May 2nd

Brooks went out for a walk today! Not far of course, but he sat out in the sun for a long time and came back with quite a healthful colour and flow in his face. A Mail is now expected every day. I wish it would come. I am getting anxious for letters. I wish you would gently hint to Mannie that I would like to hear from him – but I suppose the poor chap’s sickness made him feel anything but in the mood for writing.

The Indians have nearly all moved away, going North. They are also organizing war parties amongst themselves to protect their horses. But as they are afraid to go outside of their wigwams at night and during the day dare not venture beyond the limit of their camp I do not think their enemies will suffer much.

I wonder whom they will appoint to fill Dr. Workman’s place at the Asylum. Did you hear any reason for his resignation? I took a walk to day with Col McLeod down to the bridge and out on the prairie. We were talking of the mail and while talking I noticed a speck way out on the prairie coming on rather in the direction in which the expected mail would come. We watched it for some time – it then resolved itself into two – came nearer and we thought we could say with certainty that they were mounted men – then that one had a red coat – then we even fancied we could distinguish that one was a dark horse and the other a light one – nearer still our certainty was doubly sure. It was the Mail – nearer yet and the two became four – the new objects we could guess were dogs – nearer yet – and alas for our hopes – they were two men with dogs out for a Sunday stroll. We immediately retired to the Fort in disgust.

May 1st

Conrad his for several days been loading his huge wagons with robes – the proceeds of his winter’s trade. He has nearly six thousand robes and the immense wagons with robes piled up hay fashion, look colossal. This afternoon they moved out en route for Benton. I did not send any letters by them as they will of course travel very slow being heavily laden and being drawn by oxen.

I got my medicines today and feel more at home. Some of the bottles were unfortunately broken. But most of the things came safely. This is May Day, but not many flowers are out. I found out on the prairies a little grayish moss with a very pretty little white flower. I saved one bunch and am pressing it now to send to you. The first flowers of Spring.

April 30th

The last day of April. My medicines came up this evening and are at Conrad’s but as Conrad is not in I cannot get them this evening. I made out a second report of the Medical Department for Dr. Kittson. It was not quite so much trouble as the former one. However I was very glad when I had finished it.

I wonder what you are doing now. Should I not like to “drop in” for a few moments? Oh dear.

April 29th

It has been very cold to day, it has been snowing all the afternoon and evening. I took a walk down to Maxy’s to see about our mess accounts and found it pretty cold work. The thermometer this evening stood at 2 degrees below zero. I hear that my medicines have arrived at Whoop Up.

Fort McLeod April 28th, 1875

My dear Lizzie

Yesterday I had another chance of sending a letter to you and right glad I was to hear of the chance. I do not know how long it will take them to reach you but expect Jerry Potts, who took them will hurry along. He is gone to endeavour to find his horses that are stolen.

Yesterday evening we were all much astonished to see Fred Wachter – known as “Dutch Fred” walk into camp & give himself up to Justice. If you recollect he was the one who murdered “Castilian Joe” or Joseph Asana – up at Sheep Creek. He came down immediately after the occurrence to give himself up but was persuaded by some of his old Confederates not to do so. However he has now thought better of it and is quietly awaiting his trial.

April 26th

In a day or two I expect to have another chance of sending in letters. Several of the people round here are going to go in freighting robes – and will take letters. It is blowing up pretty cold, I should not be surprised at a big snow storm. We will have quite a settlement up here next winter. Mr. Power is talking of setting up a store here – in opposition to Conrad, and Mr. Kerler too intends doing the same. Kanonse [?] has bought Foley out and Foley intends building again. We also have a farmer who intends starting a ranch in the immediate vicinity of the Fort and Father Scullen [?] intends building a Church and Parsonage, as well as inducing a large number of halfbreeds to settle down here. So next winter we will have a gay young city. Cpt. Winder too is talking of bringing up his wife and children. Perhaps Col. McLeod will get married and who knows how many more. The more the merrier and also the greater chance for me to make something outside of my salary.

I suppose that Saida has left you ere this. Has she gone directly home? Or does she intend staying a while longer in the North? I wish that you could go home with her. Do try.

I want you to ask Mannie to find out for me the Properties Botanical & Physiological & Therapeutical indications of Oxo Crocia and Dragon’s Blood.

For the present I must say good night. I open the ball again to tell you to direct my letters to :

Fort McLeod, via Ft. Shaw, Montana Territory.

I find that by sending them to I.G.B. & Co. [I.G. Baker & Co.] they are delayed sometimes a week. Col. McLeod told me the direction I have just given you is the better one. All mail matter for us is at Windsor consigned in bags for Ft. McLeod – which I believe do not break bulk until they reach Fort Shaw and are then sent on to us. Whereas if they are directed to Baker – they go first to Ft. Shaw, thence to Benton and then back again to Shaw.

I also want you to send me or have Jack send me the “Daily Mail” in place of the weekly. Will you ask him? This mail starts out tomorrow morning early. So I will have to send you away with a very short letter. Give my love to all and to Saida if she still be there. Good night again.

With much love believe me

Yours forever

Barrie.

April 25th

The Col. is not back yet, we do not expect him for some days. The Indians however brought in a report that the Col. had come back to Fort Kipp. We had Church parade as usual today. This afternoon I took a walk down to the River, and watched the rapid water, and to my delight found some willows really beginning to put out their leaves, the first that I have seen. I found a cozy little place just over the river in a small clump of trees and bushes, that I am going to turn into a private retreat – and in the summer will have a nice quiet little place to take your dear letters and read them. I will make a seat there, just under a bush and imagine that you are in the bush. I will not make a second seat for you, for some one else might come and sit in it and I don’t want them to do that.

The Col. came in this evening about an hour after dinner. Crozier came in a little while before him. Poor Crozier has had the blues all winter long and added to that or rather in consequence thereof he has come home from this little trip thoroughly done out. The poor chap is quite sick, and so nervous and restless he can neither eat, sleep nor keep quiet. Nor will he do as I tell him. I am afraid that he is going in for a regular seize. It seems that the Col. asked for several Indians as guides to the Indians who had taken the horses and also to be able to identify the horses taken. Instead of doing as he told them – a war party of twenty came out on foot after him, and never caught up to him – told him too that the Indians had struck Northwards when they had come South and East. So the Col. finding it would be impossible to overtake them and also to identify the horses if overtaken concluded to come home again.