at Lake Orion a summer resort. We took the electric car at Almont at eight-fifteen A.M. and got into Almont at ten thirty-five at night. Had a fine time. the boys hired the rowboats and a motor boat. There were twenty one of us with the minister and his wife.

Speaking of water makes me think. I had it all planned out in my mind, that this summer when I was at Aunt Bells’ and went to visit you. We would go down to Rock Glenn. I am in love with the place. I was only down there once, in the early evening. But I enjoyed it very much. I am afraid I will not be able to go to Ontario for a visit this summer because if Iam only have one visit I would rather go in the winter.. Then I could stay six weeks or two months and take music lessons. Also have more time to visit with my different girl friends there.

Another good time I have had this summer was at Romeo, with a cousin of mine (Clarice Wilson) during the “Fourth of July”. I went down there on Saturday and came home Tuesday. (Romeo is only twelve miles southwest of here. We go to Almont five miles from here, and take the electric the rest of the way.)

Romeo had a big celebration on Monday the fifth. They had a lovely fireworks in the evening had over four hundred dollars worth. I was a very tired girl when I got home Tuesday, and Thursday we had hay pressers come. They were here till after supper Friday. When they came Thursday morning, the water was over the road south of our house, and was very deep only lacking about an inch of being to the hub of the buggy wheel. Papa sent me to tell our help the press was here. I was nervous when I first drove into the water, but when I saw the horse wasn’t afraid, I felt easier. Had the press come from the south I am afraid it wouldn’t have got here. As it was, they had six horses on it. We pressed forty-three tons.

We are going to have another family reunion this year, the same place we had it last year (that was our first reunion) on August twenty-first. Lula and Mack say Aunt Bell must come, whether they come or not. I am living in hopes they all come. We had a grand time last year. There were ninety-five there and forty four that wasn’t there. Don’t you think we have a large family?

And another good time to look forward to is a Sunday School picnic August eleventh. Our class is going to go ahead with it, and try and make a good time for the youngsters, as well as the older ones. I really believe that will be all the good times for this summer.

I have often thought of the Sunday night at Bethel this spring. You and Mr Williams went up stairs the same time that we did. You were looking in and wondering where you would sit, and I never thought to ask you to sit with us, nor did I think to tell Stanley to sit with you after you had gone in. Some people are very thoughtful. Are they not?

Now I have written eight pages to you, have made up for being so slow! I only hope you will forgive my negligence, and answer my letter.

From your loving friend,

Helen M. Shepherd

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