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Laguna, New Mexico
November 08, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I didn’t go to Islata yesterday as I wrote you. People told me that there was no place there, at all, that I could stop in, and they told me that 66 miles from Albuquerque there was a better and larger place called Laguna, where the same tribe of Indians live, the Pueblos.

So I arrived here at 1:30 in the morning and couldn’t get any place to sleep. So I slept on a bench in the depot, but this morning I got a splendid nice clean room to sleep in and to work in and get my meals at another (2) place. I have to pay $3.50 a week for room and $1.05 a day for meals. All the houses here are made of mud or "dobie" as they call it here. The man I rent a room from has a Pueblo Indian women for a wife and she is very nice and clean.

But my dear, you ought to see the Indian village on the hill a block from my room. It is an Indian village, the houses are all made of mud. They have one church, it is exactly like Zuni. I have seen pictures of this place in the magazines and all the Pueblos are such queer little people, but nice, and the cleanest Indians I have seen. They make this fine pottery (3) that Uncle Ed has so much of. I bought a lot of it very cheap. I have already got an Indian girl engaged to sit for me in Indian dress. She comes at one o’clock. I had quite a good time to get her, but got her. So I will get the rest easy. I will paint one picture of her with earthen ware on her head, as they carry water that way. The pueblos are not any taller than your mother, all of them.

I probably will be here a week or two. I saw Mr & Mrs. Nettleton in Albuquerque yesterday. They were glad to see me. You remember she took lessons from me in Chicago. There is a big black Pueblo Kittie in the house I sleep in. (4) I sleep like a log in this country. Last night I slept fine, stretched out on a wooden bench, I had my coat for a pillow. I don’t think I will need an overcoat here. You can address your letter here, my dear. I will finish this letter this eve.

The evenings are very cold here, so I have sent for an overcoat. I noticed everyone here wears a heavy overcoat, but I probably won’t need it further south. But I will at Ft. Sill, so it is best to send for it. The people are very nice where I sleep and board.

The Pueblo Indian girl came to sit. They are so different looking from any Indians have seen, much cleaner of their person. (5) Their dress comes to their knees, then they have buckskin wrapped around their legs, which looks like the deuce, it makes them look clumsy. They carry water on their heads, in this pottery they make.

I was up to the Indian village again and went in one of the houses. For some of the houses, one has to go up a ladder to get in. The rooms are very clean and neat. But the people are all so little, they look funny, they look like balls.

The women have such a queer way of doing up there hair. Nothing like any other Indians I ever saw. They have dances (6) but won’t allow any white people to see them dance. I probably will be here two weeks.

The evenings are pretty lonesome, absolutely nothing to do but write or read and go to bed. Chicago spoiled me a little. I will have to get broken in again to this life. One good thing, the mail comes here once a day and the railroad runs within 100 ft. of my room. So there is a little excitement.

Well darling, I will close now. Good night darling.

Your own true loving husband,

Elbridge
Lots of love hugs & kisses.
Address Laguna, New Mexico.