📄 Letter, Katie Torrence to Emma Blanche Torrence Tone, Jun 15, 1915
A letter from Katharine A. Torrence (1860-1922) to her sister Emma Blanche Torrence (1868-1925). It seems to be sent from Van Emman, Pa to Blanche in Bergen (see notes below) in 1915.
Clover Crest Farm
Tuesday A.M. June 15My dearest Sister:
This is another rainy day but is not rainy like Sunday was. Jim and Elizabeth are reading, Katharine has had ler lessons, and is sitting here beside me painting, George is out to the barn with his father, they are busy fixing the barn to get new pillars under it and George is right there. Sallie & Catharine are ironing in the kitchen, and everything is moving on all right. The men cut asparagus yesterday and Elizabeth, Jim & I bunched it, and LaRue trimmed it. There was 98 bunches. Larue sent 92 over to market & 6 bunches up to Mrs. Nanker [?]. Elizabeth and Jim picked 2 baskets of sweet cherries, 1/2 bushel baskets and LaRue sent one of them over this morning to Heagens [?]. Yesterday when they were picking cherries I went up with Teddy in the spring wagon about 4:30 to bring down the cherries and step ladder. I tied Teddy to the fence while I went over to the trees and he got very ambitious to eat the trees and he broke the tie rein and fell down. We were somewhat excited I can tell you. Jim ran for Mr. Rolly, who was working in the asparagus at foot of alfalfa, but by the time they got up E and I had the harness all unbuckled and loose and Mr. Rolly puled the wagon back and Teddy got up all right. E & I thought Teddy might have had a fit and died, he lay so still and had his eyes closed but as soon as I unhooked the check rein, he raised his head and began to eat grass. How E and I did laugh then, it was so funny, but we felt relieved, believe me. I did anyway. Katharine and George came running up too and as Katharine said it was quite an adventure.
Elizabeth and I are going to can one basket of the cherries this afternoon. Sallie and I picked 10 baskets of strawberries yesterday afternoon. It has rained so all morning that I don't think we will get any today. Blanche I think LaRue is much worried about his mother, this nausea that she is having worries him a good bit. Do you think it is serious?
Walter Church and his sister came out Sunday afternoon and stayed until the 6 oclock car. Walter wanted to take Miss Church over the Charleroi line, before going in, and so did not stay for tea. Expected to get their supper at Charleroi. She said she had had such a fine time. She said she would see you and carried messages of love to you from all. With the best wishes to Mrs. Tone for a speedy recovery and much love to yourself I am
Your loving sister
Katie
Notes:
- There's no year on the letter but the mention of Catherine D. Spafford (1836-1916)'s health and Sumner Larue Tone (1864-1942)'s concern suggests 1915-- based on related comments in 📄 Letter, Sumner LaRue Tone to Blanche Torrence Tone, Jun 8 1915.
- The letter also doesn't say where it was sent from. Katharine A. Torrence (1860-1922) was from Rochester Pa, but the previously mentioned letter from Sumner LaRue suggests the still somewhat mysterious Van Emman, Pa.
- Elizabeth, Katharine, George, and LaRue are the Pittsburgh Tones, minus Blanche who is apparently in Bergen (based on Sumner LaRue's letters).
- Jim may be James F. Torrence (1901-1972).
- Charleroi, Pa is in Washington County, 20-25 miles southeast from Canonsburg (and Van Emman).
- Clover Crest Farm is so far unknown to me. Presumably it's in Van Emman?