ANNIE PICKFORD BITTERMAN Nora Springs, Ia. Sept 18th 1885 My Dear Cousin, I am ashamed that I have not answered your good letter before, but I have been so busy this whole summer that I have not had time to do any writing whatever. The summer has been a very warm one and the last few weeks have been very rainy, cold and misty. The boys have been trying to finish haying but they are not quite through yet. Today they have been hauling coal for winter. A neighbor ordered two car loads & so they get it for $3.75 per ton. I went with Carrie to a unite society this afternoon. It was at Mr. Fords. Eliza was there too. We brought two grain sacks full of siberians home with us. Mr F's have so many that any one can have them who will pick them up. This year seems to be a very good one for apples around here. Plums are plentiful, too. They may be had for picking up, too. Ellen and I made our plum butter the other day. It is lots of work. Did you ever try to make any? I suppose you are through going to school in Monroe. Are you thinking of going to Madison or will you teach? I liked my school very well but it is hard work. I think I had seventeen scholars. Some as large as myself and nearly as old. I had to walk over two miles to school and we have been milking so many cows this summer. Twenty four in all and Arthur, Rufus and I to do it. 24 / 3 = 8 apiece, and I think that is enough for one time. The last two weeks I have been attending the Institute. Had a very good session. I am not going to teach this winter. Ellen does not want to stay alone and I do not care particularly to teach in winter. Have Charlie and Amelia named the baby yet? It will seem strange to you to have a little one in the family, I should think. As strange as it would be at our house. We were at the county fair on Wed. It was childrens day & all school children could go in free. There was quite a crowd. For every one brought their children with them. I suppose Uncle James is in Chicago now. We were glad to see him. He likes this country pretty well I guess. We hear our Wisconsin relatives are going to Chicago to see the Exposition. Are you going too? I think it would be splendid to go. Berry and his family were down here visiting last week, but it rained about all the time. Hope you are all well. Have been down to Monticello, havent you? Did you have a good time? I suppose Merle and Theo are getting to be pretty big girls. Wish I could see them. Come to see us as soon as you can. Will be glad to have you. Your loving cousin, Annie. We have about 114 quarts of fruit put up now. Write soon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ANNIE PICKFORD BITTERMAN Nora Springs, Ia. April 29, 1914 Dear Circle, I am going to write my sheet tonight as I am so busy daytimes, having three extra men this week so far and expect another one to help with the tiling. They think it will take them two weeks. I was out hunting eggs when Hugh brought the letter down this P.M. and he laid it inside on the floor. When I found it I had to read it regardless of its being then five oclock. I havent much news, but when I read Charles' letter, I thought maybe a statement of my belief would be as much 'news' as anything I could send. It seems strange that children of one family can look at the same things and come to such different conclusions yet each be altogether sincere in his belief. Now, I dont find this "an evil world that has no place in our affections or lives" as Charles does. I think its a grand, good world and of itself would teach us that there is an infinite and loving Creator who desired to make a pleasant home for us to live in while on earth. Belittling the value of our lives here on earth is, to me, as much a blasphemy as the use of profanity. God expects us to be using the talents he gave us to some purpose while we live here and it seems to me that the purpose is to be "lifters" not "leaners", to help do the worlds work along any line where we have talent to help. Not just fretting because we're compellled to stay here till we die, but be busy keeping each of our lives clean, honest, virtuous, reverent, every day doing unto others as we would want them to do to us. I am not expecting to spend time in "vain regrets" when I come to depart from this life if I live as my conscience (which is the voice of God to me) dictates. I love God and I have no hesitancy in saying that Charles can love God no more than I do. He is more apt to speak of it than I am, that is the difference. I think we brothers and sisters of this circle are a reverent group, differing not in aim, only in method. So let us gladly give each other credit for the good we are trying to do in our separate walks through life and have faith in God that if we do our very best all will be well at the end. Affectionately - Your sister Annie [Note: The above two letters stand alone. They are widely separated, and written before the Bittermans moved from Iowa to Madison. All notes in these papers enclosed in [brackets] are notes added by the editor, Noel J Thompson, in 1986