McMechen, W. Va.,

Oct. 24- 1903

Dear Mr. Cockayne: -

I was very sorry to hear of your father’s sickness and trust that he will soon recover. I assure you, that you have my deepest sympathy.

I would have sent this note last night in care of Russell but had no chance to write it. Was sorry you could not be with us. Russell said, “You did not know when you would come up.” We will be glad to see you whenever you come, but will not expect you until your father recovers.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Nov. 10- 1903

Dear Mr. Cockayne: -

I have decided I will go to Showacre’s Thursday evening. I shall expect you to call between 7:00 and 7:30 P.M.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Nov. 27, 1903

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note last evening. I was sorry you could not come up Wednesday evening and also sorry for your father’s illness. I hope he will soon be as well as usual. I will be glad to see you Sunday evening if it is possible for you to come.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Nov. 30- 1903

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note this evening. Was sorry you could not be up this evening. I hope your father is better and trust he will soon be well.

I will not expect you up until your father is better, but will be glad to see you any time you can come.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Dec. 17- 1903

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note last evening.

I will be at home both afternoon and evening on Sunday.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Jan. 8- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am very sorry to hear about your trouble with your tooth. I am sure there is no joke in it. I think you had best stay in the house and take care of yourself or you will have a serious time. I will not expect you Sunday evening but will be glad to see you the following Sunday if you are able to come.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Jan. 19-1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note on last Saturday evening. I am sorry to hear of both your and your father’s illness. I trust you will both soon recover.

I hope you’ll excuse this writing, if you are a good mind-reader perhaps you can read it. You must have a poor idea of my stock of patience to think I should become impatient at something which you could not help.

I will be at home any Sunday evening you can call.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Feb. 2- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note today at noon. I will be at home Wednesday evening. I looked for the baloon descent Sunday evening but did not see it. I must apologize for not answering your note last week. I really did answer it but did not send the answer for fear you would not be at the post-office. If you come in time for church we will attend.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Feb. 22- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note Saturday evening. I was sorry to hear of sickness in your family. I hope your mother’s illness will not prove serious.

I was so sorry you could not be up Sunday evening but will glad to see you next Sunday evening if you can come. We have no school today and I am improving the opportunity by doing nothing.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

March 7- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I was very sorry you could not come up last evening. I attended church and Rev. Bent of Benwood preached a fairly good missionary sermon.

I hope your father is better. If you worked out in the rain you’ll catch the “grip” again. Mother has been sick all week with it and Vernon is complaining of not feeling well a thing he never did before in his life.

I will be glad to see you next Sunday evening. This writing is horrible but so is my pen so I hope you’ll excuse it.

Your friend, Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

March 24- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note yesterday. I was sorry you could not be up Sunday evening. Myrtle and Russell stopped and went to church with me.

I hope your father will be improved by the electric treatment.

I have been holding examinations for more than a week.

I will be glad to see you on Easter. We are going to have a special program by the Sunday School children. But you had better subtract or extract that famous mustache or you will frighten our performers.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

April 5- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note yesterday. I was sorry to hear that your father was not so well Sunday. I hope he is improved by this time. I was disappointed that you should miss our fine Easter program. Myrtle and Russell stopped Sunday evening and I took care of Russell while Myrtle helped the children sing.

The teachers at school are to have Friday afternoon to attend the Round Table at Moundsville.

I will be pleased to see you any time you can come.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

April 7-1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I was ill but only for one day so the paper was wrong as usual. I answered your note of the first part of the week but I didn’t think my illness of enough consequence to mention it in my note.

The children had a fine time during my absence Monday but they had anything but a fine time Tuesday when I came back.

I am sorry you are in a difficulty but will be glad to listen to your account of it Sunday evening. But if that had been a Republican Convention you would not have gotten into a difficulty. I told you it was wicked to be a Democrat.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Apr. 18- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note late Saturday afternoon. I am sorry you could not come up Sunday. We had no church service either morning or evening on account of Mr. Engle’s illness. Myrtle and Russell stopped Sunday evening. Russell said he had seen you and that if you were not here by 7:30 could not come.

I think you had better go to Charleston if you can and make a big speech and cover yourself with glory.

My entertainment comes off next Friday. Miss Mary Byard and I divide the work but I will be glad when Friday is over. I wish you success at Charleston.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

April 22- 1904

Dear Mr. Cocaine:-

I received your letter written in Charleston but suppose you are home by this time. Our wonderful (?) entertainment comes off this evening. I only hope it will not be a fizzle. I am worn to a skeleton worrying about it.

If you have been associating with those wicked Democrats I hope you will reform before Sunday evening. I’m almost afraid to take you to church but will give you a trial.

You didn’t spell your name correctly it is spelled with an “i” instead of a “y”.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

May 5- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I was glad to hear that your father is better. I will be glad to see you Sunday evening.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

May 21- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note. I am sorry you cannot come up Sunday evening but think you are right in giving your mother the chance to go to church. I will be glad to see you the Sunday following.

Please do not mail the book. Keep it until you are through with it and then bring it up when convenient. It is no bother for me to renew it. I am glad you and your sister enjoyed it.

I have read “Gordon Keith”. It’s just splendid. I have started the other book. I took my first music lesson from Prof Clyde Thursday evening. He is a very bright man and I’m sure will prove a good teacher. I’m going to be good and practice and see if I can learn to play.

Remember, if you mail that book, I’ll be very angry.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

Excuse the envelope.

B.S.

McMechen, W. Va.

June 20- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am sorry that your father is no better. I will be glad to see you if you can stop as you spoke of.

Myrtle and Russell stopped on their way to church and compelled me to go with them. I didn’t hear but about a dozen words of the sermon and they were something about wireless telegraphs and ether. I studied bugology instead.

We went to the picnic and ran and “hollered” just as you said, and I could scarcely move, on Saturday.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

July 13-1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note last evening and am very sorry to hear that your father is worse. You have my deepest sympathy in your trouble and I hope your father will soon improve.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

P.S. I go to Cameron tomorrow today week to take the examination.

B.S.

McMechen, W. Va.,

Oct. 12- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I was sorry you could not be up Sunday evening. I intended asking you to come up but don’t believe Wallace gave me a chance. I will be glad to see you any evening you find it convenient to call.

Uncle and Aunt were here yesterday and went back to Wheeling this afternoon. Uncle starts for California about Sunday.

You need not begin to congratulate me about Rev. Engle staying for another year for he goes to Parkersburg and we are to have a preacher named Bowden or Bowie.

It is said he wears a stove-pipe hat and preaches sanctification (I almost spelled that wrong.) But I don’t care. I have enough charity to cover that and a multitude of other pins – so they are not Mr. Engle’s.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Oct. 17- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note Saturday evening. Which ghost do you think captured my letter? I couldn’t have been the skinned horse or the one without any head. I hope whichever one received it will not call on me. Maybe it will return the letter to you.

I was sorry not to see you Sunday evening. I attended church both morning and evening. Rev. Bowden is a good preacher. He has a very pleasant expression. Mother says “he looks as if he were thinking of a good joke.” Maybe, it reminds him.

I received my proofs Saturday. They are much better than any of the others. I must send them back tomorrow in order to get my pictures in two weeks. Come up whenever you can.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Oct. 31- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

The reception for Mr. Bowden is postponed until next Friday evening. All members and friends of the Church are invited and I would like very much for you to come up and attend with me, if possible for you to leave.

I heard from Myrtle on Sunday afternoon that your father was worse. I am sorry, and hope he will soon be better.

If you cannot come up Friday evening, come up whenever you find it convenient to leave home.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Nov. 10- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note yesterday. I am sorry your father is no better and that you could not get up. I received only the panel picture that Mother ordered and the others will not be finished before the last of this week and I’ll be surprised if I get them then. The panel picture will have to be framed but Mother will not take it up to be framed until she goes for the other pictures.

I’ve joined the Club. It wasn’t nearly so terrible as I thought it would be. My cheeks burned for a half hour after it was over, though. I met your sister, Mrs. Showacre Tuesday evening and she was very kind to both Myrtle and I. I sat next to her in the Chorus and if I had not had her to follow I would never have gotten through. I intended to tell her how thankful I felt to her, but I forgot. I expect I was too excited to remember anything.

Russell and I had an argument coming up on the car on the question of Woman’s Rights. He thinks I want to vote.

Come up when you can. This is almost (?) a full fledged letter. Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Nov. 23- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

My sorrow for you in your bereavement cannot be expressed in words. We unite in giving you and yours our tenderest sympathy.

I pray God to comfort you, for he only can.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Dec. 11- 1904

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note yesterday evening. I am so sorry you cannot come up but I am sorrier about your trouble. I can sympathize with you for I have gone through the same trouble myself. I know how you are all feeling. Come up whenever you feel like it you know you are always welcome.

I attended church this morning but not love feast. I expect to attend communion service tonight for the first time for more than a year.

My examinations begin next Friday and I’ll be much relieved when they are over.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Jan. 3- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note on Saturday. I will be glad to see you anytime you may come up.

I realize that your mother must feel deeply her trouble. I hope it will not prove so trying for her as you anticipate.

I am going to attend the Musical Club on Tuesday evening. I haven’t been down for about three weeks. They hold the Concert a week from today. I don’t look forward to it with much pleasure. I saw the New Year come in Sunday morning or rather heard him for he was dreadful noisy.

Mother and I attended “Polly Primrose” Saturday Matinée. We enjoyed it very much. I guess I’ve told everything I know, so I’ll quit.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Jan. 9- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am sorry your rheumatism is worse. I think the doctor was wise to say you must stay in the house but am sorry you could not attend church with me. I can’t say that you missed much though, I almost went to sleep.

Mr. Bowden immersed a man in the river yesterday in the afternoon. I didn’t envy either one their cold bath.

I got the book, “To Have and to Hold” Friday and I will keep it until you come up.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Jan. 19- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I will certainly use the power of my pencil and you may keep the books as long as you need them. I will be very glad to see you on Sunday evening if you think it best to come.

I am very glad the Concert is over although I enjoyed it. I believe it was a success.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Feb. 3- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I think “Doc.” very wise about your staying in the house in such weather and with such a cold. I am very sorry you are no better.

My Cassidy turned out to be Casey and she is the dearest little Irish girl you ever saw. She is bright as she can be and has a most delicious brogue. I haven’t inquired about the ghosts yet but I don’t believe she knows anything about them.

I’m glad Cassidy went to the mountains I expect that’s where he gets the moonshine to grow the ghosts. He’ll have a new crop when he comes back.

Mother and I are going to see Glen Holden Saturday afternoon. I wrote enough in this note to make up for the one I didn’t answer last week.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Feb 8- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

Myrtle asked me to invite you to come up to her home Saturday evening. She is going to have Miss Carrie Jefferson and Victor Myers from Moundsville. I thought perhaps you might not care to go but I could not tell her that. If you do not don’t hesitate to say so for I am not particular about attending myself. Let me know whether you will go or not.

I hope you are well by this time. Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Feb. 28- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note at noon. Russel’s invitation arrived yesterday. I think I will not go down and I send my regrets by this mail. I will be glad to have you come up that evening. I attended the Court Theatre last evening with my cousin Janie Wicard and I am going this evening to the Musical Club so I think it not best to go down Thursday evening.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Mch. 15- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your note last evening. I was very glad to hear you had not contacted the mange. Neither have I.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

April 5- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

Bring your cousin “Prof. Cocaine”, up, by all means. I will study grammar for the remainder of the week and I think if get through it “two times I ought to know it pretty well”. So says Plupy Shute and so say I.

I have just finished the last of my examinations and reports and have taken the enumeration and now I’m going to be lazy for exactly a month.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Apr. 13- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I was dreadfully sorry to hear that you had to walk home Sunday evening but glad that you met no ghosts. Cassidy would not have seen them either if he had not had “spirits” with him.

We are going dismiss school tomorrow at noon to attend some sort of lecture at Wheeling High School.

Your friend

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Apr. 26- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am sorry about the trouble you are having. I had hoped the case would be dropped.

I will be glad to see you Sunday evening. Myrtle and Russell stopped last Sunday evening and he said that he thought you could not come up.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

June 19- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am sorry you could not be up Sunday evening. I did not attend the Baccalaureate. It was too warm.

We had our picnic Friday and for a wonder nobody was hurt or drowned. We had a beautiful wet day and I came home soaked.

I have not practiced much so far but hope to now school is ended. Our porch is not yet finished but they promise to have it completed, excepting the last coat of paint, this evening. Come up when you can.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

July 20- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I am very sorry that you have hurt your hand. You must be very careful or it may prove serious. Mother says if you take young peach leaves and bruise them and up them on the wound it will draw the poison out. Put them in a cloth and pound them until they are thoroughly bruised. I will be glad to see you Sunday.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Aug. 15- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I received your letter last evening. I am sorry you have been sick. I think you ought to be whipped for drinking too much cider.

I will be glad to go with you to my brother’s any day this week excepting Wednesday and Friday. I have promised to go with Nettie McCuskey to Steubenville on Wednesday and to the Camp-Ground on Friday. I am going to send you a pansy in the letter because you are sick.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Dec. 25- 1905

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

Wallace was down this morning and told me he is to sing in a Cantata at the W.P. Church Wednesday evening. Mother and I are going and I thought perhaps you would like to attend. We will go on the car that leaves Gravel St. about 6:45 P.M.

If it is not convenient for you to go let me know if you get this in time.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Feb. 23- 1906

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

We just received a telephone message from Wallace saying that he and Pattie were coming to dinner Sunday and were to bring a friend of his with them a Mr. Rutler, from Maryland, I think.

Mother says, she would like you to come and take dinner with us, also, if it will be convenient. – I second the motion.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Aug. 31- 1906

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I’m sure you didn’t have enough faith or you would have seen my little friends, the gnomes. As for the ghosts, I knew you wouldn’t see any, and the chain you heard clanking was in your pocket. I am going to take a music lesson today. One of my Wheeling schoolmates, Minnie Burkley was visiting relatives in McMechen yesterday and she called in the afternoon and we showed her the sights in the evening, the most important of which was the dam site.

She was recalling old school days and some of my wickedness, so don’t be surprised if I’m worse than usual for a while. I’ll wager it was one of my little gnomes that swiped the lock off the bracelet and put it in your desk, because of your lack of faith.

Your friend, Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Feb 11- 1907

Dear Mr. Cockayne:-

I feel very sorry that you are having so much sickness. I hope you will all be well soon. I am not afraid of the contagion but I don’t want you to go out until you are fully recovered.

I felt it in my bones Sunday that you were sick. Maybe it was wireless telegraphy. One thing though I expect is a comfort to you I can’t try to boss you by wireless telegraphy.

You’re to get well quickly though for I can’t do without somebody to boss.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.

Feb. 5- 1908

Dear Mr. Cockayne;-

I am sorry to know that you are ill. I knew that you had to walk home Thursday night and have blamed myself ever since for staying so late. I hope you will be soon well.

I have not been well since Saturday, when I attended an Institute at North Benwood. I have a horrible cold, nothing serious, but I’m as cross as a bear.

I have an idea it was your mother and sisters that needed recovery from the party, I’m sure it was not I.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Jan. 16- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I just learned last night, through the evening paper, of the death of your Uncle. You have my deepest sympathy in your trouble. I wrote a note to your sister, Dora, but I cannot express myself as I would. You know what is in my heart. Interprete my feelings to your Mother and your sisters.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Apr. 20, 1909

Dear Zan:-

I told you we were to entertain the Reading Circle on Friday evening. Mr. King told us last evening that we could each invite a friend and if you get this in time, and it is convenient for you, I’d like you to come. We have a regular session of the Reading Circle lasting until about 9:00 O’clock, so I’ll be at the school. Come anytime around nine o’clock and I’ll meet you in the lower hall as soon as the Reading Circle is over. You’ll get to play “three deep,” so be sure to come.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

McMechen, W. Va.,

Apr. 21-1909

Dear Zan:-

I expect you’ll think I’m a freak, but they have changed the time of closing the Reading Circle from 9 o’clock to 8:30 so if you can try and be there at 8:30 o’clock. I hope you’ll get this in time.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

June 22, 1909: Postcard to Mr. Alex Cockayne from Beulah in Morgantown.

Front:

I’m Pretty Near, ‘All In’

Back:

Changed my address to 81 Beverley Ave.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

June 26- 1909

11:30 A.M.

Dear Zan:-

I received your note this morning and I suppose you have received my letter by this time; I am writing this, but do not intend sending it until I get that letter and hear the joke. I’ve not been real homesick yet, but I’d rather be at home. It seems like a year since I left. I expect I’ll be homesick tomorrow.

Miss Campbell and I go around together a great deal and she is very kind. I attended the Educational Conference yesterday morning and we did not have any classes except Dr. Deahl’s Child Study and he had his at 7 o’clock P.M. instead of 11 A.M. as usual. He had me up quizzing me a bit but I didn’t mind it nearly as much as I thought. I suppose you will go to Wheeling this evening and if you flirt I’ll be sure to know, for some of the gnomes will tell me. It was a little moonlight the other evening and I wished I were at home and we were driving Queen over our road. But by the time this reaches you, one wk. will have passed and if they hold examinations for two days at the end of the term, I’ll be at home several days sooner, for unless I change my mind I’ll not take exam. It seems queer about the letters taking so long, I received a card from Mother this morning saying she had mailed me a registered letter and I did not receive the letter yet.

I wrote you a letter the day I received yours and it should have reached you. I’ll put an addition to this afternoon.

2:30 P.M.

I didn’t receive that letter nor your joke but received my Reg. letter. It was written before the card Mother sent me and I don’t understand it.

If I don’t get your letter or the joke, Bub had better look out. I’ll tell you something of the town. It is composed of the “city proper” to which have been added; Sunnyside, the part where I board and room and where all University Bldgs. are, South Park, to which you go by means of a bridge across Decker’s Cr. which is very beautiful, and the “West Side” to get to which you cross a Suspension Br. across the Monongahela R. We cross a bridge across a ravine from the city to our part of the town. It has been dreadfully warm ever since we came here.

Miss Campbell told me to tell you that the Pedicord’s are beginning to amuse us; she saw her hanging to his arm when they were going home from dinner. We intended going many places, sight-seeing, today, but it is too warm. Some day we are going out to the Cheat Mt. and river, but I’ll not climb the mts. We will have to take all our trips on Saturday as the other days of the wk. are filled with classes lectures and studying. Sometimes or rather generally, I get up at 5 sometimes 4 o’clock and do some of my studying. Mother said Vernon stayed in every night this wk.

She says my pansies are in bud and my sweet peas blooming nicely. On Sundays we are going to make the rounds of the different churches. There are at least 8 and perhaps more. I heard some fine lectures, this wk. but sometimes I was too sleepy to appreciate them. I want more and longer letters, I watch for the letter-carrier every delivery and when I don’t receive anything am very disappointed.

Your friend,

Beulah Smith

Morgantown, W. Va.

June 27- 1909

Dear Bub:-

I received your letter today and was very glad to do so. I wanted to send your sister, Mrs. Shaw, a card, but did not know Mr. Shaw’s name, except Jud, and thought I’d better not put that. Did you say my horse had learned to waltz since I came away. I am not entirely satisfied with the amount of benefit I am getting from the classes; Dr. Deahl, sometimes, spends all but 15 minutes of the time discussing one or two points in some previous lesson and then spends the 15 min. on one question in the day’s lesson.

We never reach any conclusion and a no. of people have dropped his class and taken some other. I won’t do that. Sometimes, I feel dreadfully homesick, but I don’t want Mother to know. I hope I’ll get a letter from you today.

We are to go out soon to see the Experiment Station and the mountains, but I’m not to do anything but look at them. Sometimes, it seems like a dream that I’m away out here and you and Mother back home. I don’t dare to think or I’d be sure to be weeping and I don’t want to do that. It’s no use anyway, for I have to stay here for nearly 5 wk. more as the first wk. just finished today. I’ve been acting dreadful since I’ve been out here. You know Mr. John Bonar sits at our table; it’s a small table with just room for six and there are five in our crowd and we, all, treat him scandalously. He said he didn’t think there was any danger of anyone imposing on me and that I sauced him all the time. Mr. Cole is here too, and we treat him rather mean, too. It’s a shame after he was kind enough to hunt us our boarding and lodging places and to go around with us and show us how to matriculate. Miss Campbell says she is going to write and tell you; but I told her you wouldn’t believe her. She said she bet you had another girl but you haven’t, I know. I’m sorry your sister didn’t go up to McMechen before I came out here, tell her, and that when I get home again I’ll stay there. I didn’t get hardly any studying done today. The instructors don’t care whether you study or not, if you’re not taking credits or enter for exam, and it’s rather discouraging. I forgot to tell you that Miss Martin’s father is dead. B.S.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

June 30- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I was exceedingly glad to receive your letter and the contents. I’m sending you a flower for your collection, which gathered this morning about 6:30 o’clock about a block from the house. I am to attend Dr. Purinton- the President of the University’s Reception this evening at 9 o’clock. I attended a concert this morning between 11 and 12; it was a piano and violin recital. Last evening I attended a ball game between what is called “Martin’s Fort Team,” that is composed of young men boarding the same place as we do and what they call the “Monongalia League Team.” It was the first ball game I ever attended and Mr. Bonar tried to explain it to us, but I only understand part of it. Mr. Cole and Mr. Bonar come around when we go to concerts or ball games and I have to be a little civil to them, but Miss Campbell says I’m very uncivil to them. I acknowledge I treat them very bad sometimes but it’s done for a purpose, you know. I received a letter from Verne this morning; he told me that he’s afraid “Smut”, the kitten is growing up and to quote his words, “We’ve lost our dear little imp of his Majesty.” He tells me that old Tom came in the other day and because he did receive his dinner as he thought he should straightway sat up on his haunches and hung his cute little paws down and begged and that he still had hopes for little, old, bald-headed Jack.

I was dreadfully homesick last night but don’t tell anyone, I didn’t. I’m not going to take any exams as far as I can see at present and I do think it’s too hot. I wish you could have seen “Dad” Cole, in Mr. Bonar’s baseball suit last night: I’m sure you’d believe in the Darwinian theory. Mr. Bonar’s a little letter but he’s “Bonar” and enough said. He’d need a new and larger hat before this if it were not for me. Beulah.

Morgantown- W. Va.,

July 3- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I received your letter this morning and it was very welcome. I sent a card to your sister, Mrs. Shaw, this morning. We visited the Experiment Farm about a mile and one-half from Morgantown, this morning. Otto Burkhart, a boy about 17 or 18 yr. old acted as escort and was very attentive to me, but I know you’ll not be jealous. You said something about me going back on you but I guess you know there’s no danger. Tuesday evening if nothing happens we go on a steamboat excursion up the Monongahela R. We don’t have any school until Tuesday morning as the Fourth is celebrated on Monday. There is still almost four wk. of school and when I look forward I don’t know how I’ll stand it but each day will take care of itself. I’d like to have had Shep and Jack this morning to have chased old Cole. This morning I had a dreadful quarrel with him this morning and I’m not going to look at him, anymore. I’ll tell you all about it someday. I had promised to help him get acquainted with a girl he has a dreadful case on, a Fayette Co. girl, whose name he does not know, but I’ll not do it now. I told him so.

I got a letter from Mother yesterday and she said Jack was all right but the kitten not so well. I suppose its grieving about me. She also said my pansies are in bloom. I’m sending a card to your mother but I didn’t know whether she would like it or not, I thought maybe she’d think I was presuming too much or assuming, which is it? I had a notion to inclose it in yours and if you thought she wouldn’t like it you needn’t give it to her. I’m going calling this evening.

I forgot to say I attended a reception held at President Purinton’s Wed. evening. Dora Neuman was there and looked very swell. It was supposed to be informal but she looked very formal. Yours, Beulah

Morgantown- W. Va.,

July 6- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I went to the P.O. Sunday afternoon and got your letter and could hardly wait until I got home. You musn’t get jealous of any of the “lobsters” or “slobs” out here for you know I don’t care anything for them. We went to the Cheat Mts. yesterday, but you know I promised Mother I wouldn’t climb them so I stayed at the foot or about 1 ½ mi. from the foot at a point between Quarry Run and the Cheat R. The scenery was beautiful. I send you a postcard of Quarry Run tomorrow. We started at 8:30 A.M. in a hay wagon and drove 7 ½ mi. to the “Mountain Chateau Hotel” where we got out of the wagon and walked to the point I mentioned over the toughest path you ever saw. Great rocks piled up as if they had been put there purposely. We crossed Quarry Run on the foot-bridge which you’ll see in the picture and turned to the right. After dinner those who climbed started up the mt. which is 5 mi. to the top. They were gone about 4 hr. While they were gone Miss Marsh, Springer and myself who stayed behind took another wild, rocky path down to the river. After that we went up Quarry Run stepping on the stones you see in the run. I found some pebbles and brought them back for mementos. The bushes hanging over the rune are Rhododendron and the mts are covered with it. Miss Campbell brought some from the top of the mts. And I’m sending you a blossom. We had our pictures taken in front of a large rock near where we ate our dinner. I found out afterwards that all over the sides of this mt. at this point are rattlers and copperheads but we didn’t see any. After the others came back, a Mr. Hickman, who was in the crowd and had a camera, took our pictures, that is the three that stayed behind and I’ll get some if they are good and I can.

Mr. Bonar went to Benwood to attend the Board Meeting today and will not return until tomorrow. I’m behaving myself while he’s gone because there’s no one to quarrel with. He has treated us very well and I should do the same for him, but it seems I can’t. He’s so conceited I have to discipline him. I’m not bothered with Mr. Cole anymore for I gave him a “call down” last Saturday morning and he’s not looked at or spoken to me since. Mr. and Mrs. Pedicord were spooning on the way back from the Cheat Mts. and Miss Campbell said they did all the way up and that the rest got disgusted and left them at last. We were until after 9 o’clock getting back and I didn’t feel like going to school today but I went and went downtown this afternoon to get paper to write this on. Just think, Bub, its 2 weeks and 1 da. Since I left home and it seems like 2 ages and ½. I think 3 wk. from tomorrow I’ll be at home but don’t know for sure. I’m dreadfully homesick for a drive. I hope you and your people are all well. I got a card from Vernon this morning and one from Mae Sat. and they had been at “Rock Springs Park.” I don’t allow you to work so hard and remember I’m boss.

Prof. Nolan calls on me every day and I’ve not failed yet. Dr. Deahl has never called on me but once and I’m just shaking every class for fear he will for he’s nearly as bad as they said he was. He can’t do anything more than kill me though. I guess I’d better close... Write me a nice, long letter for I’m rather homesick today. Yours, Beulah.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 8- 1909

Dear Zan:-

It will just be 19da. until I can come home. I received your letter this morning and you can tell my horse that I won’t feel like strapping anyone when I can come home. Miss Campbell and I plan it out almost every day the train we intend going on and all our arrangements.

I’m glad you were not sorry I sent your mother the card for I was afraid, almost to send it. This evening Dr. Sheldon is going with his Nature Study class to see the Reservoir and explain all about filtering of the water. I’m going altho’ I don’t belong to the class. Mr. King went home to attend board-meeting and he saw Mother. I saw him today and he told me, he told her that I’d be coming home with some chap that I’d think was as good as Mother. He said she told him she’d wager I wouldn’t. Miss Campbell and Mr. King thought they had a good joke on me. I wonder how Mother knew. I’ve not very much news, this time. I was dreadfully homesick this afternoon, but it’s no use. I expect you’ll get this Saturday. I hope I’ll get one Saturday, too. We can go to P.O. on Sunday and get mail, other days it is delivered in the morning. I’m glad the “grasscrap” is good. On Saturday afternoon we may go on a boat excursion. We intended going last Tuesday but there were not enough to charter the boat. I’ll tell you about it the next letter. Letters are so unsatisfactory, though. I guess I’ll have to stop now for we must start on our excursion.

Your friend,

Beulah.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 11-1909

Dear Bub:-

I received one letter yesterday morning and I waited for one today and sure enough, I got it. I am dreadfully homesick for that drive and would be very glad for you to examine the little finger just now. I wish you could have been with us on “Quarry Run” but then I wouldn’t have needed to stay down off the mt. for I know Mother wouldn’t be afraid for me to go with you. I was telling Miss Campbell about the old tale the other day of “bread and cheese” and you know the rest; I called the rest “accessories”. She didn’t understand and I expect you won’t either; after I explained she was going to tell you, so I thought I’d tell you first. I was teasing her at the time about Mr. R. I have lots of fun teasing her but if I didn’t laugh, I’d cry. We went on a steamboat excursion yesterday about 4 o’clock P.M. and returned about 8:30 P.M. We went in the direction of Pittsburg, about 15 mi. and passed through a dam. The scenery was beautiful but I got dreadfully homesick. Just think, just 2 wk. and 2da. Until I come home. I know you can’t be as glad as I will be. I expect I’ll dance and skip all the way to the train. About the “chap”, you know- there’s just one chap. It will be Wed. when I come home and I’ll get home in the evening I don’t know what will happen. I hope your mother and sisters and brothers are all well. I’m glad you’re through with the wheat and now I hope you won’t work so hard. Just to think, I’ve lost 3 lb. and weigh 129 lb. The goldenrod is blooming here and I have a vase of it and daisies on my table as I write. I’m sending you a piece. I believe it blooms earlier here. Mother sent me a box of pansies but they were withered when they got here, but I was glad to get them. Write me a long, long letter now. Yours, Beulah.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 14- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I received your letter this morning and was very happy for a little while. I’m more homesick today than I’ve been. Alice Scott went home at noon today to attend exam. and when she got on the train I felt an impulse to do the same. I got my certificate yesterday and I received 96% in Agriculture. You mustn’t go anyplace for wool on Sunday if it causes you to fall into the river for it worries me terribly. It’s just 2wk. from today until I go home. I’m afraid or glad, I don’t know which, that I will lose some more weight but I expect I’ll gain them when I get home.

I received a letter from Mother saying that Mrs. Gillingham is dead. I’m glad about the buggy and maybe I’ll tell you about the accessories, sometime. That part of it I just made up for fun or rather substituted it for another word. We went to the Lutheran Church last Sunday morning and they had a young preacher and I was very solemn and all that when Miss Campbell whispered to me that he was “bowlegged” and I laughed all the rest of the time in church. The reason I laughed so much was that she had told me Mr. R. was and it just struck me as funny. I told her that you said Mr. R. might have jumped off the cliff and she accused me of telling you something, so don’t every let her know that I did. About getting mad, you know I won’t. When you write tell me about the kittens, they ought to be good to live up to their names.

It’s a good thing you decided to get rid of your burnsides or I might not know you when I come home. I made a basket from reeds and raffia yesterday. This letter is nothing but a lot of nonsense, but I know you won’t be disgusted. You ought to write me more letters and I wouldn’t get so blue.

Yours, Beulah.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 17- 1909

Dear Zan:-

I did not receive any letter from you since last Tuesday and I thought perhaps my last one or yours had miscarried. I’ll be worried to death if I don’t receive one tomorrow (Sunday) and I’ll think you’ve tumbled into the river again. Miss Campbell would tease me if she knew I wrote one when I didn’t receive any: she always knows when I get one, but I don’t care. I’ve lots to tease her about but I can’t tell you that. I’m not going to write you a long letter this time. Let me know if you received my last letter which I think I wrote either Tuesday or Wednesday. I’ll write tomorrow if I get your letter.

Yours, Beulah

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 19- 1909.

Dear Zan:-

I received your letter Sunday afternoon and was very much relieved. I suppose you have received that “freaky” letter I wrote the other day. I should not have written it, I know, but I honestly was worried. I’m dreadfully sorry about you hurting yourself. You must be very careful with it or you’ll have trouble. I won’t be home any sooner than I expected but that is not so very long now, just one week from Wednesday.

Alice Scott went home to attend the exam. last Wed. and returned this morning. She saw Mother yesterday afternoon and everything was alright except that little “Smut,” the kitten, is not very well. I suppose its grieving for my presence. The pansies and sweet peas are blooming well. Mother wrote me that my “white geranium” had bloomed twice since I came away. How is everybody at your home? If you do not write me a longer letter, I’ll be dreadfully bad when I come home. I suppose you think all I’d have to do would be to “act natural.” Well, I guess you’re right. I’m going to attend a lecture at 3 o’clock this afternoon, by Dr. O’Shea, who wrote, “Education as Adjustment,” one of our Reading Circle books last winter. I’m afraid I won’t appreciate his lecture for they say he’s very deep and I know I’m not.

Dr. Deahl hasn’t made any attempt to “squash” me, yet. I guess he thinks it isn’t necessary, that I don’t amount to much anyway. I don’t have nearly as good an opinion of myself since I came out here. You’ll see when I come home, how meek I’ve gotten.

It rained here yesterday afternoon and has gotten very cool since. We attended church at the Episcopal Church in the morning but did not attend in the evening. I get dreadfully homesick, I was last evening and felt like packing up, but I guess I can stick it out.

We just have 8da. more to stay. When we come home we are going on the train that leaves here about 6 o’clock A.M. It will reach Benwood Junction about 10:30 or 11:00 A.M. I should say. I’ll try to sit on the right hand side and if you’re out I’ll wave. You haven’t told me anything lately about my horse.

I hope I’ll get a letter from you tomorrow. I wrote Mother a letter today. I got one from her on Saturday and another on Sunday afternoon. Somebody sent Miss Campbell, “The Moundsville Echo,” but I didn’t see anything important.

Yours,

Beulah.

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 20- 1909.

Dear Zan:-

I received your letter alright this morning but only received 2 letters last week, so someone must have “swiped” one of them. Its just 7da. now until I come home and by the time this reaches you only about 5, I suppose. I’m awfully glad that you received all of my letters as I don’t think I’d like anybody else to read them but you.

I don’t have quite so much work to do this week as usual as some of the courses are finished. I have so many things to tell you when I get home I don’t know how I’ll ever have time to tell it all.

You are working too hard I’m afraid and I think I ought to have a little bossing there. You are very kind to think I did well in “farmacy”, and I was very well pleased with myself at first, but I heard since of one who made 100% in Ag. and I’m not nearly so “stuck” on myself.

Of those taking the Uniform Exam. for Cer., only 1, made No. 1 and that was Mrs. Miss, Mr. Pedicord’s sister. There were 31 failures, Essie Richmond failed completely and took the exam. over last week. The questions are not so difficult but I suppose some of the fault lies with the graders.

We are not having any fun now at the expense of Mr. and Mrs. Pedicord; I guess they’ve quit spooning. A few of the students have gone home and are going this week, but I think I’ll stay as long as I said. If I’d follow my inclination I wouldn’t but somebody in McMechen might think they had a chance to remark and I expect its best. I was very glad to receive the flowers. Yours, Beulah

Morgantown, W. Va.,

July 22- 1909.

Dear Zan:-

I received your letter this morning and also one from Wallace. He says he still intends going to Texas and wishes to start in the Autumn but I hope he will change his mind. I don’t generally like to hear of dogs getting harmed but I know those sheep-killers deserve their fate so I hope you’ll catch them. Well, it will only be a few days from the time you read this letter till we can speak instead of write. I’ll expect a letter from you Sunday and I’ll answer it and you’ll get it Tuesday. I certainly will bring the basket home. I have my trunk partly packed and we went down the other evening and found that I can get off at McMechen and so will get home about ½ hr. sooner than by going to the Junction. I can hardly realize that I will be at home so soon. I had a position offered me to go to Fairmont, by one of the Ward Principals, but I did not even inquire the salary. I’d die if I had to be away from home all year, I think. I’ve learned a great deal out here and the most important is that, I don’t know very much. Miss Campbell and I have lots of fun, sometimes. I am going to attend a lecture this afternoon and evening.

About mowing the grass and binding the wheat at the same time, I told you that you must not work so hard and I don’t believe you’re very obedient but you’d better be or I’ll punish you. I guess I’ve talked enough nonsense, so I’ll close.

Yours,

Beulah.

Dear Zan:-

I wanted to tell you of my great sorrow over your affliction. I too loved Sallie and grieve for her. I want to assure you in your time of trouble how dear you are to me. I wish I might be with you but circumstances prevent.

Yours affectionately,

Beulah.

Jan. 14, 1916,

McMechen.

Moundsville, Jan. 16- 1916,

Dear Beulah:- Your letter came to me Saturday and I have put it in a safe place to keep for always.

Mother has had many troubles for many years but she is not the same this time and it will be different about the shanty from now on. I can’t tell you what a help your letter is to me and were it not for your trust in me I would be lost. Will be up Sunday.

Yours faithfully, Bub.

McMechen, W. Va.

Jan. 18, 1916

Dear Zan;

I received your letter today at noon. I knew you would not be able to leave home at this time. My heart goes out in sympathy to you all.

Come when you can. You will always be welcome.

Yours always,

Beulah

August, 1916: Postcard to Miss Beulah Smith from S.A.C. (Zan) in Parkersburg.

Front:

Upper Market Street, Residence Section, Parkersburg, W. Va.

Back:

An awful lot of Democrats here. Perhaps you would say a lot of awful democrats.