My dear dear boy,

I was so glad to hear that you were able to be comfortable in your room, for we seem destined to have a cold winter. On Friday, we had a regular thaw with rain, which made the streets almost impassable and we hoped for a little respite, but the cold set in again Saturday night and since then it has taken all our resolution to bear it. We keep a grate fire in the sitting room, for we do not dare use all the coal we might in the furnace or our coal would not last out. The worst of it is that there seems no probability of milder weather, it is not like other years, a cold snap, but just an old fashioned Canadian winter. We shall be glad to see Hilda again to-morrow, we are very lonely without her.

Calvin's last letter speaks of colder weather there. It was 10 below zero, and he had driven 25 miles but with his felt boots and fur coat had not minded it. Dr. Fletcher said they were snowed up out at Thames Road, no congregations at the churches, but as he remarked they were able to get to the polls in North Oxford. Am glad the Tories were disappointed there.

We all took dinner with Mrs. Mullin on Saturday. It was very kind of her to ask us. She did it to save us getting a dinner and it was a great relief to Mary. By Saturday one gets very tired. At the same time the people who are boarding do not seem very happy. We hear complaints on all sides. There is nothing after all like one's own home, if we once could get just a little help. I have to wrap myself up now and start out to try and find a woman to do some scrubbing, one has not appeared.

Little Willie Stuart does very well with the snow-cleaning and takes out the ashes three times a week for which I give him 25cts. a week, snow-cleaning extra. They are trying to bring in a very [?] snow-cleaning By-law, which I trust will not pass, to enforce getting off the ice.

I went over to see the Uncle this morning, he has a very bad cold, and of course not in a very good frame, he has a most miserable existence, poor old chap. I do hope you and Cal. will be able to make money enough to have homes of your own. So I think you had better go straight ahead with your law-course. I can manage to put you through; so as to start in for yourself as soon as possible. Do you not think so too? Tell Mr. McKelcan (junior) I was glad to see he had passed his exams and I send my congratulations. Did you get Presbyterian Saturday night? I posted it for 10:30 mail that morning. You must just be driven to death with work, am quite content with a few lines from you once a week. Archie M. has never written yet. With fondest love, dearie.

Your mother

M.B. McQuesten