A Grandmother's Legacy

October, 1903 - Letter To Constance

Next letter, dated October 4, 1903, 10 P.M., G.C.B.C., Quincy, Ill., postmark to Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla., received in Alva, Okla., October 6, 5 A.M., 1903.

It starts out:
"Quincy, Ill., Sunday, afternoon, Miss Connie Warwick:

I received your letter a few days ago. Was surprised that you did not get my first letter. I can't imagine what could have ever went with it. Mebby (sic) it will come to light some sweet day.

"I was surprised to hear that Edith Thompson was married. You must not write me such sad news. It nearly broke my heart. But I have recovered from the shock, and you must tell me who she married, and all about it next time. I want you to congratulate May and Ikie for me.

"You had better come to the G.C.B.C. It is a fine school. It takes about a year to finish the two courses that you spoke of. Although you might finish in ten. I believe you could finish in less than ten. But I would advise you to just take the Short Hand course. Did you ever receive a catalogue. I expect to finish up in five months more.

"So you are going to the fair. Well! So am I. I want to go there and get a job, and stay till it is over. You spoke about spelling. Well you have to be a good speller. The examination is held every month, and you have to spell 95 words out of a hundred in Short Hand course and 85 out of a 100 for the Bus. Course.

"The Short Hand exam is fierce. I have taken spelling all the time and the last Ex I succeeded in getting 94. If you are comming (sic), I would advise you to send for the text book of both Short Hand and spelling, and you could finish in probably a month sooner. Letter writting (sic) is also in the courses.

"I hope you will come to the GCBC. It is a good thing for Mrs. Snyder to have somebody to tell her troubles to. I want you to ask her what she thinks of me; and then tell me next time.

"It rained awful hard here last night and is cloudy now. it is rather lonesome here now. Where are you going to teach. Oh yes I guess you told me, and how you was going to make the kids stand around.

"Hows is the attendance as the N.T.N. Did you go to Institute last Summer. Well I guess I will close my information bureau. Hows is Mr. S.? Good by, Connie.

Your T. F.,
J. C. McClure,
524 North 9th, Q'cy.