September 25th, 1912

Well, this is quite a jump. In the previous letter, 1911 was just about to end and already we're over half way through 1912. One plus is that Amy sends her sister a recipe for ginger cookies! Annie's fortune is our fortune, too! There are no actual baking instructions, but I'm sure it can't be too difficult. If you make them, please post in the comments how they were. I'm sure everyone has lard in their cabinets, nowadays. (Also, I'm guessing that the little scribble she writes for some of the measurements are indicative of being the same as above. If you've read my other blog, you know that baking is more of an aspiration of mine than a hobby.)

Finally, Annie and Jack are coming to the states. Amy is so happy, and she and Matt are making sure they get their tickets as soon as possible. Though I'm sure it weighed on everyone's minds, given the year, I find their reason pretty cool.

Sept 25th 1912

Union St

Marshall Mich

U.S.A.

(Get as many stocking for yourselves. They don't wear such thick ones here. They wear union suits that come to their feet and thin stockings.

Write by return.)

Ginger Cookies

1 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup melted Lard

1 Cup Treacle

2 Cups beaten Eggs

1 Teaspoonfull Cinoman

2 Teaspoons ginger rocks

1/2 Cup boiling Water

Flour to make a stiff dough

Roll out with paste

and cut with a tin lid

Try them

My darling sister

I expect you will be happy when you read this. I can hardly sit down and write it, I feel so happy. We are going to send your tickets before xmas. Because we would sooner you come when there is no danger of ice burgs, as they always come in the spring. Get to know how much it is from Liverpool to Marshall, Michigan. We have forgotten and we will see how much cheaper it is to get them in Liverpool than it is here. Maggie (is) under 12 years, if you tell them she is over you will have to pay full fare. It will cost more for you than it did for us because we did not have to pay railway fare for the children. If Herbert is small, we won't have to get a ticket for him for the train, so let me know how big he is. People take the children on the trains here when they are 8 and without paying for them, but they are supposed to be under 5 years. I can take all mine and just get a ticket for myself.

I would not get a lot of new clothes because they wear different stiles here. You can get them cheap enough here if you go about the right way. You will have quite a lot given you when you start out to work. I have five dresses given to me last week and I don't go out to work. I had a kitchen cabinet given to me today. A lady that was moving 15 miles out to a farm and did not want to take it with her, because 1 of the legs was broken, but Matt can fix it. 

Dear, I would start and sell as soon as the visitors stop coming, so as you will be ready to come as soon as we send for you. I would keep a pillow or cushions each, for you will need them on the boat and train. For the pillows in the boat are made of straw and they are pretty hard. I would get a box of health salts for the boat if you felt a bit sick. It will be good for you. I would have given a dollar if I had have brought one with me.

I am sending a paper with this mail. I get those 2 every day for 10¢ a week. I guess Matt will be starting out to work in Nov so he will get Jack work either 1-75 or 2 dollars a day. They can't get women to go out working here. Aunt had 3 ladies come after her on Monday to cook and clean for them so you need not be (a)fraid (that) you won't get enough to do.

Write soon, from your ever loving sister Amy XX

(Try and get my watch)

I have a feeling that if Annie doesn't have the watch by now, she probably won't get it in time. But I could be wrong.

Another thing that I didn't really think much of before is Amy's comments about Annie's "visitors". Do you think she ran a bed and breakfast or let out rooms?

October 6th, 1907

It looks like Annie and Jack were able to get the money to Matthew, quickly. His writing is quite enthusiastic, and I think if life was like a musical, he would've broken out into song and dance after writing this.

The thing that confuses me is the mention of Harry and Maggie. According to the Nelson Genealogy (by Doreene Derr, Jeanne Kipker and Linda English), Matthew and Amy didn't have a son named Harry. Yet it sounds in this letter that they very much do. Also, they had a daughter named Margaret, but she wasn't born until 1911 in Marshall, MI.

My dad suggested that Harry might be Harry Wilson, a nephew of Amy's. He would be the son of Louise ("Aunt Louise" of Laugh-In fame, who's letter I have as well). It's possible that Maggie could be Harry's sister, and the two were spending a week with them to play with their cousins John and Ellen (although Ellen wouldn't have even been two years old yet).

October 6th 1907
236 Litherland Rd
Bootle


Dear Annie & Jack

I can't express my thanks to you for your kindness in sending me the money and hope it won't put you to any inconvenience by doing it, but I hope to soon be able to repay it back. I was out today looking for more work, at a friend of my partners, and I expect to get a lot of work from him. And we are giving in an estimate for a job tomorrow and if we get it there will be about £400* worth of work in it so don't forget to pray hard for it to come our way for it would give us a good kick along. Things are beginning to look a bit brighter now of course we can't expect to get on all at once in a new business as it takes some time to get known but if any one gives us a job to do we are certain that they will come back with more as any work done by us is done in a first class way and we do it at a reasonable price we don't want to make big money all at once what we want is to get a good connection and do a class of work that recommends itself. Harry seems to be going on very nicely he seems to be taking his food very well only he varies some days. He will eat more than others but he can't keep still a minute and we do have a time in the mornings with John and Harry trying (to see) who can sing the loudest and I have to threaten them with the cane if they don't be quiet, but he is very little trouble, far less than Maggie only him and John keep telling tales on one another.

Thanking you again for your kindness and hoping you are all well as we are at present

Believe me your Loving Brother

XXXXX Matthew Nelson
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Okay, so maybe he wasn't the Nelson who was inclined to singing, but he could probably do a decent shuffle step with a cane and hat.

*£400 in 1907 would be about £9,100 or $14,180, today.