File 79 - Letter from Allie to Eliza, Jacob, Glayds Uffelman

[Envelope]
203 Lincoln Ave, Connellsville, PA
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Dear Eliza, Jacob + Gladys,
I must write you this day - To-day is Missionary day, but I have a cold in my head + throat so I am keeping Mrs. Osterwise’s children then I could not find my tablet so I found these pieces of paper so excuse me for using this paper + pencil. Well Eliza I appreciated your letter it seemed so long since I heard from you. how are you standing this cold weather we have had sleighing for two months something the people have not known for forty years, on the 13 of Jan was to be our anniversary day + free will Offering, + we were
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having Bishop Bell to speak for us that day from Washington D.C. on Saturday it rained + turned cold the coldest night we had all winter it was one glass of ice all over the streets. that night the water pipes froze up + the coal man failed to bring the coal Saturday + we could not make fire enough to heat the church so could not have a service that day + the Bishop had to go home. the people were so disappointed. now we will have it March 10th + he is to Lecture Monday eve. I was out last night to a funeral + it rained this morning it was so icy
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the people could scarcely walk. I am afraid to go down the street. I am making myself some house dresses I must get some more material to finish them I have a notion to lay by some gingams [sic] [ginghams] + percales as they are going higher. one of the merchants said percales will be as high as 75 cts a yd things are getting high + scarce we can only get 2 lbs of sugar a week to a family then if we want to get 25 lb sack of flower we have to buy the same amount of Buck wheat or corn meal. we are supposed to use part corn meal for making bread. we have to conserve food. wheat meat
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fats + c for the Allies, eggs are 70 c a doz. + other things according 55 for baccon. yes we are beginning to feel the effects of the war. Oh I feel so sorry about Sheldon + Lloyd. I just hope Willie will be fortunately enough to escape. I must write him again the poor boy. the awful things we hear about the British + French prisoners how they are tortured. it almost makes one feel glad they are dead. when we think of the terrible strain + suffering one way + another they would only be a phisical [sic] wreck. then should they of fallen in the hands of the Germans what they would have to endure then at last
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death. Oh I just hope Orley + Walter wont have to go. it seems too bad that so many young men have to be slaughtered + crippled. I see by the morning paper that a vessel carrying 2179 soldiers was torpedoed + sunken 1000 were saved. (I have the baby on my lap + she is a sleep.) I suppose the young men of Berlin + Waterloo are pretty well thinned out yes all thought Canada. there are a host gone from here another lot going next week the Americans are on the fighting line now. No doubt you feel the loss of
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Sheldon greatly. no doubt he was the one prepared to go. so take the Lord as your comforter. for he surely is. I am glad you realize your not the only parents that are suffering the loss of loved ones then when I think of how the French people have to suffer the loss of dear ones + property, women having to take the place of horses. real slaves. Oh how thankful we ought to be
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we are kept busy, but we must take time to be Holy as we sing some times, we will soon enter into our special meetings. Mar 1st pray for us that we might have a revival in hearts of the people. It is turning warmer the snow has all left + the ice is melting we are expecting great floods in these Valleys. we can be thankful we are on top of the hill. the people along the rivers will have to suffer + feel sorry for them. Gladys surely had a time getting to her school + Helen she has quite a distance to go. I had a letter from Washington + did not notice I had not written this side this is the last
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there is a call coming to the women here to help in the harvest fields this year. While God don’t sanction this war he is permitting it to chastise the people they have gotten to far away from God This is surely a calamity upon the nations that forget God we need to pray much. Spring will soon be here when outside work will begin I must close + go home its tea time. With love + God bless you Allie