Bertie County NcArchives History - Letters .....Urquhart, Richard - Kate Fenner May-Sept '13 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mollie Urquhart murquhar@bellsouth.net January 9, 2010, 11:24 am Letters between Richard Alexander Urquhart (1889-1947) and Kate Nelson Fenner (1890-1956) [May 1, 1913] [mailed to: 243 Maryland Ave. Port Norfolk, VA] [from Woodville] My dear Kate – I have wanted to write ever since Tuesday when your belated letter came but have been in bed all the week. Got up yesterday and went to a Ball Game and now of course I am back in bed again. I was mighty sorry you didn’t let me know when you were going to pass Kelford and don’t think you treated me exactly fair about it. John’s letter from Little Sister, telling him when you would go to Norfolk, didn’t come until Monday on the train that your postal came on. It was dated Thursday night but didn’t come until Monday. I guess you think it is funny how the letters take so long to come but she must have given it to some one to mail and they forgot it. I know you are having a dandy trip and want you to write me about it when you get home. Send me a card and let me know when you are to get back home and I will try to write when I get to feeling like I am alive. Please, please, please have the pictures made and send me mine. I didn’t have to look among my letters and papers to find the prettiest picture in the world for it holds the most prominent place in my room just as it holds the most prominent place among the possessions that I hold most dear. Of course that one should be enough to please a King but human-like, now that I have one I want two (or better say a hundred). If you could just know how much I wanted it you have got too good a heart in you to deny me. Please don’t forget me when you are having such a good time and know that I am always thinking of you. With all my thoughts – I am Most sincerely – Alex [June 14, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Just to show you how much I appreciated the good letter that you sent me about a month later than you ought to have, I am going to stay here and write to you tonight when there is a dance going on at the School House and I can almost hear the music. I had planned to answer your letter just as soon as it came and date it thirty minutes after I received yours just to see how long it would take you to answer but I got your letter out of the Office Tuesday afternoon as I was on my way to Kelford to play BaseBall. They made me pitch in Kelford and when I got home that night I was so sore that I went to bed and didn’t get out till late Wednesday afternoon and then could hardly walk. Since then every single person that dwells in the City of Windsor has been in this house and there are a few dozen of them here now. You say you want me to write you about some of our Ball Games. I’ll do it just as soon as Lewiston wins its first game. We haven’t played the Bloomer Girls yet but have got a game arranged with them. I saw them play Aulander and Windsor and they really have got four young ladies on the team. The first baseman or basewoman is a pretty good Ball player. Evie left yesterday for New York to give the “voice” some more training and from what they all say it is sorely in need of it. I haven’t heard her sing in a long time. So she wanted you to tell me that she had always talked up for me. I believe I did tell her she was trying to put me in bad with you but I hadn’t really given it a thought except that I would [have] liked to have known just what she would have told you had you “promised not to tell.” Lala is in Selma now and Emily is here alone. They tell me she has ‘em lined up down there every night and dates ahead till August. I got an invitation to the opening Ball at the Panacea Hotel Saturday night. If I thought there was any chance of you being there I would go up. I guess it will be a dress affair and I don’t appear in dress suits any[where] but New York. I would love to come over to the DAR affair but know that you would have so much to do that the only time I would see you would be when you were up on the stage making some speech or reading some paper. Not that I wouldn’t be just pleased to death to hear you make your speech but ’course I had rather be talking to you. I know you are going to be so interested in all those things that you can’t find time [to] write to me in a whole week but I am going to pray for your letter just the same. What did you want to spoil your last good letter by telling me you were making candy for some boys for? You might have just forgotten to mention it and I could have lived in blissful ignorance. It was hard enough to make me long for some candy so badly and worse to tell me some other guy was getting it. I hope it turned back or whatever you call it when it isn’t good. Please don’t wait a year to write. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [May, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Talk about disappointed folks and folks with the blues but I’ve been the original blue guy since I found out you were not coming. If I hadn’t had my picture to look at every five minutes I would surely have taken a tumble. It was all I could do to hold off as it was and everybody I saw offered me a drink. Mog never has gotten your letter saying you couldn’t come and I am glad of it for it kept my hopes up one day longer anyway. We didn’t go to the Fishery of course, for to have gone without you after I had counted on you being there would have been terrible – and I was not the only one disappointed either for the whole family was looking forward to having you and Little Sister with us again. Now you have promised to come to the next “picnic” regardless, and Mog and I, on the strength of that promise, are already figuring on what it shall be and how soon we can have it. If you don’t come to that I’ll have a perfectly legitimate excuse for falling off. What kind of play was that you were to have and what was your part? Write it up in the paper and send me a copy. I thought it was time you were starting something for the Church or DAR’s one. But when you run out of things to get up in Halifax all you have to do is run down to Tillery. I couldn’t imagine where you were when I saw that Post Mark. We have had three nights of the Lewiston School Commencement this week and being a free attraction it has drawn crowds equal to a protracted meeting. Burges and I took it all in and had a lot of fun listening to that bunch of idiots “speak.” There are over a hundred pupils in the school and each one had to have something to do or the parents would have been mad. If the future of this State depends on a bunch like them, may the Lord be with us. I heard and saw all the sights through a window but Florence Spivey’s commencement comes off next week and I guess I’ll have to agonize through that from the inside. What have you ever decided about the Commencement at the Hill? Billie has never given us an intimation as to whether he is going to graduate or not. I hope he will pull through. Tell Little Sister she ought to appreciate the card case Billie sent even if she didn’t get an invite to the Dance for I paid a $2250 assessment for one of the favor dances when I was in College and was in Raleigh the night the dance was pulled off. I know you were glad to have Miss Nelson or Mrs. Powell in Halifax again. Hope she didn’t have any more to say about that guy she had down there for you. Peace Commissions are in vogue now. Why don’t you act as a peace-maker between her and your aunt? I’ve got the prettiest little Pointer puppy in the world, named Mexico, and we are about to have a war in the family about where Mexico shall sleep. He’s kinder partial to my bed. John Bell has been here for the last two days tying to get some votes in the coming Primary. He brought his wife, and I have been talking to her about a trip to Nags Head this Summer. But you said not [to] make any plans didn’t you? You asked about Evie. She is still here singing as much as ever. Mog had her over one night while Pauline was here. We went out riding that night and Evie came very near freezing to death. She told me it was all off with Buffet but I don’t believe it. Not if she can help it anyway. Anna Mae passed through town yesterday afternoon and smiled and bowed very profusely. It pays to be Billie’s cousin. Em is to come home sometime soon. Then I’ll bet Fletcher will want to bring you over. Kate please write me a great long letter right soon. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [May 20, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Your letter came today (the same day it left Halifax). And right now, whether you want to hear it or not, I am going to tell you again the lie, as you call it, about your letter that was delayed by the “terrible” Seaboard wreck. The letter left Halifax on Saturday and got to Woodville on Saturday but the freight train on the Boykins-Lewiston Line got off the track ahead of the mail train and the mail that is due here at 125 didn’t get here till that night or that afternoon after we had all come home. We didn’t get our mail that night so had to wait till Monday. The mail was opened on Saturday night and of course bears the post mark of that day or I would send you the envelope as proof. I am going to get the envelope of John’s letter and send it to you to show you when it came. As regards my telling Evie I heard from you that day, I may have done that but often Evie has asked me and I have said, “Oh I haven’t heard from Kate in a month,” or something of the kind, without ever thinking of trying to tell her exactly. I probably saw her at Sunday School Sunday morning and when she asked that question among ten thousand others I may have casually answered “yesterday.” I haven’t got the faintest suspicion of the idea that you are going to believe one single word of this but nevertheless it is so. I also know it is needless to say that two folks were all ready to go to Kelford Saturday afternoon about six o’clock when a regular cloudburst, brought on by a Baptist prayer meeting for rain, fell in Woodville, for I know Evie will write and say that she would have come to Kelford to see you but she went to sleep that afternoon and didn’t wake up in time or the horse was lame or Bet was sick and then you would know the sun was shining in Woodville. I have broken every pledge I made in the last month, taken drinks, smoked cigarettes, and done everything else and lied to everybody else from my mother down but God knows you are the one person on earth I have never told even a little lie if I knew it. I would have written you about breaking the resolutions before but was ashamed and afraid you would stop writing to me. I was also ashamed to say anything about the House Party as I had been to Norfolk so many times intending to find out about the cottages and each time come away without doing it. So far as the expense is concerned that wouldn’t amount to anything. I am truly sorry you have decided not to go for that week had meant to me the pleasure of the summer. I am going to Norfolk one day this week and had already sworn to myself that the first thing I was going to do was see about the cottage but probably that resolution would have gone like all the rest once I got in the City. I am glad you had such a pleasant trip and would like to have you tell me all about it. Have never been to Baltimore except to pass through. I saw “Quo Vadis” a long time ago. I think Olga Nethersoll was the leading lady. Some scenery. I know you were tired when you got home. I’ll tell you these “North Carolina country men” can’t stand too much of the big cities. We are to have lots of excitement here this week, a dance tomorrow night and a Ball Game Wednesday and two Commencements Thursday and Friday nights. I am going to the Dance but don’t guess I will dance any as I have been very foolishly trying to play Base Ball and have got a “Charley Horse” and can hardly walk. I know it will be a terrible ordeal to sit up and listen to the music and see other folks dancing and not be able to get on the floor. I hear that Evie is to leave some time this week for New York to take a six weeks course in “Voice.” I don’t see why she doesn’t go back to Peabody but guess she likes to change around. I would like to ask for something you had for Evie but know I don’t deserve it unless there is some merit in longing for something that you know you are not worthy to have. You must excuse this long letter. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [June 2, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – I feel some kinder mean for not answering sooner your letter that came just before I went to Norfolk. If it had been a “bad” letter I wouldn’t feel so mean but it was the best letter I ever received without any exception and came at the time when I wanted it most. You are the best girl in the world and if you wont you couldn’t have written me that best of letters. I would have written sooner but have been mixed up in BaseBall and Commencements and Dances so much that I haven’t had time to do anything. I was so tired last night that I went to bed at eight o’clock and got up this morning at eleven. I actually missed church the first time since I left the Hill. But if I didn’t write sooner it was not because I didn’t appreciate your letter and prize it more than anything that has come to me in a long time but just because I have been in such a rush that I felt like I couldn’t write like I wanted to. You don’t know how glad I was when I opened your letter and saw the pictures. I was so anxious to read the letter and look at the pictures at the same time I didn’t know which to do first. I think they are all just as pretty as a picture can be and one of them, I think, is a better likeness of you than the one by Tyree and therefore more beautiful of course. You couldn’t have sent me anything that would have pleased me more except one thing and that would have been the picture that you ought to have had made in Norfolk. I intended to have mine taken in Norfolk this time since you mentioned it but I couldn’t find but one photographer who would take the risk and just before he got ready to pull the trigger he asked me please to try to look sober so I got mad and walked out. A girl promised me her picture once and I never could get it until I hit upon a scheme. I had been writing and asking for it for a long time so finally I wrote her that if she didn’t send it I would send her one of mine and she took a special trip to Durham and had one made the next day. If you don’t keep your promise next time you go to town you just as well look out. It listens mighty good to me to hear you say that you are coming over here in August. It made me really happy for the first time in a month. So you are going to have Evie and Emily over to see you. I’m sorry for I know Evie has got it in for me and what she will tell you will be enough. Talk about fat girls you ought to see Emily. I think she is about to “can” Dr. Webb. Whit Spivey took her to the Dance Friday night and Webb had to take Evie. I guess he thought if he couldn’t get one he would take the other. We had a real nice Dance and I enjoyed it as much as I could without your being there. Some time I would be going along having a pretty good time and some of the Windsor folks would ask me where was that good looking lady I had at the Masquerade and then I couldn’t enjoy dancing a bit for wishing you were there. Just think I haven’t seen you since I learned how to dance (or rather to try to dance). It seems like five hundred years. We are going to fix the School House floor this week and get it in shape for August. Pray that nothing will happen to keep you from coming in August. Now Kate please don’t wait as long to write as I did for I just can’t wait for your letter and I will never be so long in answering again. Please excuse this writing for I never could use a fountain pen. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [mid-June, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – While you are having your grand concert tonight and flirting with the good looking judges and young lawyers I am going to talk to you a little whether you want me to butt in or not. I hope the concert will be a success and hope all the more that you haven’t worked yourself nearly to death preparing for it. Yes, thank you, I’ll take some of that cake you baked – chocolate, please. You all certainly do keep the Halifax people well stocked with entertainments. It’s a wonder to me they ever have any money to spend on anything else. Evie came home Friday – I think she staid in New York about 48 hours instead of six weeks but I was not a bit surprised to see her come back. She took one lesson at the N. Y. Conservatory and dined once at Delmonicos so she seems perfectly satisfied with the trip. She told me yesterday that she was going to Halifax real soon. I guess she intends to go with Em on the second. Don’t you come talking about going to the Western part of the State and Mebane and Chapel Hill and not coming here because Evie and Em and Bet and Zeke and I have already decided that you are coming here on the seventh of August. And you have already promised to come. Of course you would enjoy the other trips more but you must look at the matter from a Christian point of view and go to the place where you will give the most pleasure, not where you will have the most. Now if you want to hear of a suicide just write me that you are not coming. We are going to have a big BaseBall game here tomorrow with Ahoskie and I have got to pitch. I never did believe in white labor and this pitching business on a hot day gets next to me especially when every guy that comes up gets a home run. Don’t it sound like a joke to you to hear of my pitching a game of Ball? It is one too. It certainly would have been fine if we had happened to meet at Panacea on the night of the Opening Ball. I would certainly have been there if I had known you had any idea of going although I am such a bum dancer that I have sworn that I would never appear on the floor anywhere except right around here. John went up, but said there was such a big crowd that he was afraid to get out and try it. We are to have a little dance at the School House Wednesday night and another in Roxobel on Friday night. It looks like with so much practice I might learn something about it but I get worse instead of better. A young lady told me the other day, “Alex, you can play a right good game of Base Ball and fairly good Tennis and, they say, a good game of cards, but what you don’t know about dancing would fill volumes.” And I wouldn’t have gotten so mad with her but I knew she was telling the truth. Now you must write me all about your concert but you needn’t tell me how many of the guys were giving you a rush ‘cause I don’t like to hear about it. I am always thinking about the “clock man” and praying for his sudden demise. Please write to me real soon. With all my thoughts – Most sincerely yours – Alex [July 7, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – I was going to write last night but I went to Windsor and got broke down so didn’t get back in time so I am going to do what you say you just won’t do – write to you in the day time. I never would have forgiven you for waiting so long to write the last time and writing such a short note if you hadn’t remembered my birthday and sent your felicitations. Without that I would never have considered my two-dozenth birthday a success. You tell that Hong Kong guy to quit telling you those China ghost stories ‘cause I never did like short letters, ‘specially from you. You promised to make up in you next one so I am expecting it. I know Evie and Em are just having the best time in the world. I wish I was right where they are now. I went to see them last Monday night but I hadn’t gotten your letter then so didn’t tell Evie about the music but feel sure she carried it. If she didn’t it don’t make much difference for she can sing just as well without it (I mean that as a compliment not otherwise). Haven’t old Zeke’s gals got some fine clothes? I am just crazy about those little dresses (I don’t know what you call them) but if you don’t have some just like them this summer I am going to be mad at you. You certainly are giving them a good time – parties and dances and everything else nice. I told them both to talk up for me and if they don’t do it I’ll fix ‘em when they come home. Today is the seventh of July by my best calendar in the world and I am just tickled to death when I think what I’ll be doing on the seventh of August. Of course that month will seem like thirty years but still it is a lot of pleasure to check off a day each night and know the seventh is twenty-four hours nearer. Don’t you all go and change the date now and put it off any later unless you just naturally like to hear of suicides. I told Evie to tell you my crop (water melons) was fine and I am sure they will be all just ripe on the seventh. And when you come bring a trunk, not that I mind carrying heavy suit cases, but I want you to be prepared to stay a few days this time. If old lady Fortuna will just smile on me in the next two weeks I think I will go up to Atlantic City for a week about the last of the month. I will arrange to get back here on the sixth or I guess the fifth would be better and rest up a day before you get here. Now remember that you promised not to wait so long to write and to write enough to make up for the note. Will stop now. With all my thoughts – I am – Most sincerely yours – Alex [July 21, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – I went to see Em and Evie the night they got home and from the reports of such a grand time I was almost afraid you’d be too tired to keep your promise to write Monday night, but still I was right there at the Office Tuesday when the mail was opened awaiting your letter. I certainly did appreciate your writing to me when it was so hot and when you must have been nearly dead for sleep and rest, and such a good letter too if it was short. Honestly I have never heard of two young ladies being so royally entertained as Zeke’s daughters and it’s a wonder to me they ever agreed to leave Halifax. Thought you wrote me the Halifax boys were not nice to visiting girls. From what they tell me about the rush they got you must have tipped the boys off to several jugs or else Evie and Em were very charming. I was just tickled to death listening to them tell of the nice things you had for them and the rush they got until they began to tell me about how many beaus you had, then I got jealous and mad too and came home. Evie has been sick since she got home and looks mighty badly, the gay life in your City was too much for the country lass. I told her I certainly hoped she would be well for the House Party. I am glad the girls told you what a model life I was living. Of course I was too modest to sing my own praises. They must to have told you some other rather peculiar things or where could you have gotten the idea that I could be in Atlantic City when you were here? Here I have been for the last month counting the days before you’d come and praying to live that long, lemme tell you right now the Union Pacific hasn’t got enough engines to pull me away while you are here, not only to Atlantic City but even up above. I was sorry you put off the visit till the latter part of August for I’ll have to start counting all over again but maybe it will be a little cooler than it has been lately and better for dancing. Evie talks like she will be away till the middle of August so of course the House Party will not begin until then so we will arrange the dance to come about the 25th, that is, the “big dance.” Of course we can dance every night if it isn’t too hot. If you want me to let you dance with any of the other boys you had better not look as good as you did at the Xmas dance for if you do I’ll not let anybody have a single dance with you. I saw in yesterday’s paper about your trip to Panacea. I certainly wish I could have been there. Probably we can take a trip up there while you are here if all the automobiles in Lewiston are not broken down. I will stop now. Please write me a long letter just as soon as possible. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [July 28, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Your letter came Friday and found its usual glad welcome. I have been some “kinder” upset about Nowell’s death for I am almost sure that girls won’t have the House Party now as Mattie was of course going to run it and I don’t guess it would look exactly right anyway. But I don’t see any reason on earth why you and Little Sister cannot come over for a visit. Evie and Em are still in Selma and I haven’t been able to see Lala to find out when they will return but guess one or both will be home soon. You must write Evie a very sweet letter of condolence and incidentally find out what she intends to do. If I could just see her for a few minutes I could fix it up all right. It would certainly be all right for them to have you but never can tell what Mrs. Nowell is going to do. I really think the rest of the family will be more grieved than she for I know she isn’t capable of a deep love or a deep grief. I’ll tell you Kate you have just got to come for I have been looking forward to your visit for a long time and have hardly thought of anything else lately and to be disappointed would be the greatest disappointment I ever had in all my life. I expected to see Lala [at church] today but she didn’t [come] but I am going to see her tomorrow and find out when the girls are coming. I have got to be sure that you are coming before I can rest. Even if you don’t come for a visit (but I hate to think about that) you have certainly got to come to the Dance. Don’t fail to write to Evie right away and find out their plans for the Summer. I had planned to go up to Atlantic City next week but I certainly want to know something definite before then for I can’t enjoy my trip with the uncertainty on my mind. But I am sure the Good Lord ain’t going to deny me the pleasure of seeing you even if I haven’t obeyed his laws like I ought to have. If I go to Atlantic City I guess I will stay four or five days and then if the pocket book holds up may go over to Long Island for a day or two. I am going to be a whole heap better than the bunch that went from here last Summer as there will only be two of us, Tom Cobb and myself, both boys bearing a good reputation for quietness and right doing. Course it wouldn’t be out of the way for you to pray a little for me, for not having been out of the woods in so long I might have my pocket picked or something of the sort. Billie came home from the Summer School yesterday. I went to Kelford to meet him through the worst rain I ever saw. I told him there were only two people in the world I would go through such a rain to Kelford to meet and they were you and him. He hasn’t learned to dance yet but he can learn as much as most us boys know in two or three nights. Kate, be sure to find out if Em and Evie are going and write me right away that you are coming. Please excuse this writing. I played tennis this afternoon and wrenched my wrist so I can hardly use it. Don’t say I ought to have done it for playing on Sunday. Please don’t wait long to write. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [August 4, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – I was so happy when I got your letter and found out that you were really coming for sure that it was all I could do to keep from celebrating. It was enough to make me the happiest person on earth to hear that you were coming and then when you said you were going to spend two weeks I was so happy I thought I must be dreaming. I had seen Lala and she had told me when Evie was coming but didn’t know whether you were coming over or not so I had been trying to exist till Evie came and I could find out. I will see Evie tomorrow and find out exactly when she intends to have you. Of course I would like to see you come at the earliest possible second but if you are only going to be here two weeks I think it would be best to come about the seventeenth and stay till the first of September as the boys want to put the dance just as late as possible in the month on account of the hot weather. I guess you are surprised that I should be writing to you from Woodville tonight when you had been praying so hard for my safety in Atlantic City. We were all fixed up to go today but Cobb got a letter from his girl yesterday saying she was going to spend this week in Lewiston so we had to put the trip off till next week. We will leave here next Sunday (if nothing happens to prevent) and be gone until the fifteenth. Billie has decided to go up with us and we went to see Wayland this afternoon to try to get him to go but he was not at home. I know I am going to have a hard time trying to chaperone that crowd but maybe with your prayers I can keep them out of the Police Court. About the promised prayer rug I won’t write you why I didn’t send it for I know you won’t believe it but I’ll explain it when you come. I will also explain why John and I didn’t go to Kelford to see you when you went to Norfolk unless Evie has already proven to you beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was a perfectly fair day. But I’ll not say anything against Evie ‘cause she’s going to have you over for two weeks. I haven’t played any tennis today but we are going to have a Ball Game Tuesday so we had to go out for a little practice today. I am going to do everything I can to keep our Manager from arranging any Ball Games while you are here for I don’t want you to see me play and besides it would take up so much time when I could be talking to you. So you had a nice little stay in Garysburg Wednesday. If I had only known it I would have wired my friend Long that you were there and had him serve refreshments. He generally has it and I know he would have been glad to have helped you out. Please write to me as soon as you get this for if Lila leaves before Sunday we may go before then. With all my thoughts – I am – Most sincerely – Alex [September 3, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – I didn’t even get drunk last night like I promised. I missed you so much that it took all the spirit for fun and revelry out of me so I just had to go to bed and wish you were back in Woodville. I wished I had gone to Halifax with you and Little Sister as I came very near doing for when I hopped off the train it was running forty five miles an hour and I lit right in the arms of a big fat lady. However, it was worth the price for the last thing you said was that you won’t never going to be mean as a snake to me and Little Sister swore she’d help me out. Unlike Evie I didn’t have to wait for the last day of your visit to find out how much I thought of you but I’ll swear I didn’t have any idea I would miss you so much. If I hadn’t gotten up right soon this morning and lapped up about a pint and gone off hunting I don’t see how I could have existed through this long day. I killed the mate to the fawn that Whitehead killed yesterday and of course I think he is much more prettily marked. I am going to send the hide off tomorrow to be tanned so you may look for your prayer rug in a little while. In the meantime you might try my system, praying after you get in bed. I am praying very fervently for the early disappearance of your warts, not that I think it could add one bit to the beauty of your hand or because we are going to Richmond but just because you wish to be rid of the things and your wish is always my supreme desire, of course; that’s the reason I am praying for them to evaporate. I saw Evie this afternoon and she seemed so sad and downcast over you leaving that I told her she ought to put on Mrs. Nowell’s mourning rags. Evie swears that you have got to come back before Xmas, so just prepare to do it. If you would come to our nice little circus on the 24th we would show you that Lewiston is not wholly devoid of excitement for we are all going to “get right” and follow the band. I shall always feel that you and Little Sister had a terribly poor time over here but his place was always famed for its rest cure treatment and even if you didn’t enjoy it there’s consolation in the thought of the pleasure you brought us all in general and me in most particular. Kate, since you left I have been worried thinking that maybe you believed some of the various tales you heard about this Clark proposition up here but honest I told you the absolute truth about it and I’ll swear I think more of your little toe than I do the Clark family from Adam down. Now you ask Little Sister if I don’t. If Little Sister don’t talk up for me be sure to let me know. I am going down to Zeke’s in the morning and get old Evie and make her sing “Catherine” ten times. And I guess I had better get my Yackety-Yack too for I dreampt that Annie Elizabeth was cutting out paper dolls in it last night. Kate please don’t wait long to write to me. With all my thoughts – I am – Most sincerely yours – Alex P. S. Kate, you going to Richmond? [September 12, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Tired as I am from excessive labor I am going to try to write to you tonight. I have been working so hard all the week that every now and then I’d have to look at myself to see if I won’t a nigger. I have been fixing up the pasture and am counting on going in the cattle business proper this Fall ‘cause you said that was the coming business. Honestly, I have been working some kinder hard and if your hair tonic doesn’t cure me I’ll know it’s either work or trouble and not the fault of the medicine. I think it has done a lot of good but I can still pull out a few strands when I reach up to see. I kinder believe in your friend’s prescription, it sounds so good. I wrote to Friend Ives today to ship me a little brandy. Now if your tonic cures me before it comes I’ll have to try and find some use for the last prescription. Lewiston is all excitement now. The advertising car of the Great Downie and Wheeler 3 Ring Circus came today and the side of every old house and store in the community reflects a wild west or jungle scene. You just oughter see them hyenas and zebras and gorillas. I had a long conversation with the advertising manager this afternoon and gave him several drinks. He promises a very high class performance but never did give me the free ticket I was working for. It would be just fine if Gregory would bring you and Little Sister over but I know something would happen to prevent it even if you wanted to come. My luck’s too bad. I saw Evie and Emily this afternoon and had just started to tell them that you might come when I thought that you said not tell. I showed the girls the pictures so am sending them to you. Evie wants a dozen of herself on the horse. I wonder why. I knew you wouldn’t believe about the other picture being no good but it happens that I have got proof to this tale as Leonard saw them opened. I don’t know what was the matter with the picture unless the man thought the contrast was too great. I am going to send Billie the one of Anna Mae and him. He left for the Hill Monday. I told him to be sure to look out for your Freshman and I’ll write him where he is located. He was fortunate in getting at Mrs. Archer’s, it will save him many a sleepless night if things are like they used to be on the Hill. I saw a long article in yesterday’s Washington Post about the Foot Ball prospects at Carolina. They listen mighty good but we always beat ‘em till Thanksgiving comes. Of course I was just joking about your going to Richmond, you know I want you to go. I thought you’d understand. Poor misunderstood, mis-represented, misbelived Mr. Urquhart, you surely are excusable for seeking consolation in the Cup that Clears Today of Past Regrets and Future Fears. Tell Little Sister I am expecting a mighty good letter for she’s been writing since Monday. I’ll stop now. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex [September 24, 1913] [Woodville] My dear Kate – Your good letter and the deed came and both were exactly what I needed. It is rather funny but the deed is exactly what I needed to give me a clear title to my place. The place, as I own it, calls for three separate deeds and I had two of them and the third was described in Thomas Blount Hill’s Land Division that you sent. Honestly I am not saying this because you were good enough to look it up and copy it for me because it really is the one that was missing. Of course like all old deeds, the starting points are all very vague but still it is enough to keep off the land grabbers should any loom up. You can present your bill for a dollar and if I have any left from the Circus I’ll gladly pay it, or probably you would like better a dollar’s worth of “acting right” in Richmond and that I’ll do of course. Mog is kinder crazy about the Richmond trip and says she is surely going if Carolina has any prospects and I’ll promise not to disgrace the red-haired members of the Urquhart family. Mog says her visit to you was one of the most pleasant times of her trip and that you all were just the nicest people in the world. I told her I knew all that first. Willis told her confidently that if he could just get me out of the way he would surely fall for Kate and I said for God’s sake let him keep on thinking I’m hard to get out of the way. I tried my best to get your message out of Rat [Burges Whitehead] but he claims he has forgotten. However he hadn’t forgotten the candy and said you sent me some by him and he would have brought it but Cliff’s goat happened to get it and ate it all up. I knew the goat that got it all right and I don’t blame the boy at all for I would have eaten it too if you had sent it by me to anybody in the world. I was some kinder glad to hear you say again (2nd Promise) that you were going to have the picture made in Richmond and if such a thing were possible I would certainly deserve it. I’ll promise to do my level best to deserve it and to spend all my money trying to buy the judges. I move you appoint Little Sister, Mog, and me as judges. Little Sister says she is on my side and Mog better be if she don’t want to get chunked off the train coming home. I think that would be three very fair-minded judges, what do you say? Honest fact, Kate. I’d rather have that picture than anything in the world and I believe with that as an inspiration I could act straight a whole year. I am going to try to get all my business fixed up so that I won’t have to go through Norfolk but don’t know yet whether I can or not. I certainly did want to go down this afternoon to see Miss Anna but the Circus Parade begins at 1030 tomorrow and I couldn’t have gotten back for it and I wouldn’t miss that for a million. Today has been a gala day for the Express Company and everybody up town is celebrating Circus Eve but I am sitting back pulling a corn cob pipe writing to you. I don’t know which is the most exited over the Circus, Rat or Clifford or me. If you were just going to be here to follow the band with me I’d be happier than any nigger there. I was certainly disappointed that you couldn’t come Saturday. I don’t know which to attribute the weather to – the equinox or my luck. Burges went out Thursday morning to cut his hay and I told him if the weather was good until Sunday and he saved his hay and you came, our luck would be good and we had better buy some futures. Of course we didn’t tap the wires yesterday. I don’t think Em will stay at St. Mary’s very long and just as soon as she returns you and Fletcher and Little Sister have got to come. Please write to me just as soon as you get this. With all my thoughts – I remain – Most sincerely yours – Alex File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/history/letters/urquhart224gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 40.8 Kb