My dear Calvin.

As we start off to-morrow morning, must write you a few lines. We heard from Mary yesterday. She was enjoying the place and the Mackenzies very much, they are so kind but much disgusted with the minister "Pick up" whom she declares to be a stick and a typical Methodist like Van Wyck, but Mary is apt to take violent prejudices and we thought it might be the one whose photo is in the group, but it is a brother not at all good looking. We do not know what the Central Church means, they do not know themselves, in fact our churches do not know what to do. Ours needs repairing and yet we do not feel like putting money on it. There are always rumours of the lands being taken by the Railway, but we have been waiting long for that. Heard from Mrs. Bell this morning she is in Muskoka, had just received from Herbie an account of Florrie's wedding. The bride-groom is not handsome but aristocratic looking, so is the whole family, and they received him very kindly. Tom came up Saturday and we had two visitors for tea, I forgot to mention that Ruby had arrived Thursday evening.

Well our visitor was Kissie Birely she and her mother are on their way to the coast. Louis is doing very well in Vancouver and sent them $300 to come out to visit him, but they go back to New York in September. Kissie is very enthusiastic about her art and won a medal. The other visitor, was a Mr. McGuigan, a McGill man who is working our Presbytery in the interests of student volunteers. He spoke to us on Wednesday evening and did very well and seemed a nice chap, so I invited him in for tea, he said he had met you at Mr. Walker's in Montreal. Miss Troup has just been married to Hiram DeWitt of Montreal.

The Argonauts lost in Toronto by a very little, but it was disgusting that the Belgians won at Henley. But Tom says it will do no harm but the English are desperately set in their methods. Frank Whittemore and Snively rowed with Tom, but they made a bad start and for some reason had to row in the morning and were tired. Harry W.[Whittemore] is going into the Real Estate business in Macleod. Ruby saw every thing in Quebec, spent four days but found it a dear place so would not stay longer than necessary, and got tired of relics. She will write you when we get to our destination. Must close now, yesterday Mr. Murray drove Mrs. Fletcher, Ruby and myself up to the Colquhouns and R. ran in for a few minutes to see Alice Chisholm. It was a beautiful afternoon and the gardens were lovely. Mr. Hendrie left nearly $2,000,000. Very sorry about the Jaffary's but hope someone nice will take their place. With much love from all.

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten

[P.S.] Our address:
Bayview Farm
Dorset P.O.
Lake of Bays