Letter from Sarah Sim to Mother and Harriet, July 11, 1858
In this July 11, 1858 letter from Sarah Sim to her mother and sister, Sarah describes the summer heat, her children's participation in school and church, and the behavior and appearance of her new daughter. She also mentions the continuing settlement of their part of Nebraska, the lack of a railroad, and the relatively small number of her neighbors leaving for Pikes Peak. Part of this letter is damaged.
Bennetts Fery Otoe Co N T
July 11 59
Dear Mother and Sister Harriet
Your letter of June 22nd came to hand yesterday, and also one from Wealtha. Enclosed I found $2 1/2 dollars in gold and also a few lines from Josephine and also Kate's letter to Helen but I can hardly make out to read it all. However, it is a good deal better than Helen can do. I suppose you wonder why I don't write oftener but the fact is I can't get time. I have so much all the time to do. I cannot get so much as one half hour to my self from Mondy [sic] morning untill [sic] Saturday night. I have seven in my family and the milking of five cows to take care of and it keeps me very busy and sometimes I hardly know how to get along with so much but I do as much as I can every day and let the rest go. I am not
I have some plants but do not have much time to [tend] them. Dear Mother, I thank you very much for the present you sent me. I shall lay it out for something when I go to Nebraska City. I have not been there since last fail. My love to all, especially Josephine. I would write some to her if I had time but she will hear this.
Yours affct
Sarah M. Sim
not very strong this summer. I went to work too soon after the baby was born and now I feel the effects of it very much. I recd a letter from Harriet a few weeks since but have not answered it. I also recd one from Electa about two weeks ago. I shall answer it when I get time. Harriet writes that Father was coming out west, but it seems has given it up. It proved to be all talk as I supposed it would. However I looked for him some when I thought it was time for him to come I dreamed that you both had come to see us and while I was talking with you about your journey I awoke and behold it was all a dream. We have had no letter from Willis and George for some time. You speak of having a great deal of rain the weather here is very hot and dry it is 4 weeks today since we had rain of any account and it seems as if vegetation
would all dry up. Last week the thermometer was up to 106 degs. We have about 30 acres planted in crops this summer. We have upwards of an acre of wheat which looks very well about the same of potatoes and the remainder in corn and besides we are putting up a great deal of fencing. It takes every dollar we can spare to lay out to improve the farm we cannot raise crops without fences we are working like slaves all the time. I feel as if I was almost worn out but I hope that we shall get over the worst of it in a year or two. We were very unfortunate last spring we lost a mare and cow and two steers. Besides the increase the mare and cow cost as much as $200 dollars, which put us out the way a good deal. We have not finished our barn yet for
want of time to do it. Helen goes to school we have 4 months school this summer we have Sabbath School and preachers nearly every Sunday. I carry my baby to meeting almost every Sunday and she behaves like a little lady thus far. She is a very quiet child she has pretty dark eyes and hair and fair complexion. I think she looks some like our first one everybody thinks she is pretty. Her Father thinks a great deal of her. I should send Philly to school if we lived as near school as you do. Helen is not capable of taking care of him she is allways [sic] runing [sic] away from him he is anxious to learn about things. I think if he could go to school he would make a good scholar. You ask whether the country is settling around us. There are some coming in and settling in this vicinity. It has settled up a good deal since we came here. There are no rail roads in Neb. yet not many of the settlers have left for Pikes Peak. I think they do best that stay at home. I wish I had some of your roses. I wish you would save some of the seed and send me.
