John & Matilda Ferguson, Philadelphia to Joseph & Elisa Jane
[Page 1] Philadelphia September 19th 1875 Dear Joseph & Elisa Jane I once more take the opportunity of sending these few lines to yous [you?] to let yous [you] know we are all well at present thank God for his kindness to us hoping this will reach yous [you?] all the same I had a letter from my sister some time back she told me yous [you?] was about to rite [write?] soon but I think perhaps yous [you?] must have forgot we feel happy to hear of yous [you?] living well and likewise of having a good promising crop this season I hope you will have a good harvest to procure it your aunt said in her letter that she heard that Samuel McNickle had got home the week before she rote [wrote?] but I understand he is in America yet your aunt Elisa Carson was on to see us for a week the first of this month She told us he was out some where in the County she sent his sister Mary Anne 2 dolars [dollars?] to pay his fair [fare?]out [Page 2] and he wrote a letter to Mary Anne to send him money to buy some clothing but she would not she said she thought so much shame of him when he was in the city but it is not worth to say anything of him any more as regards ourselves we are all at work although business is very dull this summer I had plenty to do this summer I had a job that lasted for five months it was finished the 1st August I then got another that continued for one month & the man I was working the first has started to build 26 houses and I am with him again I work by the foot and that is better than day work I can make from 25 to 30 dollars per week I leave home about 7 o'clock in the morning and it takes one hour and a half to go to where I work in the street cars and the same in the evening that costs 13 cents per day Johnny is always in the same work and David and Willy is working [Page 3] in a box factory Mary Anne is making shirts and her mother Seragh is in the same place She went to New York with her aunt and enjoyed herself for 8 days she came back last week and went to her place again She told us she red [read?] a letter that you sent to your aunt Elisa and we were glad to hear of your being well Little Willy is verry [very?] sausy [saucy?] [sonsy?] coming home every Saturday with his pay 3 dollars per week his work is light it was over 200 dollars loss to me by McNickle ever coming to this country but the Lord was favourable to me I had the best job ever I had for making money this summer at the same time it is hard to work for money to pay it away for another we wish yous[you?] much happiness of your young son hoping he will grow in grace We think a great dale [deal?] of long to have a leter from yous [you?] please rite [write?] us a letter as soon as you receive this I have a mind to move before the winter further up in the city so as to be nearer to my work but we will always get your letter [Page 4] Thomas and wife & child is well he comes to see us every Sunday we send our best respects to Mother I am glad to hear of her having prety [pretty?] good health owing to her age in this world and to Samuel and Mary Anne and little Willy I suppose he is not little now he is getting to be useful to Father & Mother your mother and I stands out pretty well but our hair is getting pretty grey but that is in regards to the climate we had a nice summer here it was not extreme hot except some weeks once in a while and now the fall weather is pretty much the same as yous [you?] have there send us a long letter and send all the news I will rite [write?] a letter to my Mother soon but when I rite [write?] to you they can get the news and when I rite [write?] to them yous [you?] can have the same No more at present but remaining your affectionate Father & Mother John & Mitilda Ferguson As far as I can understand the laidy [lady?] in New York Mrs Blackers has Maggies little laidy[lady?]Close