Family Correspondence Archive

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The Ruth Harris Collection — letters, memories, and everyday life from Nova Scotia across generations.

June 3, 1912

Ruth Harris Writes Her Father

Written from Montreal during a summer visit with relatives, this letter finds Ruth carefully considering whether to continue on to Lockport or return home instead. She discusses travel costs, family advice, shopping for her mother, and her growing confidence about travelling alone, offering a warm glimpse into family life and long-distance travel in Canada during the early twentieth century.

Original Letter

Scanned handwritten letter from Ruth Harris dated June 3, 1912
Original handwritten letter dated June 3, 1912.

Transcription

Ruth Harris Writes Her Father

The following text is presented as a readable transcription of the original family letter.

11 Durocher Street Montreal June 3rd 1912 Dearest Dad :- Your letter and Mothers and the money order came this morning and I shall write a few lines to post before ten o’clock. Uncle R. and Aunt B. think that I am not any farther on my way to Lockport, than I would be in Mahone Bay. They say it would cost just as much from here to L.P. as from home there. And I have had a nice trip so why not wait, and perhaps go another time. I think this trip will cost enough without spending so much more. And as for Aunt B. using my return ticket she says they may not go that way. That they have not made any plans yet but may go by way of Boston. They will not be leaving Montreal until the last of June. But they have not decided anything definite. I think it would be very much better (as I said before in another letter ) to give up the idea of going to Lockport and till Uncle Harry so at once. Just think how expensive it would be for him to come to Montreal or even Toronto. Of course I should not like to arrive in T. and not find Uncle N. there to meet me. I’d be all right on the train. Of course I can come home from here alone. Aunt B. and Uncle R. laughed at the idea of my not being able to do that. I hope you will decide for me to come home from here much as I should like to go to L. I think it is much better not to. When do you think I had better leave here? It was very hot yesterday and Uncle Robert says it is scorching out today. I hope you won’t worry anymore about me going to Lockport and I’ll be quite all right coming home alone. I was at the Lriths to tea yesterday. Constance is such a nice girl. Had I better get a suit for Mother? Aunt Bessie think I should. And what color would she like? We thought dark grey, but perhaps she would not like that. Will she tell me when she writes so I can get it. Now I must stop or this will be too late to go today. With heaps of love and kisses from your loving girl Ruth I wrote this in a hurry and have nothing to go over it but hope I have made it plain that I think it better not to go to L. Love to all. Write soon please.