Letter from Mitilda Ferguson & Sarah Ferguson, Philadelphia to Eliza Steel
[Page 1] Phila. Nov,9th 1877 Dear Sister Eliza We received your ever welcome letter which we were thinking much long for we were very sorry for your loss & trouble which you met with but we ought to feel thankful for our own health & life we were very glad to hear of you being well and able to get around again & hope your increasment will be much comfort to you Dear Sister you talk of us going home & going into business the only thing is that it would cost a great deal to get us there & I think it will be a long time before we get there as we cannot think of such a thing yet times here Eliza are not like what the[they?] used to be but I hope they will be better. Johnny is working in the oil works & David is in the country a farmer & Mary is still shirt making & Kate is working home with Mother & I have had nothing scarce to do all summer Uncle David & Aunt Maria & family is well and doing well only he drinks so heavy he is talking of going home very often ---but that is like every thing else Sister Aunt Eliza is well & writes occasionally to mother She still lives in New York she talks of going home she thinks she will do better there than here & I agree sister it costs to [too?] much to dress in this country to save any thing I must close this is my first but not my last I hope when you write let us have a long one it has to come so far & you write so short a one you give me no news Dear sister Mother still continues Page 2 in the Groceries business She is not very strong in ability now She has kept us all ever since papa died it is a change, Sister brother Thomas & family are well and doing very well but like many others he is all for himself. He has not a large family & business is improving every year he has a grand house of his own but if so that he knows how to take care of it & worked for it brother Samuel has been with him scince[since?] papas death he clothes him & schools him & will learn a great deal of business in being with him he is as good a boy as there is living Sister I wish we were all at home again I liked it out here a great deal better when we first came here than I do now the wages is not paid that used to be neither to boys or girls & work is very scarce when you write again Mother says you must let her know if Jenny & Mary. A. Colhoun is still living in the same place & mention to her of all the neighbours it is a long distance & so you might give us some news I wish I were talking with you in place of writing I would tell you a great deal more Christmas will soon be with us now it is a grand day here Christmas here is celebrated in this way by giving presents & getting & also a feasting day I hope some Christmas we will all be together if I write all Mother wants me I would write all day I close by sending our love to Grandma & Aunt Mary A & Uncle & cousin Willie I know they must take it very hard of Papas death remember us to all our old accquaintence [acquaintances?] & friends I close we all send our love & waiting for a immediate reply Good by [written at top of page] from your sister Sarah & your loving Mother till death write soon let Uncle Sam know Charles Park & family are all well doing sis sister never have the luck to come out hereClose