D.B. Burns - 1921-05-08

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

Helenslea
Rattray
Blairgowrie

My dear Anne,
            How very annoying that my letter should have been meddled with.  I had enclosed as you would guess some more old letters such interesting ones, more so I think than the last.  And now I suppose they will be seen no more.  I went over at once to the P. O., got a form to fill in, but I am afraid they'll not make much of it. I can't remember all I wrote about but I know I began by thanking you all so much for your hearty invitation to come over & see you.  Shouldn't I love to go, but I'm afraid its too impossible.  Our income now is very small.  then there has been such a lot of expense this past year lawyers, etc, that with the heavy losses Papa had makes changed days for us. However we have much to be thankful for; I sometimes joke about when "my ship comes in"  And there's no saying what may happen.  There's no harm in letting one's imagination run on like "Anne of Green Gables."  Of course you've read it.  I think it charming, like most American stories.  You must just come over & see us.  I can promise you at least a hearty Scotch welcome.  I wonder what we'll think of each other.  In my lost letter I think I ordered you to get your photo taken right away.  I am just very anxious to know what your are like.  I fancy you will be amused at our Scotch accent, for I don't suppose you have much of it in your direction.  It's not like Canada.  Being brought up in England I am still told I have retained my southern tongue but the fact is if I have a genius for anything it's for imitating any accent.  If I were a month in America I'm certain I would be taken for a genuine Yankee!
I must also thank you for the very pretty post cards you sent, they were so very interesting.  I can fancy Jane going out & in to school.  It looks a fine building.  Jane is coming over to see us whenever she finishes her education.  I was telling her to hurry up.  I think the p. c. that attracted me most is the Memnerac[?] River, it's mentioned so often in Whittier's poems. I wonder why it is that Whittier & Longfellow appeal to me so much more than our British poets.
We have had a removal since I wrote last or rather since you heard last from me. A compulsary flitting too.  We are back to Helenslea where we were when Cousin Shirley visited us.  the tenants were leaving & we failed to let it again.  there is little demand for a house for this rent; any with houses of this size own them.  There is however a great demand for houses like The cottage, so as we could have let it over & again we thought it a pity to have Helenslea empty.  It's really too expensive a house for Mother & me but we hope to let it furnished in the summer time & so make up the difference in rent.  We have such a fine view from our windows, the hills are looking lovely tonight, the sun is taking the top of  [Cunslimaul?]  it's about ten miles from here, Birnam twelve from here too & also twelve from [Cunsimaul?].  I have been on top of both.  My brother & family are still with us but will be leaving soon & taking up house in Arbroath.
Edwin is really very well now & has been attending to business for some time going out & in to Dundee two or three times a week.  The Dr. however wouldn't allow him to take up house sooner as he has required to get a certain treatment twice a week, it seems there was a possibility that the trouble might return.  however a few weeks ago the Dr. dismissed him as cured, to our great relief.  We had a long, anxious time with him.  We shall miss them when they go, but will be glad of the quiet too.  I think the three children are just a little too much for Mother sometimes.  We were greatly interested in that newspaper cutting you enclosed.  I can't get over the fact that my grandmother had a full cousin alive & that we did not know of her existance.  I wonder if Grandma herself had known  Probably she would forget being so much older.
What a magnificent pagean that will be in St. Louis.  I must send the paper to my Aunt & Uncle who are at present in London.  It will interest them greatly.
Now I must close.  I have had so many interruptions I hope this is coherent.

        Much love to you all
affect -- yours
Ada Butchart

Please excuse business envelope, I find we are quite out of the other