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
Dec 8, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

Received the letter from you yesterday and glad to hear from you. I can have all the blankets and things I get, my dear. I won’t drink any more milk, my dear, unless it is boiled first. I am glad you received the magazine I subscribed to for you.

The Indian here is as good a cook as I ever saw. His name is Loco. He is an awfully nice fellow, but not very reliable, he will stay home for a day or two. Then Mr. Hubbell has a Mexican cook and it is all I can do to eat his cooking. Loco is sitting for me now, so the Mexican cooks.

I am working on my 12th picture. Not many of the Indians wear their Navajo blankets around them. They sell them and (2) wear old shawls etc. The women used to wear Navajo dresses. They are just like the blankets, only two alike sewn together. I paint them with Navajo blankets on.

No, I haven’t a xxxxxx, but I wear the one got in Chicago.

Mr. Hubbell packed all rug & things he gave me tonight in big box. The whole thing ways 300 lbs. Will send them by freight. You ought to see the things he has given me, my dear. He has given me 6 or 7 elegant expensive large Navajo rugs old make, 32 Navajo arrows, over 40 pieces of old pottery, many valuable, and one great big old piece of pottery which is 2 1/2 ft high & 2 1/2 ft in diameter. All of these were found in ruins. He gave me two fine big water jars woven by Navajo Indians. Some 25 small rugs the Navajos make for doormats, they are fine. (3) They are made of wool, very soft also gave me 4 big such rugs 6 x 8 ft. square. He said he gave me these to fill out the box. Then he gave me 2 elegant big mountain lion skins all ready tanned by the Indians. They are great for the floor, such fine fur and then he gave me over a dozen wild cat skins which are very expensive. All of the skins have the natural fur on and the wild cat skins make the finest rugs just as they are. The fur is as a soft as velvet. Then he gave me 8 or 9 fine woven decorated baskets like Uncle Ed has, made by the Navajo & Moqui Indians. Then he has given me a lot of little things. He gave me a fine silver ring with turquoise stone in and several strings of beads.

[page 4 missing]

There are few as nice men as Mr. Hubbell. He looks like an old farmer, wears an old slouch hat (I just heard the Indians hollering back of my room and went back there and six of them are dancing and hollering all in time as loud as they can), but he is a smart man, well read. An awfully brave man. You ought to hear him tell of the time he has had out here 20 years ago. He is going to take me to Moqui and then come after me and take me to the railroad, which will be altogether 150 miles by wagon, which is the part I don’t like about painting Indians.

Well, my dear, I must close now and go to bed. Goodnight darling. Your own true loving husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge