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Philadelphia 28th May 1871
Dear Friends I would rote [wrote?] to you sooner but I was
wating [waiting?] to get a letter from Samuel and Magy I got
one from them last week and we received your letter and
[---------?] the week before we ware [were?] glad to here [hear?]
of yous [you?] all being well as regards our helth [health?] we
are all well at present thanks god we have no reason to complain
since we came here the Sunday after we came here Metildas
aunt Mrs Melon came to see us She told me her soonin law
[son-in law?] and his Brother contract buildings and I could
work with them I went next day to see the work I agreed to
work by the foot at 25 cents per foot, I could some days
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dress 20 feet that was 5 dolars [dollars?] I supose [suppose?]
he thought I could make too much he then put me on by the
day at 3 dolars [dollars?] that is the highest pay in the City
and last week he gave me the Charge of the Stonecutters and
to keep the account of the mesurement [measurement] of
what is dressed by the foot I am not sure [-------?] by the work
but I have to be there in time in the morning to set the men
to work we begin at 7 oclock and stop at 6 I have near 3 miles
to gow [go?] to the work but I can gow [go?] by the Street Cars
and come the same for 7 cents these cars run same as the train
from 4 in the morning to 10 at night every 5 minutes the
[there?] are two runs on every street and same as the
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railrode [railroad?] and drawn by 2 horses The stone cutting is
not the same here as at home This house is faced with [------?]
chisel on the face with a tooth chisle [chisel?] but the Stone is
verry [very?] hard I never dressed any stone at home so hard
the hammer I brought was no use the hamers [hammers?]
here are cast steel 3 dolars [dollars?] Price and 3
dolars [dollars?] for a mallit [mallet?] the tools are sold at 40
cents per pound that is 20 pence of your money this man is
allwawys [always?] [lean?] of money and he owes me at
present over 40 dolars [dollars?] if he dose [does?] not pay
it to me this week I will quit the work the [they?] have no
law here to recover money there are no sumensing
[summonsing?] or [-----------?] all you can do is leave the
weather is verry [very?] hot here this last week we cannot
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ware [wear?] blankets on the bed and the [they?] tell me that
it will be twice as hot yet one of our stonecutters stoped
[stopped?] on Friday and some of the masons the sun as
so hot we have a good shade and that keeps of [off?]
the sun Thomas is still at the same work and Johney is
Driving a horse and cart the work is easy at 5 dolars
[dollars?] a week and his board David is in a paper Factory
at 3 dollars [dollars?] for a week but I think I will put him
into a store tomorrow Stores and Cloth shops are not
beneficial for boys here Seragh is doing well She can get
2 dolars [dollars?] now in another place if the man she is
with dose [does?] not give it she will leave Mr Morrow
recommended Johney to where he is carting or I would
not let Seragh stay so long
