Edwin S. Blanke 
Pearce. Arizona
March 17, 1913 

Mr. Theodore L. Blanke
Stratford, Wisconsin 

Dear Brother Theodore:- 

I received your letter a while ago, but am too busy now days. Not in the office,
but on the out side. Yesterday Art took Tillie & Blue & his sister up to the 
Strong-Hold. My frau came up from Courtland and I met her at Pearce and we also 
drove up there. So Tillie & Art both met her. We had a good time. Tillie will 
tell you all about it. They start back in a week, Friday. I am going to 
Tombstone Monday. Have to serve as trial Juror on March & April Court. 

Last night I took her to Courtland. It was 1/4 to 6 when we left the Strong-Hold
and it's 23 miles to Courtland from there one way. I had Blue's saddle horse at 
Pearce and took him along from there & rode back to Pearce. Got here at 12:05 
A.M. Made good time. 

Say, Pat died last week. We had awful cold weather & snow and he got so poor, 
starved, and then got down in the snow & I guess froze. Art had to shoot him. 
Couldn't get him up anymore. $50 lost again. That's fine luck. Cuss (good thing 
no one heard me), but I'll be lucky if no more die. Bell is awful poor too, and 
I haven't any feed. Think this is my last week of this work. When I get through 
at Tombstone, I'll tackle carpenter work again. 

Brown, the bookkeeper here at Pearce, was off last week and I took his place. So
I have kept the books at all the places, and handled the cash. I can handle any 
one of the three jobs. 

Art hasn't plowed much the last two weeks. Horses too poor. Sorry you have such 
a cold house, but we'll all be alright someday. 

Pa and I had a little argument Sunday. He tried to tell me that in Wisconsin the
trees were getting green & grass was green too already and that it was much 
warmer and nicer there than here. This world isn't good enough any more. He will
sure have some GREAT stories & yarns to tell the rest of his life now. 
That fellow, I think, will get through grubbing this week. He clears a few acres
on my desert & 40 acres on Art's homestead. Art is going to clear 40 acres on my
homestead now. No, I didn't go to the wedding Xmas. Couldn't afford it. They got
married & living in Hurley, New Mexico. Courtland mine same as always. Pretty 
good. 10:15 P.M. I'm tired. 

Best regards, 
Your brother 
Edwin