Feb 23rd

My darling, I am too [?] to write any to night. Allen has come back and no mail. No wagons even had come in to Whoop Up. It seems as tho’ the Fates were [?] against us. Good night.

Feb 22nd

Well my darling Monday has passed and still no mail. We heard to day that Allen had gone on with Aken[?] who is going to Benton to meet the wagons which were expected in Whoop Up today. So if there is a mail on then tomorrow or surely the next day will bring them. Today has been a very dull stormy day - snowing all day long – so once more the prairies are covered with this cold white mantle[?]. It has not been cold in spite of the storm and tonight it is clearing off. The moon is trying hard to shine through the driving [?]. Tomorrow will probably be a fine day. This morning I was working in the Hospital finishing up my Report – it now needs only to be copied out. It is a very [?] drag off my mind. In the afternoon I set to work and thought I would try and finish some but the entrance of a couple of Indians made me get out my vocabulary and converse with them – adding a few words to my dictionary which is gradually increasing in size. The Indians sat and smoked and talked the entire afternoon. It was nearly time to dress for dinner when they went, so I sat in the twilight gloom and thought. Would you like to know of what I was thinking? Of course you know. It was yourself. I imagined you at home after tea in the sitting room. Your father lying on the lounge Jack studying a chess problem. Sallie with her books in her lap, passing observations. Your mother sewing, knitting or doing some sort of work. You were working too + thinking while your [?] were busy. Then I thought how pleasant if you were sitting by my side – off here in the Far Far West. The stove door was open + the coal burned just as brightly as it did in your grate[?]. And many a [?] [?] was painted their many a vivid castle [?] + ravished in the Changing [Charging?] [?] – After dinner I came back to my room + finished up the Mess[?] accounts for tomorrow night when we have a mess[?] meeting + then read a few pages of Anatomy. Then went back to the Mess Room got beaten in a couple of games of Euchre, then we had some theatricals, impromptu of course, + closed the performance with a few snatches of songs – I must now say Good night. I wantto begin a letter home in order to have it ready to send the next opportunity, so good night again.

Fort Macleod February 21st 1875

Yesterday I sent you a letter. I hope that you will get it safe and within a reasonable time. After sending it- I did nothing – the day turned very chilly and I remained in the house finishing a sketch of a camp on High River sketched in pencil by Capt. Crozier when he was up there on his expedition. I am going to give it to him – I hope that you have no objections. To day after church parade I intended to take a walk but got talking with Crozier and did not get away. After lunch I went to my room and read some Anatomy. Then hearing some singing going on in the Mess Room went in there and joined in. this continued until dinner time. After dinner I came to have a little talk with my darling. And I would like to know how she is, what she is doing and what thinking about. I would like to see her, talk to her. My [?], would I not have a good time. No mail has come in today, but all day long we have been on the qui vive – to see any one coming across the prairies with a bag or wagon load of letters. Several times we saw horsemen a long distance off like specks. The glass revealed an Indian on Roundabout but Allen did not appear. This evening we heard a report through some Indians that a number of wagons were camped on Milk River which is about 85 or 90 miles from here. Allen had probably heard the same and has gone down to Whoop Up to get the mail, should there be any, and bring it up as soon as possible. I am in great spirits tonight – perhaps it is because letters from you are so near – I feel almost certain that I shall hear from you in the course of a day or two. Good night Darling and pleasant dreams.

Feb 20th

Only 8 days more in this month + then comes March + then April, + the summer is then close at hand, + Summer means better communication with civilization, and that means closer to you. This morning I got up pretty early and wrote a few lines to you, + then had my breakfast and after that went to the Hospital + then returned to you. Allen is now getting his horse ready to take these letters to Fort Kipp. After all it may not go, for the weather threatens a storm, + these men never start out in a storm. Trusting that it does go + reaches You in safety I say Goodbye until next time. Give my love to all, I am quite well, even my tooth does not bother me this morning. Once more

Goodbye

Your own

Barrie

Feb 19th

It has been very warm today with a high South West wind. Nothing in particular going on. This afternoon, the Col and I went off about a mile from the Fort and signaled to Denny + Capt Winder who were near the Fort we are going to be great experts in the art. In the evening after dinner Cribbage Casino and [?] [?] course of the evening mimic of a dinner speeches were made, presentations, everything in the room was presented to everyone, + each had to make a reply. It caused some amusement. Our mail did not come after all. I expect that Monday will be the day. I heard to night that a Mail leaves Fort Kipp for Benton tomorrow so I am going to try and send this off. How glad you will be to see it will not you and how glad I will be to hear again from you. I am very tired now of waiting and as the time grows shorter become more and more impatient. I do not think that well [sic] on the march I felt that longing that I now feel to hear from you. Or at all events it is much greater now. Did you receive those sketches I sent to you. I have not taken a great many more, they are hard things to send away. But now it is getting late, and as I want to get up early tomorrow morning and finish this I must say Good night.

Feb. 18th

As space is precious I take advantage of every little bit + do begin my days doings at the bottom of the page. This morning I was up + had my breakfast + a smoke before the sick call sounded which is very unusual. Everything is going on nicely. Brooks is ever so much better and the old Frenchman says “I am glad I came here, they are all good to me, and the little doctor is a smart doctor” So you see I am making an impression on the natives. It was raining again today, only slightly but still, raining. Denny has obtained leave for a couple of weeks and is going up to the mountains to hunt, he will have a splendid time. He is going with some wolfers who are living in a valley so closely shut in and so protected that they have not been cold this winter, and have green grass all winter long. There is said to be beautiful scenery up this river, a waterfall on this river more than 60 ft in height, to say nothing of lake scenery the grandeur of the mountains. I should like very much to go up with him, or at all events to go up in the summer. And what are you doing now? What are you thinking of? Do you remember in Longfellow’s Spanish Student how Victorian wished for a magic mirror, to see Preciosa was doing? I wish for it too. I would not be afraid of all the dreadful things Hypolito was afraid of seeing. Last night after going to bed and finding that I could not sleep, I got a volume of Longfellow and read the Spanish Student. My tooth kept me awake nearly all night and I awakened this morning dull drowsy and feeling tired out. I managed to scald the gum so thoroughly with Carbolic Acid that I stopped the ache, and have been free from it all day, but there is a beautiful feeling of uneasiness, which makes me expect a full grown toothache at any moment. What would I not give for a good pair of tooth forceps + a strong arm. We have had no Mail yet. I still hope that tomorrow night will bring it. Our man left ‘Whoop Up’ on Sunday morning the 7th inst. + allowing him to travel 30 miles a day, the following Sunday would bring him to Benton. He was to get fresh horses there load up + come out. He would be glad to take advantage of the mild weather + would start as soon as possible, so that if he left Benton on Tuesday he ought to be very near us now, he ought to travel more than 30 miles a day, 40 miles at least. So that Saturday or Sunday will infalliably bring him. I think too that he would leave Benton on Monday + not on Tuesday. Dear one how long does it seem to be since I last heard from you, very nearly two months. And now I must say Good night for I am very sleepy. Good night and pleasant happy dreams.

Feb 17th

I am afraid that this can scarcely be called a ‘diary letter’. So many days have passed without my writing anything in it. I leave you to imagine the humdrum life I am leading, every day the same thing. On Monday night Crozier Welch Denny and I went up to Crowfoot’s Camp to the dance. The evening did not pass quite so pleasantly as former ones perhaps because we were becoming satiated with so much dissipation. Crozier Welch + Denny were each kissed by various squaws + had to give them a pledge, we returned to the Fort early. I was not called upon to dance. I was just as well pleased as tho’ I had danced at the evening. On Tuesday Waxy’s trial was finished and he was convicted of indirectly trading whiskey to the Indians, + sentenced to a fine of $500.00 + six months imprisonment. He is now cogitating over his misdemeanors in the Guard Room. Smith was fined $300.00 and six months imprisonment. The warrant for his imprisonment was held over + he is to leave the country, not to come back within a year. One or two minor cases also came off relative to the possession of horses. Tuesday night my tooth began aching + kept me awake the greater part of the night. It has continued to ache all day to day + is still pounding away. It did not prevent me going with Col. McLeod to the Willow Creek Bluff about ¾ miles from the Camp to signal to some of the officers. A horse race came off this afternoon between Allen’s + Kanouse’s horses. Kanouse won. I saw the race from the Bluff. I took another sketch of the exterior of the Fort of Col. McLeod, he is going to send it to his sister Mrs Baldwin + to have it Photographed. My tooth aches so I can scarcely sit still, nothing does it any good, but rubbing the gum with strong Tr[?] Sodium. I must tell you before I stop that it is raining to night, a slight drizzle, but enough to show you that now, it is not very cold. Good night darling. I hope soon to hear from you. Perhaps by tomorrow you will have received my last letters. I do not know when this will meet your eye, but am afraid it will not be for some time. Good night once more.