Up the Gatineau! Article
This article was first published in Up the Gatineau! Volume 17.
Some Spring News — 1888 Bertha Reid
Bertha Reid
Kirk's Ferry
April 7,1888
Dear Eliza.
I am going to answer your letter which I received yesterday. We were all glad to hear from you. I have been looking for a letter this good many days. I was glad to hear you got up all right: you had two very cold days drive. I hope you were not cold. The snow is going pretty fast here now and the stage went up on wheels to-day. I don‘t suppose you will be surprised to hear that school closed last Monday. We were all glad. We are having a good time at home, learning just as much.
Poor little Arthur is very sick. he has been in bed ever since Wednesday. he was very sick yesterday when the letter came and he wanted me to write and tell you to come home: he speaks of you an awful lot. he has a very high fever. Pa was afraid he was going to have inflammation of the lungs but i don't think he will. If he is not better tomorrow Pa will go for the doctor.
The boys are making maple syrup. They have a new sugar bush this year and have twenty-four trees tapped. They are having a great time: better than going to school. I think Arthur caught cold going through the snow with them. The horses came home last week all used up. Nell (the horse) has her foot near cut off and Kate has something the matter with her shoulder so that she drags her foot when she goes to turn. I don't know whether she will ever be any better. Pa was near crazy.
George is home now and he is helping Pa get out timber for the bridge. I think they will finish to-day. I hope you did not forget how to do your lace if I thought you did I would send you the pattern but I don't think you could forget it you knew it so well. Maud and I are going to start our cotton stockings as we will have lots of time when we are not going to school. Miss Austin is going to have her concert next Monday night we got an invitation to go but I don't think we will. I suppose the ice will be getting bad now anyway. I hope you are enjoying your self well. Ma says to tell you to have a good visit when you are at it. We are lonesome for you. Pa wanted me to write as soon as I got your letter. I will not mail this letter till Monday and then I will be able to tell you how Arthur is. I think I will have to bring my letter to a close as I have no more news at present. Write if you are not coming home before July. So good bye from Bertha.
PS Monday 9
Arthur seems to be some better this morning but he is very weak and needs a lot of care. Pa went down to the Doctor yesterday and got some more powders. He said he had the intermitting fever and would not be better for a few days. Ma says for you to mind and make Mrs. May come down with you for she would like to see her. I have a little more news for you. Archie Pritchard is to be married to Maggy Cameron the last of the month and Miss Pritchard is going to be bridesmaid. Well Eliza you had better answer this if you don't think you will be down before I get the letter. From B.
Bertha Louise Reid was 15 years old when she wrote this letter. She was the eldest child of Norman Reid & Mary Aylwin: she grew up at Kirk’s Ferry at what is now known as Brown's Farm. This was the original homestead of Thomas Reid and Lucy Wright, which passed to Norman. and then to Bertha’s sister Maud. who married Ferguson Brown in 1906. After this, the farm name became associated with the Brown family and has continued to be a local landmark, now the property of Arthur and Musie Brown. The “Arthur” referred to in Bertha’s letter was her little brother, five years old at the time of writing. He recovered from the illness.
Carol Martin