From Nancy C. Russell, January 8, 1908, illustrations for stories, Charles M. Russell's health.

[1] Jan. 8, 1908. My dear Mr. Whitney: I am glad you found the “Fighting Cow” be- cause we were kind of worried over itm[sic] ourselves. About a month ago the drawing for “Buffalo Days” came to us. I suppose you have your plates made for you February magazine as you told me in a little note in November that is was to be the frontispiece in your February number. As we had made arrangements with you to have all the originals back it seems strange that that one picture should come before it has been published and none of the others with it and no letter telling us anything about it. I am mighty glad to be able to tell you that Chas is improving every day and in a few weeks more will be able to settle down to work for sure. This has been an idle winter for him so we wont[sic] feel bad when you are able to collect your money so we will come in for a tiny bit as the money question in this part of the country is just about as bad as it is east. Of m[sic] course pictures are a luxury and folks don’t buy them when they haven’t any more money than to buy grub with. This [illegible] urgent that you should pay us now, but as you said appendicitus[sic] comes high and our surgeon I don’t think would object to a little payment on account. I know you are very much disappointed[sic] to [2] My Dear Mr. Whitney find it necessary to postpone your trip to Africa as I am sure you had planned on going and all the things you were going to do while there. But there is one thing, there is another year coming and we will hope that things will be in a better condition so that you can go without leaving things behind you that will worry you while away. O yes, I was going to ask you if you want to see these two stories Chas. is writing now that I told you about, or shall we send them to some other magazine. Of course I would rather you would have them so all of them can go into the book together someday. I hope you are not tired reading this letter, if you are just forgive us and accept our heartiest good wishes , for a happy new year. Yours sincerely,

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-08-15]