This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
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Keams Canon, Arizona
Jan 31, 1898

My own true loving little wife,

Yours received and glad to hear from you. No, you needn’t copy the story as I am rewriting it. Yes, I like the Moqui Indians in a way better than the Crows, but still all Indians I’ve been to so far are nice people. The Moqui think a lot of me, they don’t want me to go away.

Tomorrow will have my 27th picture finished of a Snake Dancer, he is the Chief of the Snake Dance. He is a young fellow, his name is Ko-Pe-Ley, and an awfully nice fellow. They say it is (2) a great sight to see him in the Snake Dance. The next picture I start will be the antelope in the Snake Dance, an entirely different costume.

Don’t think I will be here more than a month longer. Then I will go right to the Needles in California. From there I will go to Los Angeles, and stop a day or two, then go south to the Mission Indians. I will be glad to get away from this winter climate.

The kitten we had here died. He was the most affectionate thing, wanted to be petted all the time.

Mr. Keams was here yesterday to see me. He comes once a week. He is a fine man. The agent for the Moqui is a Major and he is the very best agent I have ever seen. (3) His headquarters is some 90 miles from here. He was here the other day, and he is just as good to the Indians as he can be. He treats them just as though they were his own children, gives them money, candy, etc. I went up on the Mesea on Sunday with him and in every house we went into he would hug and sometimes kiss the girls. Before he went away he came to my room where I was painting one of the girls. The major commenced to hug her. The girl’s old, homely, dirty looking mother was present and I asked the Major why he didn’t hug (4) the old woman instead of the girl and the commenced to hug the old woman.

Nearly every mail I get a letter from Mr. Hubbell wanting to know when I am coming back. Once he said unless he heard from me at a certain time he would send for me.

Tomorrow I will have 14 Moqui pictures finished, 8 of them are girls, which I think will sell the quickest as they are so pretty and taking, while the Snake Dancers are rather hideous looking.

I have an awful nice place to eat with the matron and she is an awfully nice lady, so kind and thoughtful.

Well, my dear, must close. Good night darling. Your own true loving husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge