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#1902: Willa Cather to Charles F. Cather, September 20, 1913

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Dear Father1:

This is the fourth day of pouring rain. Isn't that too bad? Still, I've walked and driven about through the wet a good deal. Isabelle3 is not very well and she stays under shelter more closely. Dorothy4 and Giles5 were to go to North River to eat watermelons today, but I don't see how they can drive, the roads are so bad. Yesterday old Mrs. Smith Pew6, whose home was burned came to call. She said you used to buy sheep from her and that she always "kept her stock seperate from Mr. Pews7," which struck me as a good way.

I never saw such a wet country! There are no daily papers here2, but I hear that you have had rains in the West, too. I hope we can have a day of sunshine before we go. We have to leave Valley Home8 on Wednesday, and start for Pittsburgh9 Thursday.

Mrs. Freeze10 was very cordial and sent many friendly messages to you. She says she would like to have been a Cather herself and esteems it a good fortune to have been brought up by them. She says she "always trusts the Cathers." I think she was very glad to see me, for some reason or other.

With much love Willie