Branch Office of the Home Machine Co.

166 Fourth St.

Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 31st 1877

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Dear Uncle Whitfield,

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I have been thinking of writing to you for some time, but so few of the letters ever reach you that I didn’t know whether you would ever get mine or not, but I have concluded to try and see. Are there many white people in that section of the country where you are? Are the indians ever hostile? You see by the heading of this letter that it comes from Louisville Ky. We moved here three years ago last September. Aunt Elvira spent a year with us leaving for Otego last May. This is a very pretty city, and very level country around it, except a few hills 8 or 10 miles off. We live out in the suburbs and are in one of the prettiest parts of the city. Stella, Eva and I are attending school and Alice is in an office down town. Is there much fruit where you are. This is a peach country, but the crops have been spoiled every year since we came here. We have Black walnut, hickory nut and beach nut and a great many different kinds of fruit trees growing here. We have had a pretty mild winter here this winter so far, but expect to have some pretty cold weather before it is over. I am making a collection of postage stamps, different kinds of stones, fossils etc. and if you have any letters with British Columbian used stamps on them please enclose them in your letter when you write and I will be very obliged to you. As there are indians around there if you have any indian arrow heads made of flint, glass etc. laying around the house, that you don’t care anything about and if you will put them in a little box or package and send them to me I will pay all expenses and be very much obliged to you. Papa and I went to the Centennial in 76 and saw about all there was to be seen. We went to Niagara falls on our way there, and also spent a day with Uncle George Chase’s folks. I wish you could come down into the United States and make us all a visit. Are the winters very cold in that country? We get letters from Uncle James Smith’s folks about every two weeks. Howard and his father were east making visits a year or so ago. We had an Exposition here last fall. It lasted six weeks and was a very fine one. The last three days there was a dog show, and sometimes there was such a howling you couldn’t hardly hear yourself think. There was also a poultry show at the same time showing the finest poultry in the country. This is the 4th day of January and I have not sent your letter yet, but I will now try and finish it. Last night it began to snow and this morning the snow was about eight inches deep. We don’t have much snow here, and when it does come it don’t stay more than two or three days. Do you have a great deal of snow where you are? This is about all I can think about now and so will have to close. Wishing you a “happy New Year” I remain,

Your nephew,

Leslie C. Waterbury,

No. 700 1st Street

Louisville Ky.

 

P.S. Ma says she has written to you a good many times and has not received an answer, but if “Uncle Sam” carries this one all straight, she says she will try it again.

L.C.W.