Mt Idaho Dec 30^th 1885

Kate – dear sister
Abram gave me your letter yesterday at dinner – after your last came. He forget it he says & Mary Scott sent me your letter to her this A.M. Her aunt fell & hurt herself severely, sabbath. Mary could not come up. I will attend to your presents as soon as I can. Helen & children are in the school room waiting for me – came before I had eaten my dinner. Worn out with the men this forenoon. I am expecting Fannie & Hattie every moment. Was busy until nearly nine oclock last night, & later the night before, cutting out patterns and garments for these poor little ones – with their ignorant mothers on whom thousands of dollars have been spent for teaching. I do not know how long I can stand this. For days at a time, I do not get an uninterrupted meal, save my breakfast – before daylight.

I have now cut out & given patterns for & the mothers are made, warm red flannel vests for all my little one, two apiece [illegible] be washed. Some of the little ones I have got into tight drawers, the mothers needing to unbutton and take the children out-of doors every time and so save the floors & the atmosphere of the house.

Some of the little ones have already learned to ‘tell’ their mothers every time. I intend (D.V.) to have all the little ones in light drawers, as their mothers too, want. They are now at work, making these, and warm red canton flannel petticoats with waists, for the whole set of little ones. The ‘wrappings’ of the Christmas tree packages from Fulton going for waists of drawers, petticoats &c &c. I could not find a pattern for any of these garments among them. I had to cut out patterns myself giving the mothers one of each.

They all seem to be very happy in their new home. The Mt I people treat them very kindly. But, I must write hastily or not at all.

I had all the K Christmas tree things to attend to. R. sent me word that they had enough for all, and only a few pictures over. They had a nice Christmas tree and a happy Christmas at K they say.

I staied at home from Christmas dinner with Mary, Christmas to write to Dr Ellinwood, but had two Christmas dinners sent me. One from Mary, and before it was eaten, Daisy Brown brought one, from her mother, a roast chicken (with ‘trimmings,’ piping hot & cake &c (the apples, cake doughnuts, jelly &c) she had brought the day before) I do not know when I have so enjoyed a meal, as I did my Christmas dinner, which ‘callers’ had delayed until I was hungry enough to furnish the sauce. But enough about Sue

New Years evening

I send the three packages from Mrs Crumrine – the little package in calico wrapping has all the yarn that came from [illegible] or any place and all the things marked for you, Fulton from Brighton or wherever the other little packages came from. An apron & towel from F. with your name marked on it, the apron and towel with my name marked on them. There was only two candles came. I do not think the Fulton gifts were as nice as they sent before, i.e. if the nice gifts you shewed me in the years past came from Fulton. But I must not write more. Write whenever you can but do not look for a letter for me until you see it. Kind regards to Mr D & Mrs D, Write often. May God guide & help you always.
In haste

Sister Sue