My darling Mother,

The doctor examined me yesterday and when I asked him if he really could say that I'd be up by summer he said he certainly expected to see me sitting out on the verandah by then. He is planning if he can arrange it to get me down to a lower room off a verandah.¹

You know last summer when I had my dresses done up, [illegible] stating the doctor never said I'd be up and he's very [illegible] about saying things so I feel quite satisfied. I think if we can get this room it will be a good thing though I'm sorry to leave this comfortable little room. However we'll not talk about it till it is settled. I left it to the doctor whatever would be best.

Yes, Mrs. Young is little and a very small little woman too & as I told you I spent Valentine's Day eating. The 'children' looked really very comical dressed for Mrs. Young's party. Next day they dressed to have their picture taken & young Grant was in a very tight [?] costume--he came up to show me. He said his name was Willie & his suit was tight. I had been privately informed it was dangerous for him to sit down. Then Miss Russell came up to see me. Miss Russell was [with] Mr. Powis who was the governess of the children. He was dressed in black with a lace collar, a black hat & veil, a 'rat' around his forehead which was continually slipping down onto his glasses & pin curls. He talked in a high voice & took mincing steps & fixed his hair continually or felt his girdle & was really the funniest thing. I really haven't seen anything so funny for a long time. He was the fun of the party they said & I didn't wonder.

When [?] all finally sat down & became Mr. Powis he said his mother had been ill in bed for two mos.--disease of the alimentary canal & the father was going to take her to the Bermudas to see if they could get her picked up a little.

I'll be glad to hear that Mrs. Bell is home safely. I'm afraid she has had a very hard time.

And so Hilda has been making Marmalade again. I'm glad she's making the jam. [illegible].

I had a nice letter from Willie James from Windsor N.S. He said he passed on the train the scene of the wreck on the [Tuesday?] & Thursday the night before the wreck & was very thankful when he heard of it. Yes, Mr. James sends me Good Words & other things along with it.

Tom's flowers have been a great success I should think. You do appreciate flowers in winter.

That was very sad about the Allans.

Give Charles my congratulations on "The Whale." It is quite interesting.¹

Your letter has just come. Darling Mitherkins I don't think you're impatient but you've had many things to try you. And it's much harder having others ill than being ill yourself. Time seems much longer. Mrs. McQuesten, you'll just get a black eye from me if you ever say you're perfectly useless. What a L I E pronounced fib. It is the most nonsensical thing when you're the indispensable hub of the whole family wheel & your family would be utterly wretched & lost without you.

No I don't need another flannelette nightgown--And I'll send the mauve jacket if I think it should be cleaned. It's a good idea. I think with all my jackets & my bathrobe, I'll do without a wrapper. I think I'm a very well set up young lady. Chipman has an old robe with a bandanna handkerchief stitched into a big vacancy down below & a newspaper covering one above. Tell Tousie [Hilda] I'm very grateful for her letter. Mr. Young the Col. calls me teacher's pet because of all my Valentines. And to-day, a box of lovely carnations came from Miss Izzard--she had them sent from Hamilton. I'll get Mrs. Churchill to drop her a card.

So Edna ships up the nag--she's a sport all right. Well tell the children to keep out of mischief--with heaps of love to all.

affec'ately,

Ruby

¹ For more information on Ruby and her treatment for Consumption (Tuberculosis), see W6135, and see her biographical sketch by clicking on "Family" on the Home Page and then clicking on her picture. Ruby

² Charles Gordon is a friend of the McQuestens. Under the pen name of Ralph Connor he wrote may books, see W5359. Many of his books are in the library at Whitehern.