Bessie Morgan Rex - letter written April 8, 1936.

Maeser Morgan Rex looks like he's wearing a white shirt on this horse.

 Sunday afternoons are a good time to take pictures.

April 8, 1936

My dear son,

Each week slips by so quickly. I can hardly think it is time for me to start writing again. I must get it started & maybe with several interruptions, I shall manage to finish it. We received your very very welcome airmail letter last Sat. I was so glad to know you had landed safely. And I suppose it was one grand voyage. Maybe it wouldn’t have suited you so well, but I should much rather have been there than Clara. I’m sure you would not have seen the beauties of the night if Clara had been there. Everybody ask [s] if we have heard from you, and now we are anxiously awaiting your diary of that trip.

I must tell you about conference. It was Saturday, Sunday & Monday in S.L. Daddy & Helen were down. I am sure Winnie will tell you all about the Sunday broadcast. It was nationwide in the morning. The congregation sang “How Firm a Foundation.” Pres. McKay then spoke on the subject. “He who loses his life shall find it.” Then Pres. Clark spoke on “Faith, belief & knowledge.” Pres. Grant then read from the D&C. The congregation sang

 “An Angel from on High.” Then “Doxology.” It was very inspiring. All the meetings were very good, but Mon. morning Pres. Grant called Bro Stoof from S. America to the stand. Well, that was the grandest talk of the whole conference. Several have said so. It was thrilling. He was so full of the spirit. If there are many there like him I shall not worry about you.

I better give you the local news next.  Let me see. Aunt Edna is in the hospital. She was operated on for appendicitis. Spring is coming—slowly, slowly. The snow banks are still here, but the moisture is gradually going into the ground. Daddy has had to buy more hay. Helen has a lovely new Spring outfit. She surely looks well in it. School isn’t like it was when Mr. Law was here. Not the same spirit at all. Oh- and old Tenet passed to the happy hunting grounds. Maeser suggested a funeral & place in the garden for burial, but of course that couldn’t be. Losses last week-- 1 horse, 1 cow—2 calves. Mustn’t let that happen very often or we will be in the red. The wind blows cold every evening & the nights are frosty.

Better that than floods, tho.’ I ran out of other paper but must finish this & get it off in the morning. I haven’t written to Win this week & I must tonight. Our radio is on the blink & you know how I would miss it. I do have to hear the news. There is history being made in the world today.

Have been reading Pres. Ivins “Mormonism & Free masonry." It is very good. You should have read it before you left.

Tomorrow is Good Friday & I must make hot cross buns. Flora and Maeser have candy rabbits on the piano, but if Easter doesn’t hurry they wont’ have any feet or ears. Nobody touches them, of course.

Tuesday was Flora’s birthday & she had a party. Of course the presents were the principal things about the party. I think birthday parties & showers (gimmie parties) should be abolished. Oh dear, the sun is far in the West & I must get my clothes in. That is usually a job I have to do on the day I write to you isn’t it. I still scramble over drifts to hang them out. Such a scrambled letter. I am not much good on news & I am not like Win. I don’t have interesting experiences doing my work like she does.

The man & wife that Dallas converted are here. They came from Maine in a ten year old car. The woman weights 325 lbs, quite an addition to the ward.

Here it is seven a.m. This letter isn’t finished and it must go off. I told some of the others to write but they haven’t done it.

Another beautiful sunshiny day. And I hope the snow goes into the ground all day. It is surprising how much the earth can soak up.

Sunday is Easter, and Maeser has  made a chicken from a boiled egg. Put feathers for tail & side wings, nose & comb on it. He is quite original.

Dear dear me. I shall have to listen to the radio or tell you something I have read pretty soon. I am so poor on news. I guess we better cut out the news items and send them to you.  But they don’t amount to very much.

They just got the Laketown road open Tuesday. It has been closed for over two weeks. The mail went horseback.

Well I must come to an end and get this off to you, or one week may pass without a letter and you wouldn’t like that, would you. Have you been homesick at all. I hope not. Work hard and time will fly fast. They spoke of the exceptionally fine men they had sent there to preside over those missions.  Surely do hope you enjoy your work there.

Maeser is spelling aloud & it surely mixes me up so will close for this time. We think of you so much and now somebody always stands up for you if any of your foolish ways are mentioned. Well try to write earlier in the week & surely hope it wont be long before we hear from you. Love & kisses and Heavens’ blessings we all wish for you my dear. Lovingly, Mother