[Page 1]
[Phila April 1882]
My Dear Daughter Eliza
In answer to your letter I take my first
opportunity to let you know how we
are all getting along. I have had a
very sevir [severe?] turn of sickness I lay all
last summer under the doctors care
& that is why I did not get your
letter answered before. I was very sorry
to hear of your own health being so
very poor but hope you have recovered
strength times have been very dull
here this winter & my Johnny Willie
Sam have been all out of work
I depended on Sarah & Kate so
you see I am left scarce of money
& my Doctor bills were not small
if it were in my power I feel it
would be my duty & delight to
send you a nice present but
[Page 2]
I think times will change & I often
wish I were near you that I could
no [know?] your ailments when you write
You must let me know what your
complaint is I received a letter from
Mary Ann & she has been sick a couple
of weeks she is going to ???
with the firm she works for she
is coming to see us this evening
I hope she does I wish you were near
enough to come to see us too I am
expecting aunt Eliza on a visit
in a few weeks. he stranges that
you never wrote to her Annie
Mellon is well & Uncle David &
family they send their love
dear Daughter I am very
frail & not able for much
business like I used to be
since I have been sick I am
no more than able to get around
[Page 3]
the house any more but I try
to keep up. Thomas & wife is well
& David & wife is well she
is near her confinement.
she lives with Uncle David
We are all close to each
other I am intending to move
now in a short time & I hope
when this reaches you it
will find you in better
health Aunt Betty is still
living & cousin Eliza & well
wishes to be remembered
to you Dear Daughter I send my best
respects to your grandmother and Aunt
Mary Ann and Uncle Sam and Willy
hoping that the[they?] will not fail in righting[writing?]
a loving leter [letter?] to me as I like to here [hear?]
how the[they?]are getting along Dear Elisa I do
not keep the store any more I am not
able to atend [attend?] to it I loosed [lost?] a good bit
of mony[money?] it is all trust here The[they?] may
pay or the [they?] may not the [there?] are no law to recover your money
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Dear Elisa I griev [grieve?]very much
about your health being so bad
Gods will must be done he has
his own way of Drawing us to him
thanks and glory be to his mercy for
everything Dear daughter
illegible line
they would, It is a good thing that
he has showed you the right rode [road?]
to the heavenly world where there
will be no surferngs [sufferings?] their [there?] well Elisa
health is the preachers welth [wealth?] I think
you are foolish to kill yourself for
you should keep a girl if the times
is for health before wealth I am
informed that you are so much for this
world wealth that you worked to [too?] hard
and that is the cause of your bad health
I all the time thought I would see yous [you?]
over here but if we do not meet on earth
I hope we will meet in heaven I send
my best respects to Joseph and that I
send goodby and may God bless you
all I wish to here [hear?] how my friends and
neighbours is getting along
written upside down at top of page 4
{right [write?] soon do not delay as I have done
I was waiting to see if the times would
mend}
written along side of page 3
{in this country mens work has been dull this winter}
written upside down across pages 2 and 3
and wages small and provisions very dear buter [butter?] 50 to 60 cents per pound eggs 2.50 per dozen potoes [potatoes?] 24 c half bag beef 25 and 30 per pound Everything in proportion to that so a poor man he has no show to save money
