ADDRESSED TO:    Mr Bert Stage, Mount Sterling, Madison Co., Ohio

FROM:       A & L Rentschler

Dayton    Ia.    Dec. 6th 1889

Friend Bert

I will try to answer your welcome letter we received the last of August.  We misplaced your letter and didnot find it untill a few days ago so we could not write(,) not knowing your address.  You told us you was married two years ago but we dont think it is to late to wish you joy and hope you have a plesant and happy home.

We live in the same place.  have a claim of 80 acers   a small though comfortable house   have three sons   fatening four Hogs and hae thre to keep over winter.  Crops were very good this year.

I will send you the Dayton Market.    

I supose you know I have to do Andy's writeing so if your wife wants to be even with me she will have to return the compliment   You did not tell us her name¹   Do you live in town   I cannot write very well now for i have a sore hand and arm, has been sore for six weeks.  Andy has been tile ditching   Elmers² came out here again to live but I supose you knew that before this letter reaches you.  He dose not own any land.

I hope this will find you all well and enjoying yourselves   I will bring this scribbling to a close by wishing you and your friends A merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

        from A & L Rentschler

        to Bert Stage & Wife

We send our best regards and hope to hear from you soon

Comment from Dorothy Thurston: The letter from Geo. N. Hecathorn (following) was written on the back of the above letter.

FROM:    Geo. N. Hecathorn, Dayton, S. Iowa, December 6th 1889

Mr. Stage

Dear Sir

I will drip you a few lines and wishing you much joy.  if not to late and in one year a Bouncing Boy

We are haveing Beautiful weather at Preasant

Do you remember the onions at Grandfathers yet³ and little Black Bettie and thats the way I Serve the MarShels   I guess I will Close

Soup Soup

        Write Soon

        Good By From

        Geo. N. Hecathorn

        Dayton, S. Iowa

Notes from the peanut gallery:

1) Helen Augusta (WOOD) STAGE.

2) Elmer Stage?

3) So far I haven't come across anything that links George Hecathorn and Albert Stage with a common grandfather.