After a couple months of weekly letters, Ethel finally addresses her Courtship letter, Dear Noah, and drops the location she's sending it to. Their formality is shedding as they slowly admit their feelings to each other on paper. Not all at once, but between hints, salutations and signatures.
Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21
Dated: Apr 9, 1911
Addressed to: Noah
Mailed from: Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: Slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches, folded in half. Ethel has written on the pages in order from 1 to 4, so it reads like a book.
Dated: Apr 9, 1911
Addressed to: Noah
Mailed from: Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: Slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches, folded in half. Ethel has written on the pages in order from 1 to 4, so it reads like a book.
People/Places mentioned in this letter:
- Emmanuel Nelson - brother of Ethel's father
- Veda Perrault - Noah's 16 yr old niece in Regina.
- Alice Draper - school teacher. For a social visit? Or for Sadie's studies? **
- Della Mahoney* - friend/neighbour
- Mr. Shepherd - the man who wanted to buy the Nelson farm
- Holland Landing - a nearby town
*Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more on posts on this
person.
** see Genealogy Notes below
- Emmanuel Nelson - brother of Ethel's father
- Veda Perrault - Noah's 16 yr old niece in Regina.
- Alice Draper - school teacher. For a social visit? Or for Sadie's studies? **
- Della Mahoney* - friend/neighbour
- Mr. Shepherd - the man who wanted to buy the Nelson farm
- Holland Landing - a nearby town
*Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more on posts on this
person.
** see Genealogy Notes below
| Belhaven. Apr 9 11. Dear Noah, -- Rec'd your long looked for letter last night. You may depend I thot you had forgotten all about me. I don't know wether this letter will be much better than none or not. I am feeling rather lazy to day. Guess I have the La Grippe. what ever it is I hope I will soon be rid of it. Well you think you will be glad when you have your threshing done and started for the East again. And I guess you are not the only one, |
| 2. for I will certainly be pleased when the day comes for you to start for here. And the house that Noah built looks. (kind of uppish) eh. The reason we did not sell our place, was because Uncle Emmanuel didn't want us to. also People said we were not getting enough for it. Mr Sheppard had the money alright. May I ask who told you about Pa having the price shoved under his nose? and refusing it. I think I am beginning to realize how far away you are |
| 3. when I think, my it would be nice if Noah would run in this evening. (But wishing that is all in vain. at least for a time.) I see by the paper you have had quite a fire in Regina. Have you no College's or High Schools at Regina. I certainly wish Veda success in her studies. Sadie is studying very hard lately. but perhaps it will pay in the end. Alice Draper is here this afternoon. Hav'nt saw Della yet but I think, she is home now, Came on Friday. |
| 4. Well Noah you tell me to write you, what you most want to hear. i guess you will have to tell me what it is. Our sleighing is all gone long ago. You can't see any snow now. I like the summer best, anyway. Sadie and I have an in vitation to spend our Easter holidays at the Holland Landing We don't yet whether we will accept it or not. Say you will have to excuse paper for this time, And now I am going to say. Good-Bye for this this time with lots of xxx from Your Sweet heart. |
Genealogy Notes
Entrance Exams certificates have been mentioned several times in these Courtship letters starting with images of the ones awarded to Noah and Ethel. Sadie is studying for her entrance exam. I used to think it was like a graduation diploma from Grade 12, but it's not. Yet, I couldn't find information explaining why the certificates said the person named on it was ready to be admitted to high school when both Noah and Ethel ended school at that point.
During an internet search, I found the Government of Ontario archives with a current exhibit on Education. I emailed the curator and asked. Here is part of the archivist's response:
This quotation is taken from the Archives of Ontario’s online exhibit, Lessons Learned: The Evaluation of Education in Ontario.
During an internet search, I found the Government of Ontario archives with a current exhibit on Education. I emailed the curator and asked. Here is part of the archivist's response:
This quotation is taken from the Archives of Ontario’s online exhibit, Lessons Learned: The Evaluation of Education in Ontario.
| “In 1871 An Act to Improve the Common and Grammar Schools of the Province of Ontario established high school entrance examinations. Students had to pass these examinations in order to be admitted to a collegiate institute or high school. High school entrance examinations were originally administered by a board consisting of the school inspector; the chairman of the high school board; and the high school principal. Revised regulations issued in 1873 centralized the conduct of the High School Entrance Examinations under the Central Committee of Examiners. High school entrance examinations were abolished in 1949, and the last of the departmental examinations (for graduation from Grade 13) was eliminated in 1967.” |
Thank you to Nana Robinette, Archivist, Ontario of Archives, for answering my email.
To recap, the entrance exam confirmed that the student was at a level of proficiency to enter high school or the equivalent. Noah left school when he received his Entrance Exam Certificate in 1903 at the age of 15yrs. Two years later, 15 yr old Ethel received her Certificate and left school.
1903 Entrance Exam Certificate made out to Noah Draper
1905 Entrance Examination Certificate made out to Ethel Nelson
When I first read that Alice Draper was visiting the Nelson house, I didn't think anything unusual since Belhaven is a small village and both Nelsons and Draper's abound. But then I noticed how Ethel made the statement as a distinct paragragh all by itself - and it immediately followed the mention of Sadie studying for her exam. I believe this is significant.
Mrs Alice Draper is a school teacher. I don't know which school she teaches at, but I don't believe she's there for a social call. Especially after Ethel's crack that 'perhaps it (the studying) will pay off in the end'.
We shall see in the weeks ahead.
As for the romance between Noah and Ethel... did you catch Ethel's coy answer on page 4?
| Well Noah you tell me to write you, what you most want to hear. i guess you will have to tell me what it is. |
Her answer was in response to Noah's last letter where he ended it with, "Write & tell me
what I most want to hear".
Noah might be her fiance, but in each letter he's dancing around the topic of love without admitting much himself. Sure he misses her, but how much? Why can't be tell the woman he loves that he loves her? Does he love her, or is he just lonely out there on the windy prairies where men outnumber women 10 or more to one?
I like Ethel's spunk. On the other hand, we have no idea how Noah proposed, and now I'm wondering if he's ever professed his love.
Do you think Ethel is shy, a tease, or insecure at this point of their courtship?
what I most want to hear".
Noah might be her fiance, but in each letter he's dancing around the topic of love without admitting much himself. Sure he misses her, but how much? Why can't be tell the woman he loves that he loves her? Does he love her, or is he just lonely out there on the windy prairies where men outnumber women 10 or more to one?
I like Ethel's spunk. On the other hand, we have no idea how Noah proposed, and now I'm wondering if he's ever professed his love.
Do you think Ethel is shy, a tease, or insecure at this point of their courtship?
