The following is a letter written by Maria Haskell Pierce to her sister Catherine Haskell Carlisle dated January 7, 1906 from Watertown, Wisconsin. Catherine lived in Conklin, Michigan. The letter was saved among the personal papers of Catherine Carlisle's children, no doubt because it was written shortly before Catherine's death on February 25, 1906. It is just possible that the letter did not reach Conklin before Catherine died, in which case it would have been especially treasured.
The reader will note that Maria signed her letter "Marie." I am told that the name was pronounced "Mar-eye." She calls Catherine "Cate." Elsewhere in the letter she refers to the following individuals whom I will attempt to identify, as follows:
Clara: Clara Thankful Pierce Moulding
Art: Arthur J. Moulding
Chas: probably Charles R. Pierce, Maria's son, born about 1867
Cad: probably Claude L. Pierce, Maria's son born about 1877
Cathryne: unknown, probably Claude's wife, also called "Kitty" elsewhere
Dorothy: Dorothy Thankful Moulding, Clara's daughter
Dr. Moulding: this must be Frank Moulding Arthur's uncle
"Clara's
little girl:" maybe this was Cathelyn Moulding, who would have been about 16 in 1906
Em: Emily Haskell Cobb, Maria's younger sister
Gurney: Algirnza B. Carlisle, Catherine's son
Burty: Burton E. Cobb, Emily's son
Richard: Richard Carlisle, Catherine's husband
Cate: this apparently refers to Catherine Carlisle, but may also refer to Claude's wife
Ada: Ada Carlisle, Catherine's daughter
I have preserved Maria's spelling but have left some blank spots where I could not decipher the handwriting, and have put in parentheses my "translation" of some of the words she used. I have also included some punctuation where she did not use any, for clarity, and added paragraphs here and there. The description of the dinner is an interesting "snapshot" of the kinds of holiday foods eaten in the early part of the 20th century. - NS
"Dear Sister & Family,
"Yours received yesterday I was much pleased to get it although I new (knew) you was alive for I got a little bag for soiled handerchiefs with a card with your name so I knew you was alive it looks just like _________ (indecipherable), it is a nice little rememberance though it made me almost ashamed of my self, but I didn't give much only to the little girls. I knit them some _______(indecipherable) but I got quite a few _________ (this blank area seems to be where she meant to write a word such as "presents" but forgot to). Clara and Art gave me a silk waste (waist), Black. Chas. sent me a 5 dollar Bill. Cad and Cathryine gave me 2 pairs of nice cotton stockings.
"I have so much repairing to do on the place it is getting old. In the Spring I have to shingle and I had to buy a heater, I paid 40 dollars for it, but it is worth it, it keeps me so warm and comfortable and my sleeping room is just ____________ (indecipherable), that is warm all the time I never was so comfortable in the winter. I am much better off here than with Clara - he smokes every minit (minute) while in the house and that makes me sick. I was at Clara's Thanksgiving and Christmas we had Turkeys each time. I had to stuf (stuff) them, they like my dressing better.
"Xmas she had 11 Mouldings, myself made 12 at the table. We had a woman to wait on us in the kitchen, one waited on table in grand stile (style). (Here she meant to indicate there were two women, one in the kitchen and one in the dining room, but the sentence is garbled.) I got to Clara's Sunday, I drest (dressed) the Turkey. Then at night after Supper Clara, Dorothy and I trimed (trimmed) the tree before our guests arrived from Chicago at 10 in the evening. Next day Dr. Moulding & wife and Art's Father came from Watertown here, they arived (arrived) about 9 oclock, they all put there (their) Presants (presents) under the tree and Art distributed them. Then about 2 oclock we had dinner wich (which) lasted 2 hours. First we had osters (oysters) and Lady Fingers ("lady fingers" was crossed out), salted wafers, they cleared that alaway (all away). Then we had some kind of fish Bullyon (bouillon) and wafers, that was cleared. Then we had sweet Bred (sweetbreads) with mushrooms, Salad with Bread sticks. Then came on Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Squash, Bread and butter pickels (pickles), cranbery sauce, jelly 2 or 3 kinds, then that was cleared. Then Mince Pie & grated cheese, that was cleared. Then we had Ice cream & cake, that was cleared. Then we had raisins & nuts, then Coffie (coffee) in after dinner cups. Now isn't this enough to kill any poor stomach. Well I only ate hearty of Turkey & courses with it, I didn't want the others. But Clara and I didn't have to work much this time. We took it easy. We had two women that [I] understood all they get a dollar a day for such work.
"Well I have just got through my dinner. I had ham steak and warmed up potatoes with milk and butter, bread, butter, and pumpkin pie. I expected Clara, her Husband brings (the?) Sunday train in from Milwaukee every 3rd Sunday. Each conductor takes his turn or has, perhaps they have changed, but Clara and her little girl was here last Tuesday as they boath (both) had a hard cold. I am most sick with a cold now. I didn't go to Church, the wind most takes my head off. It is so cold, but with the exceptions of a few days we have had a lovely winter. Why don't you get that recipee fild (recipe filled) out I sent you, it will cure you of that Rheumatism, Cate. I don't eat and drink so much as I used to and I feel [a] great deal better. I only take one cup of tea or coffie at a meal, more liquid stops digestion. Drs. of the day say we eat too much and I beleave (believe) it. We ought to controle (control) our appetites.
"Cate, I got a letter from Em the other day, I will send it but don't you or any of you tell them; for she found out that I sent you one of her letters once and she told me never send you another. That was all, never gave her reasons, so don't tell or let Gurney tell Burty." (Note: For reasons unknown, there was an ongoing animosity between Catherine and Emily, and Maria was the go-between. Maria apparently kept the lines of communication going among the cousins.)
"This is a lovely day, only cold. Richard ought to get 12 a month, all the old soldiers are getting that. Tell him to write to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, ask for the same. When he writes [he] must give his Certificate number, his Company and all; it will be given to him. Just as well as give a man 10 dollars to get it for him. (Here Maria is referring to a Civil War pension application.)
"I must get through and write to Claud and Kitty. They sent me there (their) picture for Xmas. They started out with a troup and had to go back to Buffalo because Cate was so sick. They expect something this spring. Tell Ada a letter will be a exceptable (acceptable) as this dainty thing once in a while. I am glad you are all getting well, hope you will stay well. I had to pay 80 cents a bushel for Potatoes; butter 28; meat on the top shelf every thing else to _____ (this sentence is unclear).
"Now write again don't wait so long, Cate. I am getting so homely that I don't like to look in the Glass. Just think of it. Well good bye from your Sister Marie."