Christmas Time is Here!

As Christmas is here, it must be time for some Christmas Cards from Mary.

 

These are all from the early 1900s.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy 2012

Young Apple Orchard in Idaho

Undated (but after 1906 as Carl is mentioned)

Dear Mother

Just a line or so to show we have not forgotten you yet. Sorry to hear you have a bad leg, hoping that it will soon be better. We are sending a paper by this mail hoping you will get it alright. We received the paper you sent and thank you ever so much for it. We are in fair health at the present at this time. 

Glad to hear that Father is able to work some. Peter is working a little for himself as there is none to be got elsewhere. People have not the money to pay for the work to be done. Money is very scarce and no one seems to have but very little to use or spend in any way they may feel inclined. We have some snow now. It is pretty cold of mornings and evenings especially. Carl does not see any use for the snow that you or cold weather as he has to stay inside and he would rather be outside playing. 

Close with love to you all from us all here, 

your loving daughter, Mary E Christensen

Cheyenne, Wyoming

5^th June 1917

Carey, Idaho

Dear Mother and Father

Just a few lines to let you know that we have not forgotten you if we are so far apart. Glad to hear that Mother’s sprain has improved and hoping that her leg will be feeling better. We are enjoying fair health and hope you are all feeling well. Violet will give you this card as I am putting it in a letter I am sending to her. Tell James I have not forgotten that I owe them a letter and will write maybe this week. I was glad to hear from Arthur about two weeks ago and will answer him soon. 

Sorry to hear of Mr Burdett’s death. The weather here is very nice just now. We are feeling the effects of the war now in many ways. I had a letter from Aunt Martha lately. 

Love from all to all.

Mary

Thousand Springs Idaho

Thousand Springs Idaho: No Date

Dear Violet,

Well I received your letter yesterday, glad to hear from you. We are all well at this time. I hope you are now all over your attack of Dengue fever by now. I still notice you have the same but the last letter I wrote to you I sent home to Mother. I am glad the wages are some higher than they used to be but I daresay they put the price up of everything now. Things are high enough here. 

Eggs are 10 pence a dozen, butter 1/0 a 1/2lb. Eggs don’t go much lower than they are now. Glad to hear the Mount Gravatt folks are pretty well. Well that is good to think that Mother’s leg is healing well but it will be better for her to wear the bandages than to have it break open again. 

Yes Sophie Dommett is a long time writing.   

Dear Violet, you say we could stay at your home if we came back but something I heard makes me think we would not be wanted. I heard some of the Elders were tracting up Red Hill and the Rollasons would have nothing to so with them . That looks like you may feel that way to us. How would you like it if Peter was called on a Mission there? How would you view us all then? 

Your loving sister Mary E Christensen

Idaho Apple Trees in Bloom

Idaho Apple Trees in Bloom

6^th June

Dear Sister,

Well Violet I am just going to write a line or so which James will give you. 

Glad to hear you are about settled in your new home and comfortable. So you are in a quieter neighbourhood at last. It is just getting on time for supper but Peter has not been coming home from work at nights very early. I am not feeling very well at present. I have no news to tell of any account. 

We are expecting to have Australian reunion 21^st June. I may going if able but things may turn out that I may not be able to go. I will go if I can. 

What do you think of this apple orchard? Wait ‘til ours look like that, but that is not apt to be for another 3 or 4 years, may be more. We have 5 acres of fruit trees, some pears, cherries, plums,  and the majority of apple trees. They seem to be going pretty nice so far.

Next mail daresay I can tell you something about our Australian doings. I close this short note with love from us all. 

Your loving sister, Mary E. Christensen

Happy Eastertide

Happy Eastertide

12 March 1912

Dear Violet

As I am not writing you a letter this mail I will send you this card with a few lines on. Glad to hear Rupert is feeling some better, hoping this will continue so. We are all fairly well here, hoping this will find you all the same.

Since writing to you last we have had some snow. Folk about (Knud?) come here and you will get plenty of it. It has been a very dirty winter this time. There has been enough snow fallen to keep the ground wet and muddy near all winter. We have had some rain as well as snow falling and the weather being warm some days it melts the snow and then comes the mud and water. 

You are having quite a time with the strikers in Brisbane. Mr Badger is an American and they are bullheaded. If he does give in it will be on account of his money purse being empty. Men out of work does not bring in money to pay for your food let alone a home. Are the bakers running or have you to make your own bread? It is getting late so close with love to you from all here.

Your loving sister,

Mary E Christensen

Great Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City

27 August 1911 (Postcard Great Mormon Tabernacle Salt Lake City)

Dear Father and Mother,

Just a line to you hoping you are feeling well. We are well at the time of writing. 

Peter has had plenty of work all summer. Soon his summer work is over and then it is look out for the winter months. H is thinking of going off to work as we have to live and we do not want to go into debt. We have tried to keep out and we have succeeded pretty well. We have a payment to make on our land by the first of January and we are going to try and keep up our payments even if it does cause us all less luxuries of life. 

Glad to hear Father is able to work and get it to do. We have had a fair summer for crops this year. Lots of hay was killed out last winter with the severe cold we had before the snow came so a number of the farmers had to replant seed for hay again. 

Our fruit trees are looking fine and I hope they will continue to do so. Why do you not write at times Father? 

We would be glad to hear from you. 

Best love from us all to you all,

from your loving daughter Mary E Christensen.

House in Carey, Idaho

September 28 1911

Carey, Idaho

Dear Violet,

What do you think of this for an American home? I think it is a pretty nice house. It’s made of brick. Have not time to write to you this mail but will do so next time.

Well, another Australian girl is to be married to a Yankee. They are coming here tonight to spend the evening before leaving for Salt Lake City to be married and live, I believe.

All pretty well here, hoping you are the same. With love and best wishes to you both from Mary and Peter Christensen.

Postcard from Mary to Violet in 1910

(undated but 1910 determined from years of marriage)

Dear Violet

Not having the time to write to you this mail, I am sending you a few lines on a postcard. 

I wrote to you last mail. I will write to you next mail. It is fine weather although rather windy the last few days. The days have been warm of late. It will soon be getting cool in Brisbane. 

It is a year ago since you were married and 6 years for us. Well the time goes fast. I hope you had a good time during your time at Redcliffe. 

Well Carl is off every day with his Papa lately. Peter has been working on his land about a mile from where we live. He has been plowing some land up for his fruit trees and Lucerne seed. We have leased a farm of 80 acres for this summer so I will be busy in haying time working for the man. 

I had a letter from Anna Kratzmann this last mail also a postcard photo of her little boy. 

Well Erik is wanting some attention again and he takes care he gets it! Some days he is a little tyrant especially wash days and then he gives me a fine time of it. 

Love to yourself and husband, 

from Mary and Peter Christensen

Main Street Carey Idaho

Main Street Carey Idaho

September 28 1911

Dear Mother,

This is a stretch of  Carey. The store shown is about ½ mile from our home. In the picture are shown two hotels but not the kind we have in Australia as they are called there boarding houses. The Post Office joins on the store where I have marked it.

We have some nice houses in Carey and one I have sent to Violet and I suppose she will show you. Glad to hear that leg is feeling better, hoping it will keep that way. Glad to hear that father is working and able to do it. 

Love to you both from all here,
 your loving daughter Mary

(Mary’s father, Richard John Rollason  would have been 66 years old at this time)