h joy:

"TANGLEWOOD RANCH, ORANGEVILLE ...
"MR. PENLOE:

"DEAR SIR:--O, I have so much to say and don't know
where to begin. I don't get any time to write, have
been waiting for a spell, but don't get any, for one
thing after another keeps crowding me. I have just
wiped the suds from my hands, having left the wash-tub
for a few minutes, saying I would not put off writing
to you any longer.

"Well, we went to your meeting and never heard any one
talk like you did before.

"My husband and I have not much learning, but you made
it so simple and plain that we could not help
understanding what you meant. I want to say how glad we
both are that we went, because our lot in life has been
dark and hard. I married my husband when a girl of
seventeen. I knew so little, was so green, but was full
of hope and expectations. What a hard experience I have
had, for I have been married ten years and have six
small children; so much sickness, so much hard work. O,
dear! my life has been so hard. I cannot write any more
now, as I must finish getting my washing out.

"Well, my clothes are on the line and I am going to
take a few minutes' rest and write a little more. Yes,
life has been hard. How little a poor ignorant girl
thinks or knows what is before her when she gets
married. My husband has felt all discouraged, so many
babies, so much hard work, such hard times to get a
dollar, always in debt to doctors; it made us both grow
cross and cranky and just as soon die as live. Our love
for each other grew cold, and the attraction we had for
each other died out. I told my husband he must take me
out somewhere or else I would go crazy. Every day the
same thing over again from morning to night, tending
babies, standing over a cook-stove, then over a
wash-tub, then churning, no end of dish-washing and
washing babies' clothes. I am going to churn now, when
I take a rest again I will write more.

"Well, the butter has come, I will rest and write you
more.

"I was telling you how dark our married life has been.
We heard there was going to be a big meeting in
Roseland, and my husband said he would go and see what
it was like. So we went and heard you talk. Wh