My dear old Cal,

Many happy returns of the day! Have another slice of cake and a can of com do! [sic]

It's a lovely mild day here & perhaps it will go with this note & reach you by May day.

Marion Robinson is here came last night & goes to-morrow. She sends her love and Birthday geetings to you. She is having her Easter holidays & stayed in Toronto and is to end up in Montreal.

I've been going to write to you every day but somehow we seemed busy getting ready for our houseful of girls and then it was too lively to settle down.

Some day soon I'll write stories that will keep you so long that your potatoes will get hopelessly stuck to the pot.

It was cheering to hear what a good meal you had and that you managed to tuck in all your goods in your shack did you think I was going to say food? [?]is someplace else [sic].

On Sunday Joe Thomson said our pew looked like a girl [?] with the tutor at each end. We wished you had been home. Young Little is nice but not awfully interesting. However he touches the Mother's heart she thinks so much of her sons.

We asked Uncle in for dinner but said he was having turkey and ordinary roast for him.¹

Well dear boy this is only the first chap.,it will be continued soon like "Good Words"--"another thrilling instalment next week."

With much love and best Birthday wishes for my dear boy.

Lovingly

Ruby

¹ Uncle Calvin is Dr. Calvin Brooks McQuesten, their father's half-brother. He rarely socializes with the family. See his Biographical sketch at the Home Page by clicking on "Family" and then on his picture.

² This letter from Ruby was enclosed with Edna's letter to Calvin of the same date (W6084). Ruby was still at home on this date but soon after (in July, W6188)) she left for Calgary for treatment of her "throat" which eventually was diagnosed as "The Con" (Consumption or Tuberculosis) and she died of Tuberculosis in 1911. For the story of Ruby's illness, see her Biographical sketch at the Home Page by clicking on "Family" and then on her picture.