13 October 1918

Sunday p.m.

Dear Don

You can't guess where I am or what I'm doing. I'm at the school house, dinner is over, the keep have gone home and I'm sitting here in the kitchen at my desk putting the bills in shape, planning menus and most important of all making you some fudge. It being Sunday I don't think JE will be over here so he will know nothing about it.

Edythe is up in the Art Room fixing up her lesson plans. She is making the cutest Halloween stuff. She surely has talent. I got a letter from her mother Friday night wanting me to come to Fargo to spend my Christmas vacation. Edythe has been trying to make me say I will but of course if I go any place it will be home. If Dad sends me the money. Otherwise not. I can't afford to take the jaunt at the high price of shoe leather. I might stay at M.C. over Christmas and the go to Fargo for sad but true I feel as if my visits to Mason aren't very acceptable. Time will tell.

Yes, I sure do worry about the Influenza. You must drop a card often and take good care of yourself. Don't neglect eating the "13 Prune" remedy if necessary, that is very important and I know your failing there.

I hope I don't burn my fudge now. I'll bet Edtyhe can smell it upstairs and will soon come hiking down

Perhaps you'd be interested to know what I'm feeding the fair damsels. I have an awful time to keep up in my war rations for my specialty is splendifrous cooking you know. War never was meant for Ruth's and my cooking.

Sat. evening
Pork shops, baked ???, Sweet Potatoes

Cabbage and Green Pepper salad, Bread & Butter

Apple & Raisin Pie (combined) Coffee

Sunday noon
Roast Veal, Browned ??? Gravy, Escalloped Corn. Pickles.

Pear Salad. Banana custar Pie. Coffee.

Tonite is our Sunday caveteria launch - as follows, Escalloped Potatoes. Cabbage Salad. Cake, Tea (and anything else left over)

I am more ambitious than ever to run a cafeteria and as soon as the War stops I'm going into the business somewhere.

Friday was the big shuffle and I presided with four of my young upstarts over the punch bowel. Would that you could have been there! It seemed almost wicked. The best orchestra from Duluth was up here and the fare from D & back is $5.00 so it cost the board $100 or more just for music. Then to think there were no men to dance with. Only a few nutts occasionally. After the dance six of us girls went over to the Cottage (that's were 3 of the girls live) and had hot chocolate, sandwiches and olives. Never got to bed until 3:00.

Sat am. I got up at eleven, came over to the school house and worked all day. In the evening, we went over tho the Pavillion and had a War dance, mostly girls, then went down to Tagnuscos [sic] and ate rotten ice cream & came home. Gay life if you don't weaken!

Pretty soft, you getting your bills paid! Don't you think you could slip a couple in Damon Igau, pain of corsets, Killian's 2 suits of Teddy Bears and help me out a bit.

The fudge is now getting cool. You should have seen me dip into the school larder for butter. Nothing is too good for a soldier brother.

The cook we have is one peach. Gee her stuff is good, but she's just like we girls - extravagant. Uses butter in every things. I fear our bills at the end of the month.

My how fast time goes. It won't be long until Thanksgiving, then Xmas & then Easter then June. This is my last year on the Range but I wish I could move this fine kitchen, dining room & laundry I have right along with me.

I never hear from home but I'm used to that now. I saw by the paper where Ruth Fall had gone to N.Y. to pail [sic]. Such a wonderful experience!

Halloween I am going to have a regular dinner for the girls. Edythe is going to make candle shades, place cards & nut cups fitting for the occasion. She is grand to help me. I think she was home sick today for she cried before she got up. She has never been away from her friends and family before. I am surprised she has stayed this long for she and Biwabik are not alike at all. I'll surely be lonesome if she goes home and gets married Christmas and I know that is what her soldier man contemplates on his furlough. Edythe is one of these kind who is influenced by the last person she is with.

The trap just sprang so I have mousey on the hip. Too bad Bob isn't here to chase me about. It seems to me that you ought to have some show in Officers Training Camp when one thinks of all the boobs who are in. Don't give up trying and put your application in this month if you can.

Isn't that book Dere Mabel good? I sure laughed over that.

I think your fudge is going to be eatable. I've had to put it away until after dinner for its pretty near time for some of the girls to come steaming in. I'll mail your candy tomorrow so you can be looking for a package now any time.

I pity the poor fool who gets Gladys McDow for a wife. I room with her and she's likable but gosh some fellow will get stung. She is absolutely helpless. Can't cook, sew, sing, play or do anything worthwhile. I would hate to be so helpless.

I have all my lesson plans for the week to make out so I must close and get to work.

Are you trying to explode something to get rid of the influenza germ, your wishing for my picture. If I ever can get a veil thick enof to cover my face I'll step up to a photogapher one of these days and see what he can do for me.

Much love,
Leone

Oct. 13, 1918