A Fun Read

I want to share a fun book with you ladies called "Letters of a Woman Homesteader" by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. It's a series of letters she wrote to her former employer, Mrs. Coney, when she makes the decision to move out of the crowded Denver city, all the way to Burnt Fork, Wyoming to be a woman homesteader with just her young daughter by her side.

She places an add in the paper in hopes of becoming a rancher's housekeeper in order to get to the country so she can file a claim for her own homestead. She's successful in finding a job and filing on her own claim, I won't tell you anymore so that I can't spoil any bits of her story. Her writing style is what makes the book so enjoyable to read, but I really enjoyed the book as another woman living out on the prairie. It's a fast read since its broken up into letters and her descriptions of life and experiences as a woman homesteader are amazing.

Here's a little taste from her first letter as she describes her new  Scottish employer Mr. Stewart:

"...Mr. Stewart sat upon a stack of baggage and was dreadfully concerned about something he calls his "Tookie," but I am unable to tell you what that is...Once Mr. Stewart asked me if I did not think it a "gey duir trip." I told him he could call it gay if he wanted to, but it didn't seem very hilarious to me. Every time the stage struck a rock or rut Mr. Stewart would "hoot," until I began to wish we would come to a hollow tree...so he could go in with the rest of the owls."

"At last we "arriv," and everything is just lovely for me...Mr. Stewart is absolutely no trouble, for as soon as he has his meals he retires to his room and plays on his bagipe, only he calls it his "bugpeep." It is " The Campbells Are Coming," without variations all day long and from seven till eleven at night. Sometimes I wish they would make haste and get here already."

There is also a movie based on the book called "Heartland". I think I may just have to add it to my Netflix queue and see if its as good as the book.