Stockton Sept 26 1890

Dear Alice

Your letter was received this morning. I arrived home safely in due time. Saw George at the train and gave him your letter. Fred overtook me before I got to the house, where we found your father seated at the table eating his dinner alone. He said he did not expect me till night and did not know whether they had any more dinner than they wanted themselves.

When Emma Jane found out I was home she and Ben came over, she was provoked that I had come on the noon train she said they were intending to have a banquet for me in the evening, but I did not see any preparations they had made for it, although she said she had a very nice cake at home that she had made for the occa sion. She was quite sick after she came home and while Ben was at Knights Ferry, so that Mrs Woodhull had to go over and stay with her. The Dr laid it to malaria.

How is it about the $5.00 that was to be deposited for the library. I think you had better buy a few of those fasteners enough to last till you come home. I sent you some papers last night from them you will see that we have had a shower of rain, and that our fair is in progress. Your father, Fred and Frank are all out there to day. Your father said nothing yet about going to Kern. I don't know when they will get off or when they will be down there.

School commences Monday. I told Frank he would either have to go or write in Arithmetic and History to me, and he thought he would rather write to me.

I will try and send papers and letters so that you can get them when you go home from School Fridays. The chinaman that was run over and killed while we were in Oakland was our washman. I have been mending most of the time since I have been home, found things looking better than I expected to but can see plenty of work ahead.

From your mother

E. M. Watrous. P.S. There is one thing I forgot to tell you. We have our reading room all fixed up. Your father tacked tin over the cracks, sacks over the boards and then papered over all. With two kinds of paper he put some zinc over the top so it will not leak and now says he shall charge .50 every time any one goes in there.

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