VERNACULAR 1879 MAINE LETTER HANDWRITTEN 4 PAGES WITH SMALL DRAWING OF FISHERMAN AND AMUSING ILLUSTRATION OF “CLEAR STREAM” WITH TWO FISHERMAN BEING ATTACKED BY MOSQUITOES

[VERNACULAR 1879 MAINE LETTER HANDWRITTEN 4 PAGES WITH SMALL DRAWING OF FISHERMAN AND AMUSING ILLUSTRATION OF "CLEAR STREAM" WITH TWO FISHERMAN BEING ATTACKED BY MOSQUITOES] HANDWRITTEN LETTER dated August 8, 1879, 4 pages with illustration titled "Clear Stream" on page 4, 5" x 8" one sheet as folded, in part with text uncorrected, "Dear absent Brother and Sister, i now take my pen in hand to send you a few lines…We air [are] all well…i have been a clamin [clamming] 2 times…I have down to the Sea Shore 4 times…Caly [?] has been a huckleberin…how do you get a long hayin…have you bin a fishin…the Steamboat runs hear Sunday the same as she does threw the week…Would you like to go a fishin [small drawing of man with fishing rod with fish on the end of it]…i went and caned it [load of picked berries] over in Biddeford [ME]…give us a call when you go West…[start of page 4 below "Clear Stream" drawing in different, clearer handwriting] Dear absent brother and sister, As John has not filled this letter all out, I thought I would…tell Cat that the [?] begins at Alton Bay [NH] the 9 day of September [ends at top of first page] from your sister Caroline A. Gen—- [?]"; NOTE: mention of towns of Biddeford, Me, and Alton Bay, NH, about 50 miles apart, plus clamming, seashore, berry picking, and the illustrations of mosquitoes identified the letter as being from Maine; ALTON BAY, NH: Alton Bay is home to the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center, a Christian retreat center and campground organized in 1863 (as the Second Advent Camp Meeting and incorporated as the Alton Bay Camp Meeting Association in 1876). It continues its year-round ministry by hosting retreat groups, summer camps, concerts, speakers, and summer residents (who live there and participate in the services of the Association) (wikipedia) /// CONDITION: handwriting occasionally illegible, some small scattered spots of age-toning, small hole pages 3/4, folds as mailed (no envelope), about 3/4" tear at lower fold page 1/2. keywords: New England, handwritten letter, ephemera, folk art.