well itz ben a while since I wrote so figured I better get to doin some.  Folks been asking bout the train trip to Chicago and it wuz reel fun and it wuz so much quicker then by stage coach!  We had to stop alot for water cuz the engine belched out a whole bunch of black smoke and I think they was trying to put it out!  Everyone was right nice on the train and the con-ductor even gave me a rock candy as we was going through Wisconsin!  It was awful nice of him.

Jaunita has been teaching me how to get Will to behave jus right for the fair. Bunch of us farm kids gonna complete agin each other for some prizes at the fair.  I ben practicing most everydey with my friend.  Shes a purdy good rider but I jus keep teling her that shes got a smarter horse is all.

Gots to shoot my new gun with my uncle and paw.  We jus did some shooting at targets is all, no hunting yet, but I like the gun reel good.  I was right, they did get it out of a catalog and it wuz bran spanking new, just off the gun makin machine!  When my friend Garret seen it he whistled and sez “wow, Skeeter, you musta done something reel good to get a gun likes that”. I jus  said “prolly” and shrugged my sholders.  I been workin purdy hard as of late, so I sure did deserve it.

After the fair Iz goin to a place with windboats and paddlewheelers on the Mississippi fer a week.  Jus gonna be a bunch of us kids and a few older kids to try and keep us out a trouble.  Iz already got a pea shooter redy and hope thez gots a talent contest for me to show off my trick roping.  Maybe I’ll rope me a purty gurl! 

Here Jaunita yeling for chickens, beter go help