This is another letter I have in my possession that was written May 17, 1891 from Samuel Tupper to his daughter Cynthia Amelia (Tupper) Tait. I found this among other letters written to Bertha Evelyn (Tupper) Conroy, Samuel's granddaughter. At the time the letter was written, Samuel and Martha were living with their son Robert, his wife Elizabeth Tupper, and their daughter Bertha. Amelia was living in Dartmouth. I'm not sure why Bertha had the letter and not Amelia's children; perhaps the letter was never sent?
At this point, Martha was quite far into her dementia, and poor Samuel sounds so sad and lonely. He died only four months after this letter was written.
I will scan the letter soon and put it up here, but in the meantime, here's the transcription I made for myself (I copied it as is, line breaks and spelling intact, but there could always be mistakes):
Middle Stewiacke May 17 /91
Dear Amelia
We have been look-
ing for you or Tait up here this
good while We are as well as
usual hope you are all well
Hannah told us that little Milly
was not well when she was
down and we have not heard
from her since I feel uneasy
about her - we have a very
cold day to day and a freshet
besides We have had two freshets
in six days we have not sowed
any yet got the most of our
manure down to the intrevale [sic]
one day more last week and they would
had enough for potatoes down.
no telling when we will get
any more down Robert is pretty
well this spring. I suppose it is
some time since Tait got home
the last paper I got from him
he wrote on it he was going to
start home that day
I miss his papers I get one from
Sarah every week. I had a letter
from her last week they had got
into there new house and all
finished they have $14 per month
to pay for 2 years after that $10
for I don’t know how long she
says they have paid 28 every month
for rent since they went there
and this will be like puting [sic]
$14 in the bank every month
but I guess they will not do that
Horace pays $2.50 per week for
board
I had 2 letters from Sarah they two
last week I was looking for one
for some time and I thought I
would spur her up a little and
I wrote to that effect took it
to the office and got one there
from her 2 or 3 times her letters
and mine have passed each
other on the road it takes 9
days after it is written to get here
we are nearly out of hay and
there is not much grass yet here
our Cattle are all smart and thin
Horses are fat but I am afraid they
will come down before they get
done – if you get one of the Halifax
Heralds I would be glad if you
would send it to me Roberts family
are all well Bertha goes to school now
I would be very glad if you
could come up Mother is
loosing her mind every day I
cant hardly made her understand
any thing about any body now
only them that we speak about
every day, she could not tell
me any thing now about the
names of your family now
she don’t know any body that
comes in now and yet she is
quite smart and as hearty to her
victuals as every she was
sometimes she seems quite well
and sometimes [unintelligible] is taking
every thing she has said to me
this mourning [sic] she expected they would
take the feathers out of her bed next
Father
try and come up as soon as
you can conveniently
send a letter
if you come
and I will meet
you at Brookfield
I feel very
lonesome some
times