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Saint Xavier, Montana
July 15, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

Received the letter from you today and glad to hear from you. I couldn’t be in a finer place for my work then here. So many Indians here and they fix up for me just as they did in the war dance. Wish you could see the picture have just finished of Chief Pretty Eagle painted 13x20 head and shoulders he has a beautiful buckskin jacket trimmed with beads and scalps & Wiesel tails. it is the finest one have seen (2) then he has one big eagle feather stuck up straight and his head his faces painted red except his nose and that is the natural color. And painting a small profile will have it finished tomorrow. Then commence to work on an Indian with his body painted green you have no idea how artistic they fix themselves up. Pretty Eagle is an awfully nice fellow he comes at 6:30 in the morning he comes in my room this morning and woke me up and he took breakfast dinner & supper with us. Mr. Campbell who I am stopping with is the most kindhearted, honest, square man have ever met and how the Indians do love him. They come in the house and poke around. every day some of them eat here. After meals he (3) likes to have them come in and eat up what is left and he just passes around them all the time lots of time see if he thinks an Indian is hungry he will cook a meal for him. He lets me have a nice room to stop in and another room to work in and the Indians I paint he lets them to eat here and doesn’t want to take a cent but I insisted upon its sole pay him $4.00 a week for everything. But Eagle will go and lay down in the lounge on a lot of soft pillows and go to sleep, then after dinner he well get in the hammock and take it easy. I have lots of fun with these Indians they are such nice fellows, so good natured, etc. Some evenings Mr. Campbell and two or (4) three other fellows and my self will tell stories and how do I have to laugh two hear Mr. Campbell tell stories about the best he is an awfully brave though he is a person one never forgets. I like it here better than anyplace have then yet much better than Ft. Sill as there is no xxxx here and I have such fine subjects to put out. I’m a be here all summer. After a while will go to Crowell agency and get my wheel the water is good here two drank it is a very healthy place to live. The eves are fine but lots of mosquitoes it has been hot lately. think your folks are mistaken about the cat. It looked to me like Mitzie. The (5) kids in here sometimes it in the eves will go to my window and gives little whines and xxxxx xxx wants to go to bed with me. We’ll finish letter with lead pencil. These Indians have the funniest names one called “Blows-his-breath” another “He-can’t-sit-down” and other “Sees-a-white-horse”, etc. when Remington was out here he rode a horse a long distance and he complained of feeling sore so there were joking him about it so Remington says, well high tell you I have got the heart of a Warrior but have got the bottom of a hired girl. We expect Will will have a fine time going to Europe. I have to laugh to see these Indians look at pictures in magazines. they act just like little kids and they are so serious (6) and a dignified all the time Pretty Eagle is awfully proud when I am thinking him he holds a looking glass in one hand and every little while looks at himself. He is an awfully brave Indian. Once when the Northern Pacific wanted to build the road on the Crow Indian land the Indians held a conference and Chief Spotted Horse got up and said the first Indian who signed the papers to let the road on their land he would kill. Pretty Eagle got up and drew a big knife from his belt and said I will sign the paper and then all the others signed except Spotted Horse. Expect to paint him before long. Well my darling I will close and go to bed. Goodnight darling. Your own true loving husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge