March 16, 1913 - Howard Roberts

My Dear girl

                        How are you

ben standing this muddy

wether. I ben laying

close bye the fire all

the day. Now ben at

home all the  Even but

Bryan and Fletcher and

my self. I ben looking

at your picture wish

ing I could see you. I

ben staying at home

every Sunday  since you

[Page 2]

ben gone. I started to

come down there to day

but it was now close

to  easter I thought I

would wait. I want to

see you  sow bad it

seems like it been

too months since you

ben gone. bee down

at the Station Sat

even sow I can see

you as I pas. I going

dow to Boston and

come up there Sunday

even bee sure to

meet me bee sure

to come down Sat even

[Page 3]

when the train pass. Scott

come here wensday and

stad to Friday even

and Bryan tooked him

to the station he sad

he was going to Sutherlin

he said he was own

his way dow there. he

told Bryan I never saw him. I wrecken you herd

of Howard Warren ben ded

he did Sunday even but

2 o’clock . he had the

measles and the  paneumonia

in both sides. I going back

to the saw mill

_emrning. it looks sad

when I pass there. can’t

see you. Esther you is the

only girl I ever cred

any thing for but I

now you don’t think that

much of me. if you could

see me now you wont

now me fel way saw.

ben grieving sow. Esther

don’t let any one see

this for it such a mess

well I will close for

this. excuse this scribing

and all mistakes.

from yours true

frind Howard.

**sow = “so”

                                                                           did=dead
 Postmarked: Ringgold, Va
Addressed: Miss Esther Richardson
                  News Ferry, Va

This Howard is Howard Roberts of Pittsylvania County, VA.  Howard was an ardent suitor of Esther's penning many letters and postcards to her.  He often signed his letters HLR.  You can other correspondence from Howard Roberts here, here, and here.  You can also read a little more about Howard here on my main blog Are You My Cousin? .

March 7, 1913 - Howard Roberts

Today's post marks the beginning of postcards and letters addressed to Esther in the year 1913.  Esther was 16 at the time of most of these letters.  She would turn 17 in November of that year.  Longer letters began appearing in Esther's collection during that time.  I will share the scanned images of these letters, though for the lengthier letters may only post the first page.  

*If you recognize your ancestor in these letters, please leave a comment.  I would be happy to share a copy of the full letter with you.

                        March the 7 1913

                        Ringgold Va

RL #2

My Dear girl

I will take the gretest

of pleasur in writeing

you a fue lines to let

you here me all OK

hop fine you same

wish I could see you

now. I felt sad when

I come out the train

Sunday. hated to see you leave.

Osker had his cutin[?]

Wednesday and give

us a pardy Miss Lucy

and nanny Lee was over

there. Maggie and Ellen

Hattie and you fellor

was over ther. I had a very nice time but

if you ben ther I en

joyed myself better

I am going to work

at the saw mil mond

ay. tell Ruben I think

he treted me very

nice. write to Eddie

and never wrote to

me. I don’t cere just

cut off a cut come and

take my ax and tote

it to the next cut

he did drag me rum

if I don’t get the cane__

to write before ____

meet me at the station

Sunday even

write fust as sun [soon] as

you get this I wont

to here from you real

bad.   Ringgold

care Mr Moss  RFD2

[across top]

from your

truly

frind

E.L.R.

H.L.R.

Postmarked: Ringgold, Va

Addressed: Miss Esther Richardson

                   News Ferry  Va

HLR in this letter is Howard L Roberts and not Esther's uncle Henry Lee Richardson.  Howard was a friend of Esther's and as future letters will reveal, an ardent beau! Previous cards from Howard can be seen here and here.  Lucy and Nanny Lee are the Farson sisters - both good friends of Esther's. Oskar [Oscar] is a friend as well though I do not know his surname.  Ruben is Esther's younger brother Reuben Richardson.