Letter from Mrs. G. E. Snyder to Miss Zella Landis [sic]


Cedar Lake, Mich.
Jan. 1, 1919


My dear Zella!

How are you this cold, wintry blizzardy night? We are enjoying a warm house - I assure you - for it is blowing a gale here. I just finished a letter to Anna Fahrner and so you see how much I think of my W. Va friends for these are the first letters writing in 1919.

I'm so sorry to hear of your mother's illness. I do sincerely hope she is much improved and that she will have a Happy New Year with you all. Hope you had a pleasant Xmas too. I was in Battle Creek being examined for my awful "stumick". They found it in bad condition, but I'm hoping to be able to help myself. Oh, that we were rich and could afford a

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course of treatments for me. I have needed them so long. but just could not. We have had many reverses it seems. Yet Ido [sic] not want to complain for the Lord has been & is very good to us. And when he prompts a good soul like you to send such and an abundance of your winter's [writer's ?] story it purely makes my heart leap for joy and o'erflow [sic] with gratitude. Your box arrived last night 2 days after your letter and I purely was surprised at the contents and more than pleased. The blue-berries look so good and the beans are lovely and the apples & damsons are great. No, we haven't an abundance of anything you send and are so thankful for it and will surely think of you often while enjoying the feast. I tried to dry apples this fall but - they got so dark & I burned a great many, too.

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I'm so sorry you did not get my long letter, for I wrote & told you all about how we were located etc. etc.

We like it here - only the winters are long and very cold. The school has been closed twice on account of influenza. Last week one young lady died. It was sad. School has begun again and I do hope we have not more sickness. Did Santa treat you well? He brought me an enlarged picture of my parents - (oh, so good & true to  life.) 2 pairs of fluzed [sic] stockings & one silk pair, 3 pairs muslim panties - made with beautiful corcheted [sic] lace on them, 2 ready-made house-dresses, a kerchief, apron, bag, doily, nuts, candy, perfume, 2 gause [sic] vests, 3 photos, etc. etc.and 3 packages of 358 loochpasty ?  Everything was so useful and just what we needed.

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Now, Zella, because I've been sick I haven't gotten to your gift yet, but I want to send you something soon. At any rate, I meant to pay you for drying the blue-berries and would you say, you are giving them & more too -- to me. You are too good. How I wish I could visit you in your home back in the mountains some time & squeeze you for your many favors.

I must write to Thirlwells [sic] some time. Do you ever hear from them? Well dear, it is time for the lights to go out, so I'll say good night - and trust to hear from you soon again.

We will remember your dear mother,
Sincerely & lovingly,
Nellie Rudolph Snyder

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