John Ferguson, Philadelphia to Dear Friends or [?]
[Page 1] Philadelphia 28th March 1872 Dear Friends We received your kind letter this morning we thought great long on account of not getting any letters from any of you this while back We thought that the letters had went astray on account of us moving from other Street and I went to the State house looking after letters that I saw advertised but the [they?] were not for me but we got three this morning one from yous [you?] one from Castletown and one from roosky so I am just sending one to each of yous [you?] today Hoping this will reach you all in good health as the [they?] have us at present I have not been very well this month but I think it was on account of the severe cold but I am well now and I intend to go to work on Monday The work is but starting here yet the [they?] cannot get stone in here until the frost clears of it has to come about 50 or 60 miles by Boting {boating?] You tell me that Joseph McFarlane is coming out here and likewise that you have had a very soft winter there it is quite to the reverse here it has been pretty hard here [Page 2] I might say freezing all the time since November but the Spring has opened this week and I expect the winter is over This is a nice sunshine day Joseph had a nice time at home I wish he may have as nice here a man that has no traid [trade?] here has got to earn his money pretty hard The summer is so hot and the winter is cold and perhaps having to go from 4 to 6 miles to their work That comes pretty hard on a greenhorn coming in here. I do not mean to discourage any one of coming out here There is plenty of money to be earned here if a young man is steady and sober and has good health you mention of sending a parcel with him to me but if you do send it in Josephs name and not in my name as it would be taken from him in Castlegardens Let him say that it is his own and not for any other person but for his use You want to know if the Drawers I had from home was of use here the [they?] are better than any I could get here many a strange report dose [does?] be sent home out of this country all the Difference [Page 3] Is the [they?] require to be made large as the washing of them so often shrinks them in and the soap in this country is greatly adulterated with rosin I had heard about 2 months ago of Uncle David Dunbar has died in a letter that Charles Hamilton got from Alexander Mcglaughlin Plumbridge I have not seen Uncle Mick Dunbar since I sent you word if you or any of the Friends wants to rite [write?] to him his Address is 316 Redwood Street Philadelphia It is a long distance from me I am glad to hear that you have got a quiet horse I hope he will turn out useful Dear Mother I hope you have quit thinking long after us the Lord has endowed us with a blessing of good health here and we have every reason to be thankful although we are at a distance we have the opportunity Of riting[writing?] to each other which gives great satisfaction I believe Sunday First Is easter Sunday our little ones will expect to hold it the same as at home Hoping William Alexander enjoyed himself the same [Page 4] Johnny left the man he was with last week he was not doing according [according?] to contract he is with another man this week and boards with us but he is looking out for another kind of situation as soon as possible David is in the store and Mary Ann and Seragh is in the same places but we intend to bring them home soon and put them to a trade that is to operate on a stitching machine and the [they?] will then be at home and can assist their mother and make some money the small pox is very plenty in this city it is at present next door to us and one of the men died last week The [they?] are coloured people and 3 families in one house Charles Hamilton & his wife comes to see us regular and Mitilda and I went to see them last week Ellen Speers daughter has got married about a month ago her husbands name is Park. I saw him one day in Samuel Carsons and Magy was there So they appear to be sparkling he is a friend to Maria Darragh the wedding held in Robert Hamiltons and Charles and Seragh was at the wedding they had about 40 guests Write us an answer as soon as you receive this Yours truly John FergusonClose