Ball to Claudet,
CJ letter transcription
[page 1:]
Hyhu Chick-amin Illahee Feb. 26th 1871
Nisika hyas Closhe tilicum Mrs Claudet Nika hyhu sick tumtum mika halo mamook paper copa nika, yarka klun moon nika halo kumtux mika midlight copa mika house, or mika mameloose, spose nika halo kumtux ankuttie mika sick, nika chaco hyhu silex delaite, pe alta misika mox tenas-man papoose wawa, wake closhe Ballie chaco silex copa mika mama. Nika tumtum wake syah cupit cold illahee copa New West? pe mika, pe mika Man clatiwa konamok mika papoose, copa cavern [?], pe nanitch yaka tenas Chuck Brusette, pe mamook muck -a-muck, pe muck-a muck Blandy pe-pop-chuck. – Nika hyhu sick Tumtum. Quanishum quinum pride snow, pe wake syah nika chaco all-the-same hyas long Ice, pe tenas leelee konaway Boston man chaco all the same masatche kamucks.
[page 2:]
Nisika tilicum Elwyn [?] tike mamook hyas closhe wawa copa mika pe mika man, pe nika wawa all-the-same copa mika man pe mika papoose. Spose mika halo mamook paper copa nika delate nika chaco hyhu silex pe nika marsh mika pe halo midlight nisika tilicum. Alta nika wawa Kla-ha-yu tilicum
Nika midlight
HM Ball
[page 1:]
Land of Plenty Gold [?; = Lytton, BC?] Feb. 26th 1871
Our dear friend Mrs [Francis George] Claudet I am sad that you haven't written to me, it’s three months that I haven’t heard [if] you’re alive at your home, or you’re dead, [and] if I don’t hear that you’ve been sick, I’m going to be angry for sure, but now your two boys say, Ballie shouldn’t get mad at you, Mother. I think winter is almost over in New West[minster]? and you, and your husband will go with your children, to the cavern [?], to see that Brusette Creek, and eat, and drink brandy-and-sodas. -- I am very sad. For five Fridays [?] it’s been snowing, and I’ve practically turned into a big icicle, and pretty soon all the Whites will turn into rabid dogs.
[page 2:]
Our friend Elwyn [?] wishes to send best greetings to you and your husband, and I say the same to your husband and your children. If you don’t write to me I will really become very mad and I will cast you off and we won’t be friends. Now I’ll say Good-bye friend
I am
H[enry] M[aynard] Ball
Dave Robertson
Dept. of Linguistics
University of Victoria, BC