Letter, James Gleason to Kate Gleason

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March 29—92
Dear Kate;
This letter like the last letter
to father will contain a surprise.
Mother has finally decided to stay here
until the first of July and then go
home with Emma. She has reached
this decision after a good deal of thought
and it is perhaps the best way.
Mother appreciates her case now and
is anxious to do anything that will help
towards her recovery. She is much better
now and is eating very well. The doctor
says she must not leave this climate for
at least two months yet in order to get
a permanent benefit. I will start for
home via Salt Lake City and Denver next

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Saturday night Apr 2nd and be home
about Apr 8th or perhaps the 9th.
The doctor says that New Orleans will
not do at all for Mother so she must
give up seeing Uncle Andrew. It is
too bad that she must miss that
pleasure. She will visit a number of
springs and health resorts in this vicinity
and next week herself and Aunt are
going to stop on a ranch 5000 acres.
about 10 or 12 miles from Sacramento.
Emma has had a very hard cold for
about six weeks and the family are a
little frightened and think she needs
a rest and change. Emma had a
touch of pneumonia about a year ago,
and the change will strengthen her lungs.
I think you will all be well
satisfied with the turn affairs have
taken though it will temporarily deprive

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us of Mothers society. It is better
that it will be only a temporary
separation. Emma is Mothers
favorite here and the other Emma
at home must look well to her laurels.
Emma Hughes is about Mothers height
with light brown hair and fairly stout.
If Emma Michel reads this letter you
must erase this part unless you think
that she could stand to hear her rival
in Mothers affections praised. The
two Emmas resemble each other very
much in character, each possess a
certain gift for working into the good
graces of people and holding their
position until further orders. The
great difference in the two is that
Emma H. has had to face the stern
battle more and in consequence
has a certain command over people

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that Emma Michel not being a
school teacher never had to exercise.
I dont mean to say that she is a
grand boss for where her command
over these youngsters come in is hard
to say, but it seems to be only a mild
way of gazing at them. Addie had a
letter to mail this morning and wanted
Luke to do it but he refused.
Addie gave the letter to Emma and
then Luke trots off a mile to mail it
like a little man. Perhaps Emma Michel
will copy the mild gaze and work it
on the Countess when that lady returns
from Europe.
I received your letter with the sad news
of Gertrude Cranes death.