1888-04-23,From,SnowErastus,UtahSaltLakeCity,To,SnowElizabethRebeccaAshby,UtahStGeorge

[On First Presidency stationery]


PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

OF

LATTER-DAY SAINTS


P.O. Box B Salt Lake City, U.T. [Salt Lake City, Utah Territory]


April 23 1888 [Monday 23 Apr 1888]


Dear Elisabeth [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831] I began to feel lonesome without hearing directly from your own hand, so wrote you Saturday 21st night [Saturday 21 Apr 1888] and on Sunday night, Bro. Sudbury sent me up your welcome and anxiously looked-for letter of the 17th [Tuesday 17 Apr 1888] (which had been a little tardy in finding me) but was a relief to my feelings in several particulars First it gave more detailed account of Aunt Marys [Mary Minerva Snow Gates, b. 1813] condition and your own affairs, and of the safe arrival of Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] & Ashby [Ashby Snow, b. 1867] and an intimation that you hoped soon to see us all, which indicated a willingness to sacrifice for a season your comfortable home or rather your present house comforts to share with me the vicissitudes of a toilsome Journey and hardships of Mexican life. Although perhaps, your feelings may be changed if it should be decided that none of your girls should accompany us at this time (which seems a little mixed) But if not we must hire a girl to take the burden of our housework in Juarez [Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico - http://www.mormoncoloniesinmexico.com/] and then what shall I do for a teamster and man of all work shall I hire a man or boy there or take Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] or Clarence [Clarence Snow, b. 1874] with us? It will cost about a hundred Dollars [$100] more to take Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] and half that amount for Clare [Clarence Snow, b. 1874] besides keeping them away from school awhile in the fall perhaps and from home labors. Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] is willing to go but would like to return and re-enter School next year and if he remains here he can earn something toward expenses of future Schooling. So perhaps, if either, it had better be Clarence [Clarence Snow, b. 1874] to go with us. But what about your garden and home chores? Can the girls get along without him? If they prefer to have him stay at home and you think he will be steady and usefull [useful] there and not anxious for his company. Perhaps better leave him though I can safely leave that [to] your decision. Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] is now stopping [staying] a few days at Sister Rachels [Rachel Ridgway Ivins Smith Grant] with her friend while Molly is gone and Rachel, [Rachel Ridgway Ivins Smith Grant] on a visit at East Bountifull [Bountiful] Write me your views & feelings upon all these questions as soon as you get this and I will write you as soon as M.T.[Moses Thatcher, b. 1842-1909] arrives or comes to any conclusion about the question of our taking any other company with us.


Effectionately [affectionately] yours in Everlasting Bonds. E. F. [Erastus Snow, b. 1818]


[Written across the top of the letterhead]


Rodney [?] is out of Prision [prison] & spoke yesterday in the Tabernacle [Salt Lake City, Utah] But has not seen Louisa [?]. Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] called on her yesterday seems to be getting [getting] along well. But I fear Rodney will be under greater bondage now than while he was in Prison.