Dear Winnie,
I received your letter the other day. I’m leaving Mowat Lodge and I am going to ask Shannon for the rest of the money. I expect to to get back almost $200 after Shannon takes his amount for my room and board at the Lodge. This should be good to fix things for now.
I won’t be coming back to Huntsville. I am leaving for good, going out West. I know you will be angry but I don’t see any other way. My painting has been good this spring but I can’t seem to do any more here. I’ll send what I’ve got left to Dr. MacCallum. They’re at your cottage with some of my gear. I did see your father a while back. He was up for work. I stayed my distance and he didn’t go out of his way to say anything to me. I figured he knew already. I’m sorry to hear your mother won’t go back to church on my account for bringing shame on the family. Marriage won’t make it right now because the mark will never go away. Billy Bear Lodge wouldn’t take a reservation from me. I know this is rotten but I can’t come back to Huntsville. Your father will put a poker through my skull.
I plan to go to wrap up business here and I leave quietly. In the next days I’ll ask the Dr to send the money to you when he sells my sketches.
Love,
Tom
Tom Thomson's Last Spring 