Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, Aug. 1899-Dec. 1917

have managed it certainly not so easily without the help she gave me.

I hope you will try to help her and Mr. Waterman all you can.

It has been very hot [underlined] here all day but the snow on the mountains [inserted above the line] helps us to feel cooler You will soon be in the snow too We wish you could have been with us today, but I know you will enjoy the camp as much - i.e. if you are quiet and helpful you will -

I miss you very much dear & would like to have you here this minute. It will not be very long till we are all at home again I hope -

Father tells me Mr. Fisher will pay your stage fare - so that would leave you a larger margin than you were thinking.

I hope you will have no trouble getting off with Mr. Fisher next week -

Try to keep quiet and calm and you will be more likely to get on safely & make fewer mistakes.

I wanted to talk to you a little last night

but there seemed no time.

I want you to write regularly to me once a week at least dear - & once to Father too -

My address is c/o Mrs. John Rixon 24 North 31st Street, Billings Montana

Be a dear boy,

A great deal of love from each of us -

Your loving Mother

R. H. Bates

Fathers address is 240 [underlined] Sansome. I know you know where it is but perhaps not [underlined] the number in case you are writing.

Dont try to hurry too much - just go on quietly & slowly & everything will be all right your loving Mother

[Imprint] illustration of Native American Chief: TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEES

PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT H. L. A. BATES, GENERAL AGENT 240 SANSOME STREET [Commercial - crossed out] STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The Shawnee Fire Insurance Co. Of Topeka, Kansas

Home Thursday June 10/09

My dear old Edward,

I came home yesterday morning from Portland and found your postal card from Truckee, and was very glad to get it. I hope soon to get a nice long letter from you telling me all about the camp and how you are enjoying the life. If there is anything you need let me know, and address all letters to the office, as there is no one at home.

The Watermans got a post card from you yesterday and you said you had a swollen tonsil. I hope you are quite well again, but you must write me and let me know.

I saw Mother & Jocelyn Jocelyn Bates off for Billings last Thursday from Seattle. They got there last Saturday which is the day you left for Tahoe. They will stay in Billings about a month and will then take in the Yellowstone Park on their way home. The Exposition at Seattle is very pretty but it was not all finished when we were there. Jocelyn and I

slept in an upper berth to Portland, and it was very uncomfortable, but we had a lower from there to Seattle. Dick's camp is about five miles beyond Lesleys and Dick stopped all night with him on the way up. He says the work is hard but that he likes it. I dont know when they are coming home, but I suppose about the middle of July. I was sorry to hear that the hot weather at Sonoma did not agree with you. Be sure and write me if you can how you are. I am sure you will have a lovely time and will enjoy the superb mountain air and scenery.

I have no news to give you. Be a good obedient boy and try not to talk too fast.

I shall be glad to have you remember me to Mr Fisher. Goodbye for a little while my dear boy.

Always your loving Father

H L A Bates

If you want money or anything be sure and let me know.

[Imprint] illustration of Native American Chief: TECUMSEH CHIEF OF THE SHAWNEES

PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT H. L. A. BATES, GENERAL AGENT 240 SANSOME STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The Shawnee Fire Insurance Co. Of Topeka, Kansas

Office June 12th - 09 Sat 1 pm

Mr dear old Edward:

I was very glad to receive today your letter written on the 10th and to hear that you were having such a fine time. I hope you did not awake any one on the Pullman car by talking and shouting to the Engineers of passing trains. You know that when people buy a berth on the train it is because they want to sleep, and other passengers should keep very quiet if they dont want to sleep themselves. You needed the sleep yourself, and I hope your swollen tonsil was not caused by your catching cold through having the window open. So you have had the fun of snow balling. I am very glad you are up there and I hope it will do you lots of good. I wish I could go too, perhaps [underlined] the end of next week I will go on a trip to Lake Tahoe & back with Mr Going and if so I will write you to come to Tallac to see me.

Mother is having a fine time at Billings, I got a letter from Dick today. He has been fishing with his new rod, but did not catch anything. I am very busy and cant write more. Goodbye Snedward dear

your loving Father HLA Bates