First page missing but some explanation written later by Burn's daughter, Winnifred Tanner.
Brockville is mentioned in this letter since J.R. Scott's 2nd wife [Mama] Marion Muldrew had a brother living there. J.R. Scott would have been driven to Linden, Ontario & he would have changed trains in Chicago for Peoria. Date of letter - August - 1930. J.B. Russell used to fish at J.B. Dexter's cottage near Balth Creek, MI. J.B. Dexter was an insurance agent for the Peoria Life Insurance Co. The car mentioned was a 1928 Buick sedan, cost $1400.
I brought home 175 of them frozen with dry ice. By repacking them once every 24 hours we were able to keep them frozen so that we have had fish every day this week. Edith generally ate 6 at a meal, Winnifred also has a good tooth for fish. Harriet eats fish as a matter of form only.
We are looking for a good visit from you just as soon as you can pry yourself away from the farm. I've used four days of my two weeks vacation and am saving the rest of it until you arrive. I want to motor you down to the South and show you what it looks like in Florida and Mexico. Then you'll have to see the sights in Chicago. Edith can show you Peoria after I get through with the side trips. She can drive the car real well and is a very careful, canny driver. We have a good time all planned out for you and I hope you'll soon pack the last stalk of corn in the silo. What time do you expect to be through so that you can get away? Our good weather begins the first or second week in September. Generally we have a hot day or so around 95o in the first part of September. This year we shouldn't get any as we've had plenty.
Our gang is all hale and hearty. Our biggest trouble is that we eat too much and are getting too fat. I knocked 10 lbs off this summer - was 180. Edith was just as bad. Winnifred is growing like a weed so that she can stand plenty of weight. Harriet is a light eater - fond of sweet foods.
Winnifred is all excited about her birthday party next Saturday. She will be five and all ready to step off to school in three weeks. She is going to be a scholar. She can count to 100, knows the alphabet, can write and spell short words and recognizes them in books. I couldn't do that when I was seven, so she must take after Edith. She has a wonderful memory - too good.
Now don't work so hard that you'll have to stay in bed a week before you strike for Peoria. I'll send you all the details of how to hit this place. It's really very simple - not any more difficult that going to Brockville. You're going to find a big welcome at 211 Dechman.
With love to all
Sincerely
Burn
PS I'm enclosing money order. Thank Mama for picking out the presents. As Edith says, she is a better shopper than we are.
B
