My dearest Calvin,

I am very pleased to say that your stove pipes and preserves are started off to-day. At the freight office they said there was not a great deal of traffic and did not know why they should not go through. Hilda packed the barrel as well as she could and I hope there will be no breakage, if there is be very careful about the broken glass for fear you should swallow it. I got the little barrel from Osborne's thought it a nice size and safer than a box. To send the whole only cost me forty-five cents more than your bale. I do rebel against that rule of making you pay so much for small consignments. Well, I posted my last letter on Saturday last the 23rd and on 25th received yours of the 18th, yours just came in a week, do not know just when to post mine.

We had most beautiful weather for the holiday. Tom & Ruby saw the unveiling, the others could not be bothered. After dinner Tom went over with me to the station and saw Earl Grey Lady Grey and Lady Sybil quite close without being crowded or waiting anytime. Then we saw a company of the Highlanders with their bag pipes and Gourlay Colquhoun perfectly immense in his regimentals carrying the Standards. It was such beautiful weather for everything. The next morning it was pouring.

I should say, we could only send you jams, as nothing else would keep, when you have no cellar. We only had the one pot of strawberry. I was so glad, indeed, to hear you were pleasing your people and that they were so interested as to stand by you. It seems a pity, that the other denominations cannot go where there is no one, but it has always been so. Well, I must close. Mary is writing a farewell to Mary Taylor, who is sailing for England on Saturday. With much love from all and hoping everything will reach you in good time.

Your loving Mother

M.B. McQuesten

[P.S.] Could you get station agent at Saskatoon to notify you of arrival. There are three pieces, the stove, the pipes in box and barrel.