This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
from original document held by MHS (#SC 1274)

( ) Original page numbers
Edited for readability

Ganado, Arizona
Apache County
November 23, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I received three letters from you today and glad to hear from you. I am glad you are going to have the piano moved, you might as well.

The hold up was on the same road I was on the same night. We were to meet the train at Albuquerque but it didn’t come along until next day.

I will only write to (2) Mr. Thompson hereafter, my dear.

Yes, the Pueblo Indian men are small too. So are the Navajos, but not as small as the Pueblos, especially women. The Indians that I am with here are not as noted as the Northern Indians, as they didn’t fight so much. Here they are all industrious & hard workers, awfully good natured, and smile every time you pass them.

The pottery I got is different from what Mrs. Sampson gave us, more artistic (3) I bought $4.00 worth and the pottery was boxed and all weighed 175 lbs.

The water is good here to drink, not much alkali in it. I won’t have any Thanksgiving dinner here. We have two meals a day, breakfast at 9 A.M. and dinner at 4 P.M. We have regular Mexican dishes, chili which is pretty good and meat, potatoes, etc. Lots of supper to eat. We had some winter muskmelon today that the Moqui Indians grow.

I finished a Navajo picture today of a man with Navajo blanket. (4) All the Indians flocked around to see it and they liked it. His name is Has-teen E-ash-ee which means little old man. Tomorrow I commence on a pretty little Navajo girl about 6 years old. When I saw her, she was wrapping a dog up in a blanket to keep him warm, he liked it.

Mr. Hubbell wants me to sell blankets for him in Chicago on shares. He says, when I leave here, he will give me a pile of fine blankets and I can send them with my other things (5) to the store house. There is a lot of money to be made in them. I saw him today buy the most elegant blanket. 3 ft. x 3 ¾ ft., a genuine old Butta (bayetta) red, black, & white tight woven blanket for $2.50. The very kind Uncle Ed told me the dealers charge $50.00 for. Today Mr. Hubbell gave me an elegant chain made by the Navajo Indians each bead is cut out and there are more than 1,000 beads. Some of the beads are turquoise. They are very rare. At Lame Deer, Montana, the Indian (6) agent there had one and he said he had refused $50.00 for it. Mr. Hubbell paid $4.50 for it. Then he gave me a fine turquoise charm the Indians made. Also, he gave me 4 beautiful woven decorated baskets the Moqui Indians make. Uncle Ed has a lot of them.

I received two letters from Uncle Ed. He wants me to send him 8 blankets $10.00, $15.00 & $25.00 each, also wants me to send 5 or 6 pictures I have painted, as a lady wants to pick out one for a Xmas present.

I received a (7) letter from Thurber’s saying they thought they would sell another Indian, Cut Ear. I have got a fine Indian engaged, he has a fine costume and think I am going to get 12 of the chief dancers to sit for me in costume.

This eve a little Moqui Indian came in my room & remained the whole eve. He spoke a little English. I showed him my pictures and how enthusiastic he was. He has been teaching me a few words. He says, "I like you, you are a nice man." (8) He gave me his name which is Two-bey and said when I come to Moqui to hunt him up. He said he would fix up in dance costume for me and said his daughter would sit for me. It is the Moqui girls that fix their hair so funny. I went in the Hogan back of my room and it was full of Moqui Indians ( they come here to trade). He showed me the Indians, among them, who dance in the Snake Dance and said they would pose for me in the Snake Dance.

At Moqui I will (9) get some fine pottery and baskets awfully cheap or can bye the fine pottery there for 5 & 10 cents and those beautiful baskets for 10 - 20 and 50 cents etc. The climate is fine here, I don’t need any overcoat at all.

This is the country where Kit Carson hung out. He was nearly captured a few hundred feet from here. The Indians got him in a big hole. but he got away.

Well darling, I must close am going to take a bath. Goodnight darling.

Your own true loving husband,

Elbridge
Lots of love hugs & kisses.