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Pierre, Oct. 5, 1890
My Dear Harry, [her son]
I received your welcomed letter after a long silence. I wondered what had become of you. I made up my mind that you had flown to some other lcime. O! What a boy. Will you never get through your roving and settle down to business. You make money fast enough but you will not save it. We are situated about the same as when you were here only our house is empty. Mr. Brink has gone downtown in the old Post Office Building and intends doing a general commission business. And it depends I suppose on whether we get the Captiol this fall, whether I can rent it or not - - and right here I want to ask you a question. Did you tell Mr. Brink when you were here that Art was the meanest boy in Pierre. Answer me truely for you will remember. We had the picture of the house taken sometime ago. And I wanted to sned you one but I am afraid you will not get it. you are so far away from civilization for most of the time. Grandma got a letter from Mate Foster announcing her marriage to Ralph Ellis, only son of Joe Ellis. Do you remember him. Art is out on his claim putting up hay. Out over 4 weeks. I guess that he has quite a lot put up by this time. I have not been out this fall. Potatoes are $1.50 a bushel and everything else in accordance. I am afraid that we are going to have pretty hard times this winter and if we don't get the Capitol, Pierre is busted. And if Huron doesn't get it they say that she will be totally runied as she has staked her all. I will be glad when the quesiton is settled forever. Towns fighting like these two do is enough to ruin the whole state of SD. There are great railroad rumblings but whether they will amount to anything or not I don't know. I am getting heartily sick of this country. I believe that if I can sell out this fall I will move somewhere to another part of the globe. I have stayed here in this windy country about as long as I care to. Mrs. Moulton was down this afternoon. They are all well. You directed your last 2 letters Pierre, Sully Co instead of Hughes Co. But it came alright. I was glad to hear that you were well. Art has got so that he can play anything on the violin. I guess music comes very natural to him. He is learning to play now by note, but he finds that more trouble than to play by ear. Hummell has over 300 bushels of wheat to sell this fall. I have been burning your fathers old letters today written during the war - perhaps that accounts for my feelings so blue tonight. I will close with much love to you.
I remain your affectionate Mother, V. F. Lee
Pierre, Dec. 28, 1890
My Dear Harry —
I have received both of your letters all right, but did not answer, because you said you were going away from there, and I did not know where to direct. I suppose that you are off to some other place by this time however. We are having lovely weather here, not a speck of snow on Christmas day. I cannot realize that it is so late in the season but I imagine that we will catch it next month. We had a very dull Christmas nothing going on, and no good dinner. I was in hopes Harry that you would have money enough to send me a new shawl for a Christmas present as I cannot afford to buy one for myself. My taxes are so high this year and my house all vacant, things look rather discouraging I assure you. The indian trouble I guess is all over. No one seemed to fell afraid here in Pierre, but the reports snet out were terrible, and they were terribly exaggerated. I received a letter from Mary Dean, she said Ag Smith was in Waverly , went up to attend Meme Hullmans wedding. She said Stella Wilcox was married to a Minneapolis gentleman and went there to live. Well the legislature will gather soon I suppose to make the laws of our land. The hotels will probably make something out of it. No one else I guess. Huron felt terrible because she lost the Capitol. She even went so far as to build a state building and they say it is beautifu. The Wright house was burned there the other day. Pierre is duller now than it has been for some time. They are grading the streets to give the laboring clas swork, and there is not a dollar in the treasury, and the taxes are simply enormous. $64 on this place and nothing coming in. Art has just come in from the claim with a load of hay. I was out about a week ago, stayed a couple of days, visiting with my country friends, Mrs. Hattie Smith is talking of going to CA this winter. Quite a number of Pierre people have gone there to spend the winter. I wish that I could afford to take a trip. I have been here so long that I am getting tired. I would like a chnage. I don't care to go back to Waverly, although I suppose I should have a pleasant visit if I went. I had a letter from Floyd theother day. They are all well. Mrs. Moulton was down Christmas afternoon a little while. Charles is very poorly this winter. I will send you one of those pictures. The house is sided now as that it looks better. I did not want them taken, it was Brinks idea. He is so flush with money you know, he belives in making a great show. I have filled my sheet and have written nothing either. I hope that you had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year. Art sends love to you.
Mother
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