Your kind letter received last Thursday, found us all well, but busy. Our church had an "Orang tea & Christmas Sale in the Opera house. That eve we had a nice time, but I was so tired. Our boys are at a Birthday party tonight. Wet as it is, they would go. It is a little girl by the name of "Altie Defibaugh" I got Nevin a white silk handkerchief embroirdered & Clarence a fancy Pitcher filled with Cologne, for her presents, they started off as proud as Peacocks. This has been a miserable day, rain all the time, but every one seems glad to see rain as water has been very scarce in places. Our well never goes dry. Splendid water, too then we had the city water put in the house last summer, so I don't need to catch rain water any more.
We all feel very sorry for poor Ella, I had hoped she was getting better. How hard it must be to suffer so long & not get any better. I would like to go & see her, if we could go in a couple [tours?], but such a long tiresome trip, but if you go, I think I will go with you. Pierce niece is here in Wilkinsburg at her sisters & she will keep house for me. Grandma Cline could never get through with my work. If Annie is here I wont need to worry. Pierce would go along if we would wait until the last of Feb. as that is his slack time in the year. But I dont think I could get Annie to come [then?], so if we go I think we had better go soon. I would go by way of St Lewis you could meet me at Piqua, Ohio which would be about one hour & a half ride from Lima, would cost you little, if anything more than by going to Chicago. Let me know for sure if you go & when so we can make arrangements as to trains. Pierce will look that up. Our Sunday school is busy getting ready for Christmas, so that I have not much time to get ready but I will go with the clothes I have. You do the same.
Tell the boys it is hard to get any thing suitable for Christmas. I will send what we thought might do if they like them. I will close as it is getting late. Love to all. Answer soon.
your Sister
M. M. Cline