Matilda Ferguson, Philadelphia, to Eliza Jane Steele
[Page 1] March 21st 1880 Dear Elisa Jane I sit down to right [write?]the few lines to you when I am just my lone the most of my family has gone to church the [there?] are Church three or fore [four?] times a week here Dear Daughter I think it strange that you do not think more on me nor you apeere [appear?] to do or you would right [write?] oftener nor you do and let me know how yours are getting [getting?] along in that poor country as we here [hear?] are dying with hunger in the most part of Irland [Ireland?] we take the newspaper every morning it is lamentable to here [hear?] of such Afair [affairs?] and the like never was known in irland [Ireland?] before the[they?] are lifting money here every day the [they?] are sending home thousands of dolars [dollars?] [Page 2] I hope and trust in the almighty God that it has not reached your hearth [heart?] yet as soon as you read this right [write?] and let me know how yours are geting [getting?] along for I feel so uneasy about yous [you?] I hope that when this reaches you that you will be in good health as this leaves us in at present only myself I have got a cold and rhumaism [rheumatism?] pains all threw[through?] me I cannot expect to be as strong as I was Dear Elisa if you and Joseph was here you could make money plenty or any one that is that is steady the [they?] say there never was beter [better?] times seen in America nor will be this summer A man wages has advanced and work is plenty but I would not like to advise yous [you?] to come for fare [fear?] of the danger of the sea [Page 3] but I only trust in the Lord to see yous[you?] here you would not be working for nothing when you right [write?] let me know how Samuel Park and sister Mary Ann and Willy and grandmother is doing or if the [they?] are all well I rote [wrote?] to them a good while ago but got no answer I think I tstrange the[they?]would not right [write?] I have moved to another place but I did not keep store I was not able to stand to it I was so poorly but I intend to open store soon when the weather gets fine Johnny is at home with me now has twelve dollars [dollars?] per week but he can spend a good bit of it Mary is allwaies [always?] sowing [sewing?] at home and Kate is working in the store She has four dollars [dollars?] per week and Samuel is working in the mill he has four Dolars [dollars?] [Page 4] Sary [Sara?] is allways [always?] in the country She comes in every 6 months to see me She has nice time of it she is well liked with the people she is with 6 lines illegible David and his wife is well He works to his father in law he has property and is well off I have not heard any news of your aunt Eliza and I think it strange of her not righting [writing?] to me Uncle David Colhoun and family is well the [they?] live near to me and near to all her people Mary Ann and her cousin Elisa Colhoun was spending one evening with Bela [Bella?] Written along sides and top of page Write soon good by and may God bless you all hope I will see yous [you?]here yet for I believe I will get well soon.Close