RK-516

The Grove April 6th 1858

Dear Bob -

No letter from you to day; much to our disappointment, you dont know how lost we feel if we don't get letters from you every mail.

The weather has been quite cold for the last few days; This morning it snowed, hard for few minuets, enough fell to whiten the green grass and evergreens for a little while, but it soon all melted again. I always liked to watch the snow fall, but it seemed so unnatural to see a snow storm at this time of year.

Yesterday I made preperations for collecting, that is, I looked up a lot of jars and filled them with alchol - diluted with water one third - I have one for snakes lizards ect, and one for mice, and another for insects, I commenced by skining two Bairds mice; and hope to get more soon, although we shall not be able to do much for you. we want to get all we can, Cora and I are the only ones that have any time, and we don't have much just now, I shall try and

I think I shall be able to press specimens of all the early flowers, I have begun with some lovely little Hepaticas -

We are quite out of alchohal; shall we send for more? and who shall we send to?

We scarcely ever see any one who would be likely to collect for you even with pay. We do not see many people, indeed very few, And I have not been at The Folly for four weeks, so you must not expect us to do much. I am sorry for I know it appears to you that we might take a little time each day to help you, But you can't think what "lots" of work we all have to do - We are still without a girl and have the whole of our own work to do And you know that in the spring we always have housecleaning to attend to. "lots" of sewing to do, and any quantity of company to entertain.

Major as you can imagine has to work constantly and Father worries himself almost to death, besides working, really going out and makeing [letter struck out] sales and getting up orders ect, - about how we are to pay our numerous debts -

I dont know what ever will become of

Ira and Flint, they are the laziest children in the country, it is almost impossible to get them to do one bit of work -

If we dont get many things for you this spring, don't think it is because we haven't worked to help you all we could -

Mother and the little boys have gon up to Aunt Genes, Mother will get a girl if there is one to be had -

I am afraid we shall not have a garden of anual flowers this summer, Cora and I mean to try and have a few little things.

I am afraid home will not look very pleasant to you; after being in a nice clean house all winter and living where people were civilized, how will you like seeing bare brown walls, and bare unfurnishd rooms, where the people are rough in their manners and work like fun, and don't have any time to be "pretty and agreeable", even if they could. But we all want to see you never so much and shall be glad when you get home -

Your loving Sister Dalcy

Mother brought a little girl home with her, and there is some hopes of our getting another soon -

Bruno has gone to Chicago with Laurance this morning, and Mother says tell you she does not think them (the little boys) any lazier than other boys, that she used to know -

I am just going down to the post. It looks very much like rain. Is still cold. Mr Robert Kennicott Washington D. C.

All send love - Dalce -