Dear Ad,

I suppose you are visiting Anna and that baby pretty often now. I am just crazy to see it. You must tell me all about it when you write again. I hope Anna is getting along well.

I am sorry that Grandma has been sick again. Those winters are too cold for her.

Eddie and I are the only ones really well about our house now. Charlie is just getting over the measles. He had them very easily though he was well broken out. I shall take good care that he does not catch cold. Eddie has to have them yet. Newcomb also hurt himself quite seriously lifting hides. He had quite a large number to handle and had to do it alone. He strained his back in the beginning, but kept on until they were all weighed and loaded. The result was that he could not get up or down without assistance. I have been putting hot chamber lye and worm wood on his back and if he would only keep still, I think he would soon get well. But he no sooner is a little better than he goes to work again. Then he is soon as lame as ever.

Ed sent for a load of goods for the store they have down in New Mexico and Newcomb went to lifting barrels of sugar, sacks of coffee and the like 'til he was used up again. This store they have down there is doing well. They keep a general assortment of dry goods and groceries for Mexican use. They take in very little money, but take grain, hides, furs, wool, sheep, burros, in fact anything that the Mexicans have to trade. Ed has been there since the first of November. Newcomb goes down and back as occasion demands. I am getting along much better with my work than at first.

I am becoming more accustomed to the climate. Then Newcomb got me a wringer and clothes washer the last time he went to Pueblo. Also the nicest easy chair of cane. I shall make the washing fluid as soon as I can get some lime. By the way, this unslaked lime in this country is as white as the slaked in Illinois.

Newcomb is giving me, as he can spare it, a little money which I am saving up for a sewing machine. I need one so much. The one we had here is sold. I think I shall get a Weed I know that is good. One of my neighbors has a Weed FF and I think it works as well as yours, so shall get one of those. Anna wrote something about paying for Tommy's coffin. Most certainly I want to bear my share of the amount. But if it will not inconvenience you too much would like to get my machine first. It will help me so much with my work and I shall have such a quantity of spring sewing. Money is very hard to get here now, many who owe us are unable to pay, and we must take orders on others who owe them. Those stockings have not come yet. Did you have them registered? I am so sorry they do not come both on account of the loss of your work and money, and of the disappointment it is to the little fellows. I told them you had sent them and that they would be here by the next mail and they have been looking for them ever since.

Charlie is just as good as can be. I can send him anywhere on an errand and he always does it just right. Eddie is just as sweet as honey. I wish you could see him and hear him talk. When he talks he rolls his eyes, draws his mouth into all sorts of shapes, clasps his hands, jumps up and down, and cuts all sorts of funny capers. His face is such a pretty pink, while you cannot have him to go out without that gingham sunbonnet on that you made for him. And now that he is plump and fat there are the cunningest little dimples all around his mouth.

Charlie has been learning to count and Eddie had made no attempt until the other morning he turned over in his bed, he and Charlie have a little bed in the same room with us, and called out, "Papa" and counted ten right off without a mistake. Newcomb told him to do it again and he could have all the candy he could eat. It is needless to say he got his candy.

I wish Nan and her baby were in this climate. I never saw such fine healthy children as those born here. Most of them are fairly large too. But my two boys look as healthy as any of them. Charlie seems to be the strongest child of his age I ever saw.

I have a wrapper pattern with a Walteau pleat in the back, that came in a late Bazaar. Would you like it? If so I will send it to you as soon as I have an opportunity of cutting it off. What did you make your carpet out of? I thought I used up all your rags. By the way I have had my sitting room fixed into different shape and have made my carpet and put it down. It is much admired by everyone. I have done a great deal of sewing for me this winter. Among the rest I have cut and made a pair of pants for Newcomb, and they look nice too. He can get nothing of that kind here as there is no tailor.

I have made four good comforters and have taken such pains with them so I think they will last a long time. I have made up all of that course factory cloth and am now at work on the fine pieces, clothes for the children and eight shirts for the men and I don't know what besides.

Write soon and tell me the news. Give my love to all, Newcomb sends love to all.

Yours,

Alice Newcomb

Letter courtesy of Peggy Newcomb Barr
This page was produced by Bob Newcomb in Brea, CA