Private [written diagonally in the corner] Salt Lake City Utah [Salt Lake City, Utah]

Sept 16^th 1887 [Friday 16 Sep 1887]

In retirement

My Dear Elisabeth [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831]

Doubtless ere this reaches you our children will have welcomed you back to your own quiet house and you are shareing [sharing] those kind and effectionate [affectionate] caresses and attentions, so precious to our souls which I long to participate in. You probably have seen my former letters & know my movements. Dee [Edwin Dilworth Woolley, b. 1845 ?] Telegraphed me that you decided to go via St. George, leaving me to infer that you contemplated coming up to Oct. Conference [October General Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah], if you found things at home, so you could do so. I shall be much pleased to meet you at Lucys [Lucy Simmons Snow, b. 1855] or Rachels [Rachel Ridgway Ivins Smith Grant], or one of your sisters, of other U.G. Station [Underground Station]. Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] wrote me that Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] prefered [preferred] the University to B.Y. Academy [Brigham Young Academy] chiefly on account of some of his St. George [St. George, Utah] chums, (E. G. W. [Edwin Gordon Woolley] , Jim, Moses Andrus etc) being here and boarding with Molley. I had suggested in a former letter to Frank [Franklin Richards Snow, b. 1854] and also to the girls, the idea of his attending B.Y. Academy [Brigham Young Academy] and Perhaps Josephine [Josephine Snow, b. 1859] taking rooms with him at E.W.’s [Erastus White Snow, b. 1849] new house or elsewhere in Provo [Provo, Utah]. I had a talk with Molley yesterday about it, and the expectation of Marions [Joseph Marion Tanner, b. 1859] re-entering the Accademy [Academy] as teacher and she thinks it would be wiser and more satisfactory if Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] could locate and busy herself in this city Salt Lake City, Utah] for the winter in which case Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] could be with or near her and attend School agreeably to his desires Should this meet her feelings better. Molly says Rachels [Rachel Ridgway Ivins Smith Grant ?] Tenant is notified to leave about the first of October [Saturday 1 Oct 1887] and She will have controll [control] of all the house and can arrange to accommodate them either as Boarders or let them keep house by themselves. And if She would prefer it She could have Annies [Ann Stafford Snow, b. 1867 ?] rooms formerly occupied by Willard [Willard Snow, b. 1853] & Dora [Dora Crooks Pratt Snow, b. 1860] when they were first married. As the present Tenants have given notice of vacating Oct 1^st [Saturday 1 Oct 1887] Minerva [Minerva White Snow, b. 1822] is going to fit up for herself and Levi [Levi Mason White Snow, b. 1861] (who hopes to get employment in the Legislature Assembly) in her North room upstairs closeing [closing] in the Porch for her kitchen and use also her south Attic room. F. D. Richards [Elder Franklin D. Richards] is to retain rest of her house without diminution of rent. Molly says Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] writes about a project of taking the Leeds School the ensueing [ensuing] winter which of course would be all right enough if that were desireable [desirable] all round, but I do not wish her to deprive herself of every opportunity of enjoyment and feel that She is poor and must do it to live. All I have and can command is for the wellfare [welfare] and happyness [happiness] of my family and She is one of the most deserving. When Eddie [Edward Hunter Snow, b. 1865] returns this fall he can take the Leeds School [Leeds, Washington, Utah] now that Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] has engaged St. George Contral. But when is she to commence. Can She keep house till you return in October [Oct 1887]? And can Libby [Elizabeth Ashby Snow Ivins, b. 1854] spare Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] the farm work Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870], so that you can bring both of them with you to conference[October General Conference]? Or must they delay till you get back? Uncle Zera [Zerubbabel Snow, b. 1806] thinks of going back with you to work in the Temple [St. George, Utah].

Yours as ever

F. [Erastus Snow, b. 1818]

[Written in margins around edges]

P.S. Shall I send you money or will you borrow of Moroni [Moroni Snow, b. 1858]. Buy Two conference [General Conference roundtrip tickets] return tickets. I could enroll Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] as a Student and send him a half fare permit to Milford [Milford, Utah]. If desired You can leave your team at Milford [Milford, Utah] with Tanner till your return. Yesterday Lucy [Lucy Simmons Snow, b. 1855] had a Pic Nick [picnic] here for me. Present [were ?] your Sisters & cousins wo generations Twenty children in all. A fine visit. We all wished you with us.