Dear Hattie,

We received your postcard and two letters this week, and thank you for the congratulation in the letter from yesterday.

As every year, we had a gathering from de brothers in the evening and from the aunts during the day. Tante Martha was here 9 o'clock in the morning already, and so one after the other, till half pass ten in the evening when we closed the door after the last one.

Of course nothing but a very busy day for momma.

Ohae dit not come for dinner because she dit not feel very well, but John and Aijs where [were] here for dinner.

We are glad to see in your letter you like it so well, and the Pon familie is so friendly to you n Dora.

I suppose you get the postal from Sister Tena, dit'n you? She was proud she could write you ones. Today was the last day of school. Tena from uncle Pete who was here today to give Tena her lesson, said Albert had a Poster Diploma; is'n that nice?

Momma is planting astors before it gets dark (half pas seven); she get them from the lady next door.

I think by this time have you seen the different partys you intended to visit. I bet Mrs. Spriets ma dit not know you no more.

Well Hattie if you and Dora leeve there Saturday night as you intendet to than I will be on the pier to help you with your satchel Sunday morning.

Kisses from momma and Tena, also from me and hope you will enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Your loving pa,
Eelman

P.S. Our best regards to Mr. And Mrs. Pon and Dora

• An attempt was made to transcribe the letter with spelling and grammar exactly as it was to provide a better sense of the language and spelling of the times.
• Particularly interesting was the wording about Martha Vanderkloot. "Tante Martha was here 9 o'clock in the morning already, and so one after the other". It does sound as if Martha came a bit earlier than they had planned.
• There are several words where it was difficult to read the old script and another reader may be able to do better. Particularly difficult were unfamiliar names. They key ones are: Ohae dit not come for dinner because she dit not feel very well, but John and Aijs where [were] here for dinner;the Pon familie is so friendly; and I bet Mrs. Spriets ma. If you know any of these let me know.

• The first Tena mentioned must have been the daughter of John and Jannetje Eelman. Her birth name was Trijntje but it appears that several families began using Tena as an English equivalent for Trijntje. I do not know what year Tena was born, but it does appear that she was just learning to write.
• The second Tena mentioned would be Trijntje Vanderkloot, born August 20, 1890, and daughter of Peter and Bertha. She would have been 15 at the time of the letter. The Albert mentioned would have been the son of Peter and Bertha. Albert was born April 29, 1893 and would have been 13 at the time of the letter. Perhaps the diploma was from elementary school.
• Given the mention of the pickup at the pier in Chicago and an overnight trip, Hattie could be visiting friends and relatives in Michigan or Wisconsin

• Go to the Tanis Story Outline
• Go to the Vanderkloot Story Outline
• Go to the Tanis Initial Page
• Go to the Vanderkloot Intial Page