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

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Crow Agency, Montana
August 04, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

Yours received and glad to hear from you. Uncle Ed wrote me and said he had sent $75.00 to you. You want to be careful with it, my dear, and be sure and square it up with Lizzie, what you owe her and Will. I had a fine supper tonight, all the duck I could eat. Ate two of them. A fellow here shot them and he gave them to a lady here and she invited us to supper. There is fine shooting here ducks, geese, etc. I think I will go out Sunday. I am to paint (2) the prettiest little Indian girl I ever saw she is six years old and is really beautiful. I never saw a white girl prettier. Her name is Miss Harry Wolf. I am getting some fine pictures here, will probably be here another month. I don’t think much of the gold excitement in Alaska. I never was in a place where there were so many puppies. They jump all over me, and at the Post Office they have 4 tiger striped Crow kittens 6 weeks old and they jump stiff legged at one another. Every day I’d take each one of them up and hug them. The Indians have clipped the whiskers on some of them. The other day I went to a tipi and went inside, and there was the (3) cutest little Crow kitten you ever saw, asleep on some moccasins. I put him on the seat of my wheel and he didn’t jump off, but stayed right on and rode around. The Indians laughed. The Indians are awfully good to cats and dogs. Yesterday a German officer was here. He is traveling all over the world. He liked my pictures and said I ought to take them to Germany. He was awfully gallant and polite. Well darling, I must close and go to bed. Give my love to Lizzie. Your true loving husband.

Goodnight darling,

Elbridge
Lots of love, hugs & kisses.