Part 7 - Letter to "Hanean"

Folded letter. Reads: "My Dear Hanean… hoping you are all well as we are… has been very cold and… very dull here at present. The shops are only working three and four days a week. There is a lack of cutting… I started about three weeks ago to work for my old boss again... I do not know how long it will last as he has not got many on hand. He is paying me the same as he was paying me. Four dollars a day. The other men is only receiving three dollars. I don't let on to the other men what I get. There are a number looking for work everyday. We got some maple syrup... and as soon as we can get ale send if we can. You will have to send the can back again, now and next spring as I will have to refill it. The syrup had a gallons so that is from dollars... I have forgotten the price of them. I know it was pour "something", We will say four and a quarter. Then you told me you would of liked to get him more apple trees and a plow... I told you to get them and I will pay for them. Blanche has just received your letter. Also a card from myself. She was saying she would like more gallons... I do not think we can get it... even writing this couple of days where is more coming in. So I do not think we will be able to get it... saving as you are waiting to get the trees in the tall and I will pay for them as I have promised two apples and one pear tree... sending you back his dollars and a held and I will pay fifty cents more to it and make it even three dollars. The syrup and the extra fifty cents will pen for the brushes. I suppose you have got all your liquor in this time... was saying in the first letter that she hoped it would all be gone before... think there is worse things than a bit of liquor. I just got in a letter around hundred dollars worth, expect to get in two more shipments this week. Won't forget and let it run too long for then you will not be able to get it. You will see other people drinking the food stuff... You know there is never anything wanted in this house from spending a little money a liquor and she knows. She has never wanted for anything from the little money you spent on liquor and has never made me poor. You know there is more... Those revolvers... liquor just look at as the men who went in... and held up... all those men with revolvers... I hold up those men in Niagara without revolvers and look how... and from these had working men and just all the men who were held up and right beside you in Toronto this Winter. Is that not worse than a little liquor. Then is the things that a poor man who is not... liquor are he cannot get it, it is too expensive and he cannot... and get it like the man who sends for it now is not because his family wants for anything to eat. So don't forget... before it is too late. If you have not got the money I want... He was here one day... Told him they would do whatever I do. He came up to place where I was working and wanted to know what I was going to do. And I told him I was going to work for liquor. He said how and I told him my father raised six boys and none of them are drunkards. I told him there was lots worse than a bit of liquor, he said he knows it. I told there I always keep a... in the house... Like most I even take in a couple of spoonfuls. I always keep it for sickness here must be going to be a lot of sickness ahead to drink up all the liquor I have now. So then he went away and did not say anything more to me. So didn't wait too long and have to take value when you see older people taking a drink. I came to the conclusion none of us are going to." End of letter, signed "Archer".