FRANCIS - to Beans - 1915
WILLIAM T. FRANCIS to Beans
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal May 22, 1915
W.T. Francis Writes to Relatives Here Just before Fatal Illness Send Letter to Daughter, Telling of Condition in Florida During Spring Months The following letter was written by W.T. Francis to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bean,, his son-in-law and daughter, on Tuesday May 4. Two days after writing the letter, Mr. Francis was stricken ill and his death followed;
St. Cloud, Fla., May 4, 1915
"Ed and Grace - Dear Son and Daughter. "If you will excuse pencil marks I will endeavor to write you a few lines. I will first tell you something about this weather here. We are now in the midst of the hottest of the entire year. May here is like what we used to term August in the north, the long, dry and hot month of the year. Now this statement, or any other I may make of the weather here, you may rely on. Yesterday I believe was the hottest we have had up to the present time. The thermometer registered 93 at noon, but we didn't feel the heat like we would in the north with 10 degrees lower. You naturally wonder why this is and wonder if papa is talking through his hat of what he is giving you. The fact is this: While the sun is well over she pours down her rays very strong but here comes that wonderful breeze, either off the coast or off the gulf, or both at the same time which makes it more pleasant here during the heated season than in the north. We are just now badly in need of rain. Our garden truck is suffering for it, but we carry water and water a greater part of our garden of an evening: then we go to bed usually about eight, we can go right off to sleep and feel very comfortable with a light comfort over us and there has not been a night since we left Crawfordsville that we have felt the least uncomfortable with the heat and its seven months tomorrow since we left. Before going any further. Grace, I will say I feel sorry I had to disappoint you about the strawberries, but will simply say I will make it up in something else in the future, as we now have fruits of all kinds coming in. I did not get through telling you about the weather in Florida. As I have stated in another part of my letter, June and part of July is what is called the wet season.
During June it rains every afternoon, which is very cooling and refreshing. We are told that it does not rain hard, but just enough to keep everything refreshed and in a growing way. Well, it is getting a little shady, so I will postpone till morning, so goodnight. "Well good morning, It looks a little like it would rain this morning, I hope it will anyway. I have watered my melons and cucumbers and if it does rain, it won't hurt anything. I am told that you have some hot and dry weather up there. It seems to be a general thing all over the country. Dumont Kennedy tells me in his letter that he was cutting some grass and it was like cutting along the road side in August. We fear for you there lest everything puts out and a frost comes and nips it. That is the way so often in Indiana. Will say Herman is a great grandpa and grandma boy and is going everywhere, and is awful strong for his age. I am so glad that the climate here agrees with him so well and that he is growing so fat and is so hearty. You should see him when his mother gives him a bath. He likes it and fairly makes the water boll and splash all over himself. Well we just had breakfast and the boy sits on my lap or in his chair and is a great help to grandpa in dispensing with his oatmeal. Grace, his eyes and ways are identical with that of little Louis, so you may know he is a fine looking little fellow, and is the pet and admiration of everyone who sees him. By the way, how is Louis getting along in school? Tell him to hurry up and write grandma and grandpa a good letter.
Well, dear ones, I could sit here and write you all day, but for fear I shall worry your patience, I will come to a close. But before I come to a close, I will say that the only thing that gives us any worry is that we are so far apart and unable to see one another and converse together. But thanks be to whom it is due that we are all enjoying good health and are able to communicate with one another in this manner. Your mother was just out in the garden and has called to me to tell you that we are going to have roasting ears for dinner. We wish you could be with us to enjoy a good southern dinner. Hoping this will find you in good health and to hear from you soon, we remain, your affectionate father and mother. Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Francis - thanks so much to Kim F for this one