Ada Butchart - 1913-12-29

To:  Miss A. D. Gauss
701 Tompkins Street
St. Charles Mo
U. S. A. 

The Cottage
Rattray
14th Oct. 1913

My dear Miss Gauss
            If you only knew how much pleasure you have given to Mother & me by sending us that charming picture of your beautiful house.  I can't tell you how much we appreciate it, & not only the picture itself but the kind thought that prompted the sending of it.  What a lovely place it is.  Mother & I never tire looking at it.  We wonder if it is near the old home of Uncle Thomas Lindsay or if his house is still standing.  It was at this Uncle's house that my great grandfather -- your great great grandfather -- Patrick Glendy with his wife & family stayed at first for a time after they emigrated nearly one hundred years ago.  After his wife died My great grandfather pined for the old country & after being in America for about six years, he came back to Scotland bringing with him his elder daughter Helen - my grandmother - she was then eighteen years of age, her sister Anne whom you are named after was six years younger.  she remaind [sic] behind with her Uncle & Aunt Lindsay who adopted her.  We have old letters from them in which they speak very affectionately of their "Little girl.  Mother & I were just remarking to-day that we must look over some of the old letters & send you a packet of them to read.  I know you would find them of great interest.  It seems so strange to me when I go along to the Rattray Church yard, as I often do with flowers -, to think that my great grandfather is lying there & his wife so far away, in St. Charles.  Cousin Shirley took a photograph of the tombstone so you will probably have seen it.  My dear Father's name is now added to the others.  We are so sorry to know you have lost your Father also.  I expect Mrs. Johns had mentioned it when she wrote, but I am afraid we had forgotten perhaps our own grief had made us a little selfish, & then at that time we were so anxious about my brother who was so ill. I can truly sympathise with you, as only those can who have gone through the same sorrow.  Many thanks also for your very kind & most interesting letter.  We feel now as if we had made the acquaintance of another of the American Cousins.  I suppose we may claim cousinship?  My grandmother & your great grandmother were sisters so it's not so remote after all. we are from the same old stock.  I shall be so glad to hear from you again.  Tell me all about yourself & your family & all the other connections.  any little item will be interesting  Mrs. Shirley Johns & Jane write to me sometimes & we do enjoy their letters.  I just wish we could meet with you all & always hope that we shall.  How is your grandmother - Mrs Johns?  The last news we had of her from Mrs Shirley was that she was getting very weak & her memory going, that must be very sad and trying for you all.  She is the only cousin Papa had on his Mother's side so we are greatly interested in here.  We should like so much to have a photo of her, & also any others of the family would be greatly appreciated.  I have got muddled somehow with the sheets of paper, commenced on a second sheet after only filling one side of the first.  Can't think what I was about.  I hope you will manage to find the connexion  it will seem a much bigger letter than it really is.
Please accept our heartiest thanks for the beautiful photo and with kindest regards to you all from us both.

I am
Yours very sincerely
Ada M. Butchart

Your letter & the picture came by same post yesterday morning.  there was no extra charge for latter.