September 15th 1910
Manitoba, Canada
Dear Brother,
The trip from Scottland was alright. The boat ride was fairly long but there was a nice breeze. A majority of the people that traveled to Canada were men or women; although I was surprised to see as many children as I did. Some of them were younger than 10, not many years away from my age. On the many days travel to Canada, I made a few friends amoung the travellers. One of them said I could come to live and work that their farm. As you know Brother, I've always wanted to live in the country. Working on a farm is going to a lot of work but I'm ready to live on my own, as you know very well.
When I got off the boat I went with his family to collect our bags and catch the next train across the country. I remember asking him where their land was, he said it was in Manitoba. I couldn't wait to see the extensive land that I would have to till. When we got on the train, his family let us sit separately from them. I noticed that his older brother had winked at him, I had giggled. His brother, younger sister and parents had taken the two seats next to us and the two behind us. I have to say Brother, he is quite handsome for a younger boy. I'm confidant in saying that his accent gives him away. I'm positive he's Russian. I'm sure you're not very happy to be reading this. I know how much you don't like Russians.
The train was okay. There were a lot of bumps and the train car kept making very unsettling noises, but the company was good. We talked about life on a farm. I learned he had spent most of his life on a farm. His parents had bought one back in Russia just before he was born. He told me that in selling the farm, they made a little bit of extra money, but unfortunately, not a lot. We had opened the window so a breeze could flow throw the train car. It was quite a muggy day so the breeze had been a relief for many of the other people travelling by train.
When we reached the stop in Manitoba I was shocked by the state of the land and realized it was going to be a lot more work than anyone of us had realized. When we got the information for the land, we found out we had to build our own house. Not having a house for the first few weeks was defiantly hard. The days were windy and muggy. The nights were even worse; freezing and wind storms almost every night. Within the first month we had made a relatively nice house. It was warm and could hold all of us, and plus it managed to keep the rain and wind out rather nicely.
Other than the weather and the unfortunate beginning, everything has gone almost without a hitch. The weather has managed to stay stable at a reasonably warm temperature and the winds have died down to a small breeze. Every morning I have to wake up a little before dawn and start work, breaking at noon to eat lunch. Nights are very early. The sun has almost gone beyond the horizon when we are about to sleep.
All together the trip was bearable. Meeting the wonderfully nice family from Russia and the handsome young boy. In my next letter, I might tell you his name. Please write soon, I miss everyone at home. Hope you are all doing alright. Wish dad good luck at work for me and wish mom good luck with her health, I know it's not been so good lately.
Love,
Amelia
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