On Thursday morning, up again early & breakfast about 7, & set out. Matt took me to see another brother-in-law, Minor Waters. He is a foreman blacksmith in railway shops. He used to stay with Matt in New Albany, & Matt trained him at the anvil & pushed him on. We saw him at his shops. He lives in New Albany & has just entered a new house, wood. Matt & I crossed the Ohio in the electric car to New Albany on the Indiana side. We soon came to the house & saw Molly, the wife, a very nice, smart, active woman, & she was pleased Matt had called & brought me. She knew we were coming to Louisville. Matt is a great favourite with every one of his friends & what lots of men stopped him in the streets, & I was introduced to all with explanations. After a while spent with Mrs. Waters, she let us see the new house & I admired the arrangements much, a splendid bath room & the cooking stove arrangements took my fancy greatly, both gas & gasoline. In Indiana they have natural gas. Matt uses it. What a boon it is and such a supply.

We had a car ride around the city & returned to Louisville by the same route across the great Ohio river. Matt pointed out places where he lived while in New Albany, & the first church he became a member of. After dinner with Mr. Laurence Waters at Washington St. (by the way, Mr. Laurence Waters is county treasurer & has been for about 17 years), we set out to see Matt’s own house & the tennant [sic]. It is on Walnut St. West 2513, & a fine house it is, 2 storied, brick, a fine lawn, front elevated, trees on the flags, 4 which Matt planted [7:62] & good garden behind, fruit trees & grape arbor. Like most other property owners, Matt gets little or no benefit from this property, & would willingly sacrifice a reasonable sum to get quit of it. I got a snap of the house, including Matt, Mr. Waters & the tennant [sic] who was in shirt sleeves. The day was dull & I doubt the picture. We next went by car to Fountain Ferry Park, 5 odd miles from center of city, a pretty resort, & we ascended one of the hotel buildings, on a flat roof, chairs, & sat viewing the surrounding country & the Ohio running by. Now during the day the effects of the mosquito bites had given me some trouble. My left hand, on the back, was swollen like a pudding, a bite just between the 2nd & 3rd knuckle caused it, & I could not bend the knuckles. It was amusing to look at & my right little finger on the top & outside was so big that it stood straight & would not bend, & 2 bites turned black & rose like little mounds. The friends expressed surprised [sic]. I shall never forget Louisville & the mosquitos. Matt they never looked at. Then my neck had 6 or 8 good sized nobs, but they didn’t give me so much annoyance. The hand being suspended seemed to swell most. I fermented them well at night & well rubbed them with pennyroyal[1]. My ankle too was swollen & of course, mosquito bites itch so that the sensation of scratching is somewhat of a delightful relief, & but for care & restraint, one could scratch till the spot broke. I’ve so far avoided that discomfort. Today, Saturday, they are all easier & the inflammation subsiding, & it is much cooler here in La Fayette. During the afternoon, 3 o’clock, I was anxious to sail on the Ohio, so Matt & I took the ferry, monster steamer (I got a snap), & crossed to Indiana, Jeffersonville city landing, [7:63] & went ashore for awhile, took the snap as the “W.C. Hite” lay at the jetty. We returned by the same steamer, passed beneath a very fine cantilever bridge (like the Forth) to & fro, & got a snap of the other steamer as we passed & named the “City of Jeffersonville”, & another the “Kanawha”, the latter a sternwheeler for shallow navigation. She was off on river passage, all double funnels side by side, & double deckers. The bridge I’ve spoken of belongs to the “Big 4” railway coy., built 1893. I posted cards home & elsewhere this day.

After supper, all went to spend awhile with the mother. She was to have the plaster of Paris taken off yesterday, Friday. Poor body, what she must have suffered in such hot weather. We went home soon after 9 & went to bed. On Friday morning (this was yesterday) we had to be up by 6, breakfast at 6:30, & we set off for station soon after 7. I took a photo of the friends standing outside the door. It was dull & inclined to rain, but I hope it will come out. Matt had developed a headache on the Thursday & wasn’t better, so we decided to go on direct home to La Fayette instead of calling at French Lick, the American Carlsbad, & we had a very nice journey homeward, left 14th Street depot at 7:50 & arrived La Fayette, Columbia St. depot, at 2:02 p.m. The day improved & the air was delicious when we arrived, very different from Louisville. In all American trains some contracting firm sell books, confections &c. &c., & a salesman walks the train continually varying his wares. It’s a pretty country about North Indiana, fine fields, maize growing in great areas, fields of pumpkins, especially on maize fields. These are [7:64] planted like vegetable marrows & after the stalks of corn are cut & stooked, the pumpkin shoots out & field after field is strewn with them, rather nice to see such. One portion of the route, near Borden Village, I pointed out to Matt as being like a part of the road between Berwick & Edinbro’, rich fertile hill sides & hills covered on the face with trees. We crossed a fine river, “White River”, at Gosport, & great stone quarries frequently were passed, & such blocks of stone which are sawn for flagging. I did not go out at all after arriving. We did some photographing & then I set to my diary & stuck at it till late. I told you Matt had gone down town to accompany Rachael home. This Saturday morning I did not get up till about 8 & had breakfast about 9. Matt had gone to shops as usual early. They are very busy in the store on Saturday mornings & the mother assists them. She is a very active business woman & been accustomed to store life, & likes it. The sons are fine, diligent young men. Minor, the eldest, is a great church worker, & mixed up with many branches. Herbert is just nearing 16 & a very fine lad. They are a real happy family & all deeply interested in each other.

On my arrival here yesterday, your Montreal letter was awaiting me. I wrote to Ottawa, Boston, & Montreal to forward. However, so far only Montreal has responded, papers also, dated August 25th, & delighted I was to have all. Yes, I had a royal time in Australia & not less in New Zealand.

[7:65]

I am pleased that Andy & Willie had such a nice time together, & I envy their cycle ride to Wynyard. You’ll remember what a soaking day we had when father & Albi & Andy & the rest of us that day at Wynyard in ‘97. I noticed Mr. Nixey’s death. I thought he was much older than the age mentioned. I am a little surprised about Mrs. Sinclair & how she is left. I understood the house on Grange Road was hers. If not, & it is as you say, I feel very sorry for her & the family. It is sad indeed. I did read in one of the Mails an advertisement offering apartments. Willie mentions about Cadbury’s incident. I am pleased at its reference. Andrew’s little addition to Willie’s letter pleased me much. I am delighted he is so happy & bright, & that he manipulates the piano so satisfactorily, & about Alderman Furness, I note he is very interested & I hope Willie will give him all the particulars. Now your letter. So glad to hear Mr. Leask had letters from Hong Kong & Geelong. It is pleasant indeed. Had he only been with me to enjoy it all, would have capped the tour. You certainly have had a happy gathering. I’m quite delighted Andy & Jeannie at Wynyard was nice. How wise of her to fetch her cycle, & by the way, when will you & Mary feel efficient, “get you ready both”. I expect Bella has had Mary in training. I like Andy having ridden through Northumberland & wisely trained it home. How cheery to hear about his musical success. Oh yes, “David” will keep but haven’t you seen the 2 snaps I took of him? Surely you got the spools? Well, I have certainly sent quantities of post cards to friends & hope all was received. [7:66] Did Ada [2]hear you read how Frank & I got on at Hong Kong? I expect they had letters. Yes, I was sorry about Mr. Windrim. I wrote him. I am glad he has Miss Elliot. He will want well caring for now. Sorry you hadn’t a very satisfactory pulpit supply during the little minister’s holidays, but I do hope they enjoyed themselves & that he returned fresh. I often hear his voice & see him in the pulpit. I note you refer to your having hot weather. You don’t know what hot means other than water, & as I’ve often told you during my journeying my experiences of the heat, you can believe me that our hottest days in summer bear no comparison to the moist hot climate, in tropical climates. You also refer to Mr. Sinclair. I am so sorry to hear it. Doubtless, poor man, he had a severe mental trial. I wrote a few lines of condolence to her from Winnipeg, I think it was, but addressed it York Road, & then when I read her advertisement, I noted it was Clifton Avenue, & now, not the least, my lovely sweet Comely, bless him. I do long to see & kiss him. We will have a rare time if God spares us to meet. Kiss him for me!!

When I am to arrive home, I really can’t say. They are anxious to keep me here awhile & until I hear of our darling Albion‘s arrival, I don’t feel in a hurry to trip about. Still I must be moving. We go to Chicago next week early, & from there I face homewards. I’ve sent a p. card to Mary Plotnicoff today, & one to Meggie at Haggerston, & a few I sent from Louisville, & I’ve a few more to post, Mr. Gradon & Mr. Lockwell. I sent Mary Fender one also. Now I’ve got up to date again. It’s been a struggle, 9 closely written pages this spell.

Ta Ta for the present or, good bye the noo!

[7:67]

[1] A plant from the mint variety, used as an insect repellant

[2] Ada Musgrave?