May 4th

Your letter is dated March 27th. I did not have time to read it through last night – the candle went out before I had finished and left me to go to bed in the dark as I had no other candle. Yes dear, I recollect going to St. Luke’s that night and also how proud and pleased your Father was at being able to carve again after his long rest [?].

I did not get letters on either the 26th 27th or 28th. You have evidently taken my permission for granted – in regard to my letters. I suppose it would do no good and only make you uncomfortable if I were to write and tell you not to do anything of the sort. However the letters are yours and you are at liberty to [do?] with them what you please. It may do good (if they print them) to me when I go South to practice to have a name made for me.

Poor little economical girl – will you tell me how much you managed to live on this year? However it is good practice. For you know you are to live with a poor poverty stricken sawbones – who will have to work hard to get enough to keep body & soul together.

I am much obliged to Miss Cameron and I appreciate her love. Will you give her mine? I am going to write to Mannie soon – but would rather have you give it – for putting it in your hand makes it seem as tho’ it were being given to you. Young Balty [?] must be a delectable kind of person. I should like to hear him sing – and see you playing his accomp. Kate Hard[..?]’s friend Mr. Gaston is he not a lawyer, a young man who has a large nose and brass glasses. If he does I think I know him – he is a decent chap.

How horribly untidy you must have looked and how absurdly awkward a position to be in – I don’t wonder at your laughing. I am really grateful to Mr. Langt[…?] and other friends for remembering me so kindly. Whatever you do is right ergo [?] I don’t seriously object (if you don’t) to your copying my letters to you. So don’t fret old girl.

How glad you must have been to have your Father with you at dinner and I can easily imagine how glad he must have been at the change. By the by what is the name of that eating house on Jordan Street. Your Father used sometimes to take his dinner there. I have been trying to tell some of the officers about the place and I cannot recollect the name. Phantom Pharaoh Parlor are the nearest I can come. I received some Can. Ill. News [Canadian Illustrated News]. I looked for you in the Ball at the Philharmonic, but failed to recognize you – where were you sitting.

I am glad that you have received my letter of Feb. 21st, I sent that as I thought by Glen – and in a day or two sent others. I suppose that you have received them ‘ere this. Mrs. Glen is the most civilized woman in this part of the North West Territories. Mr. David McDougall has his wife at Bow River but she is over a hundred miles from here. I have not seen her.

Yes I do some good – I do not make the poor Indians pay anything – and am called a fool by the other officers, but it seems a shame – I have made over fifty dollars from outsiders. So that is something to the fore. As the population becomes denser so I may hope to make more.

No one got so many letters as I did – in fact they are all jealous of me and every man that comes from Benton, they all say to him : have you letters for anyone else except the Doctor. Fort Shaw is in Montana Territory on Sun River – it is very nearly the same distance from us as Ft. Benton.

Your argument about Mannie’s concert is not very good. You get out of the gate post argument by saying or implying that he is conceited because he is a man and not a boy. Are all men conceited and are all boys exempt? I hope for your sake that Miss Taylor’s friendship has not cooled towards you – on account of foolish speeches – or on any other account.

Your photo was good. But there is something about it I do not exactly like – but it is as dear to me as tho’ it were a better picture.

Easter Ball ! I should think I did recollect it – and have you your old programme? If you have – just look at it and you will see some marks on it- some with names written over them.