My friend and I did a full transcript of the letter tonight while trying to remain true to how it was written. Here is the transcript with sectioning for the envelope it was in, and the different pages of the letter. Please note there were a lot of grammar and spelling errors from the writer and we have left those in place for this version. I hope you find it as thrilling to read as we did. I never could have ever imagined finding something this cool under the floor!:

Front of Envelope:

Stamp says:

“Hood River, Oregon Mar 28 5.30pm 1909”

Addressed:
Miss. Verna Meuller
Ellensburg, Washington

3 Ben Franklin Stamps Green in color

Back of Envelope:

G.W.A.K.

Stamp says:

“Ellensburg, Washington Mar 29 2pm 1909”

{American Flag Postal Ink Stamp}

Letter:

Page 1:

Hood River Ore
Mar. 28, 09.

Hello Kido

My Dear Verna

I received your letter a few minutes ago and was very glad to hear from you.

For god sake Dear don’t let Ida get any more of your letters

And I tell you Dear if she jumps me about writting to you I will give her the 23 dam quick two because she has got no buyness opening your letters has she pet

I hate it about her getting

Page 2:

a hold of that one. For I had things in it that I dident want anybody to know but you. I told you in that letter that if you want to come down here that I would see that you would have a place to eat and a place to sleep, and if you want to go to work I will look out for a job for you in a Resterant or Hotel waiting on tables can you sling hash

If you want to come dear

Page 3:

you can ramble with me and we can live to this mota S.H.

We are ramblers and gamblers
And far from our homes
Those that don’t like us can let us alone
We will eat when we are hungry
An drink when we are dry
If whiskey don’t kill us
We will live to till we die
Beleave me SH I am the      HA HA
rambling kid when I get started to rambling.

If you want to come Dear pack your grip and Ramble
buy a ticket to Pasco then take

Page 4:

the NO Bank RR to Dalles then cross the River to the Dalls
Then you can come down to Hood River on the boat or Train.
The fair will cost about $10.00 and if you can’t get the money Dear, And want to come and see your old Boy, I will send you a ticket as soon as I get a little money a head I will see that you won’t have to go back ether unless you want to
I feel as tho I might as

Page 5:

well make a living for you Sweet Heart as some sporting woman the way I have been doing for the last ten years.

Dear I won’t have my pictures taken till the first of the month


I sopose Ida is still on her year and hoter than hell at you well if she don’t like it she can lump it

When I first got acquainted with Ida I went to see her for over 4 months

Page 6:

and alway treated her like a lady. Then she turned me down and wouldent even ans my letters that I wrote her I alway had a cozey little corner in my heart for her but she tore it out, and she can’t put it back

For you have got one there instead S.H. Ha Ha

I am still working and work dam hard to putting in from 12 to 15 hours a day and am

Page 7:

(SIDE NOTE AT TOP OF PAGE)ans as soon as you get this Sweet Heart for I am in a hurry to hear from my Verna Dear. (END SIDE NOTE)

just all in every night But maby every day will be Sunday by and by. You want to over look all my trobles that I write, for I may not have any to write about someday so I want to get the benefits of them while I can HA HA

Well I will have to close for the time Baby Dear

With all my love and many Kisses for my S.H.

For Ever You Honey Boy
Ans soon.       G. Purdin

NEW LETTER SAME ENVELOPE

Page 8:

Hello Kido,                         2.10PM
I haven’t mailed your letter yet so will scribe a few more lines

When you write tell me what Ida has got to say for her self I not going to write to her till shes write and then will let on as tho I hadent wrote a word to you and if she says anything about it well tell her to go squar to Hell for she hasent treated

Page 9:

me write has she dear she hasent ans my last letter yet. and I wrote it six weeks ago
How is the weather up there today. It is sure fine here now and has been every sense Ive been here
Well I haven’t said much this this letter but made it as long as I could HA HA

By By Lovee Dove
Lots of love and many KISSES

Geo

BACK SIDE OF PAGE 9:

PS
You Neadent worry about that letter Baby Dear
I guess there was nothing in there that would hert her if there is you tell her to go to Hell for me
No Kido I dident send no picture in that letter

By By
Lots of L and many Kisses
Geo