1. To allow the Draper and Nelson descendants to see the past through Ethel and Noah's experiences; and
2. For the historical research of living in 1911
For a record of all the courtship letters, see the Genealogy Posts Index.
Dated: Apr 2 (1911)
Addressed to: Miss E. Nelson, Bellhaven, Ont. (22 yrs old)
Mailed from: Grand Coulee (Saskatchewan)
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink, but looks blue-grey in places
Writing Paper: Thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Paper is folded in half, with a front and back page, but inside, the letter is written straight across the full 9 inch width. Although this might have looked good to Noah, it makes for hard reading in pdf form as well as here as a jpeg image.
- Percy - Noah's older brother who lives nearby with his family
- Will - William Rigler, married to Noah's sister, Ethel Maud
- Mother - Sarah Sophia Deverell Draper
- Joe Perrault - husband of Eva Amelia - another of Noah's sisters
- Veda Perrault - Joe and Eva Amelia's 16 yr old daughter
- Sadie Nelson - Ethel's 16 yrs old sister
- my man - the hired man - Common at the time for farms to employ and lodge a hired man.
- Coulee boys - men from the area around Grand Coulee, Sask.
Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more on posts on the above people.
Cliches/Phrases, etc used in this Letter:
- "talk about time flying"
- "the house that Jack built" (see Genealogy notes below for more info)
Grand Coulee, Ap. 2. Miss E. Nelson, Belhaven, Ont. Dear Ethel. Received your letter Friday night and was glad to hear from you. Hope you are well as this leaves me at present. Well Ethel I am still buisy and guess I always will be. but I broke away last night and went into Regina to see a Hypotnist in the theather wish you had been along. had a big time one of the Coulee boys was in. stayed all night and got back in the Coulee in time for church this morning. then went over to Joes for |
tea. Percy drove me down last night to catch the train so I did not have the horse down but sent up word with Will for my man to drive down after me. He got there about 6 P.M. So we had tea but did not wait for church as Mother wanted to get home, as it looked like a storm. We still have sleighing here suppose your snow is all gone by. now. Well kid I wish you were here instead of being so far away. but I guess if nothing happens I will not have to make such a wish next year at this time. It seems like a year since I left the East but it is only about five weeks. talk about time flying. Well i am sorry in a way you did not sell that place for then your folks might have came out this way and even if it had only been as far as Winnipeg that would have better. Eh. You did not say why you did not sell. didn't the man have the money. I heard your father had his price shoved under his nose and then changed his mind. Suppose Sadie is still going to school. Dont suppose there is any danger of her failing in her exams. |
Veda is going to a Ladies college in Brandon after Easter hope she studies & gets some benefit like I did. Ha. Ha. Well Ethel I will be glad when seeding, harvest, and threshing is past once more & the house that Jack built is looking (kind of uppish & then for the East & you know the rest so I wont put it down. Well I guess I have got enough scribling for this time So I will write a line of x x x ------------------- and call it off for this time suppose you are in bed now. so Bye Bye. Write & tell me what I most want to hear Iremain Your loving friend. N.C. Draper. |
Genealogy Notes
- sleighing with lots of photos and info
- Veda Perrault and her hands
In upcoming letters, Noah will talk more about the Brandon ladies college Veda might attend, as well as her hand condition. I have to admit I found the information fascinating.
the house is indirectly linked to other things and people..."
I call it one of those repetitive songs that annoy you unless you're really in the mood to sing along. It's the song that's being built and not the house, with each line adding something else. Actually, it's similar to The Twelve Days of Christmas so I guess that grand old Christmas song is a cumulative tale as well.
Wikipedia says there are many versions of the British nursery rhyme but these lyrics are the most modern:
This is the house that Jack built. This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat that killed the rat That ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built... |