Many Happy Returns of the Day, my dear Tom. I hope it is as fine a day as it is here. We are trying to picture to ourselves what you are doing--are you standing with your long pole sticking logs.² Well, we'll have to have a grand day of celebration when you come home, ice-cream and another cake. We'll persuade Touse [Hilda] that the Birthday cake was never eaten and see if there isn't another going.

This afternoon we're going to call on Miss Elsie Buchanan and Miss Chisholm. Mama saw Mary Hannaford, Christie Smith's sister this morning and Mary said she heard I was to be married to Jas. Chisholm--Hurrah! If we told Mr. C. that he'd blush to his bare knees if he had on the kilts.³

Yesterday afternoon Uncle Alex took the Mither, Touse and myself for a drive on the mountain. Did you hear that the other day when Uncle Alex was driving thro' the Asylum grounds he was stopped by a "lady" patient who asked him if he was married. When he referred to the death of "my last wife" she said "Yes, I thought you hadn't a wife and do you know I fell in love with you the first time I saw you and you know it is leap year." Uncle Alex doesn't tell his answer.

Well I must be off to get ready. May this year be a very very happy year for you. May you be healthy wealthy and wise.

With much love.

Your loving sister,

Ruby

¹ No date, but context suggests near June 30, 1904, Tom's Birthday. The Thursday afternoon before Tom's birthday would be the 24th of June, so that is the date we have selected for this letter.

² Tom has taken a job for the summer at a logging camp in Quebec, see W4977.

W-MCP2-4.057 is dated June 29, 1904 from sister Mary to Tom for his birthday. She notes "I suppose you are jumping logs by this time, and also are keeping cool."

³ Also in W-MCP2-4.057 Mary notes the rumour from Mary Hannaford that Ruby is engaged to Mr. Chisholm . . . . "People seem to be most anxious about marrying us off." There was no substance to the rumour. For Chisholm, see W2520.