Eve Royle Chisholm in 1906

My Dear Dill

Lil has been writing and teasing me to write too but I was waiting for the spirit to move me. But it did not until I read Lil's letter and then it struck me that I wanted to write too. The way she got the ink on her letters and dress was this way. Allie lay down on the sofa and she wanted to make him get up and as usual a fight ensued in which Lil brandished the ink bottle at him forgetting it had a hole in the top and it went all over her.

[WRITTEN BETWEEN LINES IN DIFFERENT HANDWRITING:] It was no such thing. I was striking him with a piece of board

Now if you do not make our bonnets nice I will be real mad at you. You can get the stuff for about 10 cents and don't crimp your hair only once a week and then you will have time. I wish you were here to help as we have so much to do.

[WRITTEN AT END OF LINE IN DIFFERENT HANDWRITING:] What?!

Expect to have another part on the house soon. It is a larger house than the old kitchen home with an upstairs that they are going to try to move up here. I think they will alright. Then we expect to have a big party.

I wish you were here to help me with my dress I don't know how the mischief I am going to get it done. Send me a pretty easy way to make it.

If you make those bonnets, make Lil's first and if hers is pretty make mine like it. I have got to make Lil's and Rhea's dresses, the pink ones, soon.

I like the place better the more I get acquainted and think Lil will too. Only fellows are scarce. By the way Josh Milligan comes to see Lil sometimes.

Lil and I go to the store when we take butter. I am going to get a nice tea set with my $3.00. Lil has spent her 1.25 a dozen times already ha ha. I don't see how you get away with $15 a month. I think I could get everything I wanted with $2 a month.

Well I can't think of anything more just now so will close with love and best wishes

From loving Eve

Dear Laura,

I am just going to scratch a line to you to tell you to watch Deal and don't let her forget our bonnets. Lil's and mine. Read her letter and find out about them. She has got to make them you know. I believe I want a pretty blue one as I want a blue dress next Spring.

How is Allie now? Pa is much better lately.

Lils fellow Josh Milligan has taken her away for 2 weeks to his place and I have everything to do. Fellows are a nuisance.

We are on the look out for prairie fires here now, its dreadfully smoky.

Jimmie and Otis are going to camp out stacking hay for 2 weeks now. Do you wish you were here to go too?

Well I guess Lil's letter is big enough so I will close with love to all

Eva

NOTE: The bit about Lil going to her boyfriend's house for 2 weeks didn't mean the same then as it would now. Back then, he'd have been living with his parents and his parents, especially his mother, would be chaperoning the visit from the young lady who might eventually become part of the family.

Cast of Characters:

Deal - Delia or Dill-sister to Eva/Eve & Lil

Lil, Lily, Lulan - sister to Eve & Dill

Eve or Eva, sister to Dill & Lil

Laura - neice to Dill, Lily and Eve. Lives in Seattle. Daugther to Allie.

Allie-half sister to Dill, Eve & Lil.

Alex/Ally/Allie -Alexander Chisholm, fiance to Eve, brother to Jimmie/Jimmy

Pa - Jeremiah Royle - father to Dill, Lil, Eve, Maggie, Otis & Jo

Rhea-neice to Dill, Lil, Eve. Daughter of Maggie. Rhea would have been about 7 or 8 at the time.

Maggie-sister to Dill, Lil & Eve

Otis-brother to Dill, Lil & Eve

Josh Milligan - one of their neighbors, Lil's boyfriend at that time

Jimmie/Jimmy---John James Chisholm, future husband to Lil, but not her boyfriend yet.

Eve & Alex
Chisholm
Links

Jimmy & Lil
Chisholm
(Eve's sister,
Alex's brother)

Alfred & Dill Hansen
(Eve's sister)

Sybil Cook &
Otis Royle
(Eve's brother)

Margaret Lewis
& Jeremiah Royle
(Eve's parents)