Letter 18881106

Hurrah for Cleveland

November 6, 1888
Pittsburgh, O

Hattie & Martha
Dear cousins, your letter of long ago is unanswered. I will try and answer it now. I was trying to sew but as the weather is very gloomy I don’t feel much like work. It has been raining all forenoon and don’t look very much like clearing off yet. We have been having plenty of rain this fawl. more than I care about. But never the less we can’t expect very nice weather in fawl. Well girls I presume you think I am not very prompt in writing to you , but I don’t believe I waited as long as you did. But I don’t look at that. I have been very busy for the last couple month. I had started up dress making and all kinds of sewing for a while. I had all the work I could do. But I haven’t any on hand now but my own. I don’t expect very much sewing for a while. There isn’t many knows I sew. We haven’t our sign out yet. My friend Ella Irswanger is in partnership with me. You have heard me speak of her. She is visiting friends in Dayton now. She expects to stay several weeks. Charles and I took her down Saturday and we stayed untill Sunday eve. We had a delightful time. Ella’s cousin from Great Bend, Kansas was visiting relatives and friends of Pittsburgh. She was with us. The Democrats had a rally in Dayton while we were there. We saw the parade it was grand. There was about 4000 people in the parade. I never saw that many people in my life. I said it was aweful the way the people spends money and carries on over the president and I don’t suppose they would speak to the people if they would meet them on the streets. Well you will have to excuse me for a while for I have company.
Well my company is gone and supper over. I feel more like going to bed than writing, I got up so early this morning. I am all alone now. Wish you were here, the boys are gone. Charles is up town, and James is at the lection house. I don’t expect him home untill all the votes are counted. The boys are pretty near crazy over the lection, and every body else, I never saw such a time. The boys are aweful hot Democrats and I am one two haha. The Republicans are running a nigger for some kind of an office in Darke Co. I forgot what, and the Democrats just go for them about it. His name is Jim Bass so some of the Democrats here in town thought they would play a joke on them. James printed a sign, Hurrah for Jim Bass, and got a big nigger picture, and put it in the lection house, and the Republicans are aweful mad about it. I am afraid there will be a big racket about it so I will dismiss Jim Bass.
Last Thursday night I was to a Prohibition lecture and it was good. I believe I am a prohibitionist much as anything else.
Well girls I have one sheet written full and not very much in it. I think it is aweful you girls give up coming to see us. I would like very much to have you come and I think you can. I received a letter from F. O. Delk not long since and he says he is going to start for Ohio the 13th of Dec. so when he gets to your house you girls can come with him. So don’t say you can’t because there isn’t such a thing as can’t. I think I shall take a trip in the spring to (?) if nothing happens. Has Aunt Polly been out to see you since we was there. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. It is a shame. I ought to write her a letter, but I have so many to write. I wrote one this forenoon, 10 pages. How is that for a letter. It was not to my fellow. Me and my Dakota fellow don’t correspond any more. I haven’t tried my fortune since I was at your house, but when I go to Dayton I am going to get my fortune told.
Well, Charles has come home and it is time to retire. So I will have to quit writing. How is your sister, Nancy. Is she well again. And all the rest of the relatives, how are they getting along. And uncle and aunt, are they well. Have you got Billy’s children yet or is he married and taken them away. How is he. Has he gotten so he can work oh yes! Is uncle sending me the Zion Watchman. I get a paper every week. I didn’t know who else would send it. If he is sending it, tell him I thank him ever so much for it. There is splendid reading in them. Well I ges you are getting tired for I know I am. So I will quit. Hoping to hear from you soon,
I remain your cousin, Altha
Give my love to all good neighbors.