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Philadelphia May10th 1875
Dear Joseph and Elisa Jane I send
these few lines to let you know
we are all in good health at present
thank God for his kindness to us
Hoping this will reach yous[you?] enjoying
the home blessings I suppose you
think by this time I have forgot
to rite [write?] yous [you?] but I have not
I rote [wrote?] a letter to my sister Mary Anne
after Maggy [Maggie?] died and I stated
in it I would send one soon to you
but I was waiting to hear some
news about Maggies children I
had some letter from Elsa Carson
from New York and gave us the true
account of how Sammy was getting
along he put them into the
Friendlys home and he was gowing [going?]
throo [through?] the city like a street roudy [rowdy?]
and ridiculing us after all we done
for him it has cost me many a dolar [dollar/]
since he came to this country but
I am now all right again
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I had got a job of work for him
when I am working at 12 dollars
per week but he would not stay
he would gow [go?] to New York it is
better for me to [too?] he was bold
enough to rite [write?] a letter to me
last week to see if the [there?] were
any letter sent from home to
him in my care but the [there?] were
none I never answered it nor never
will loose 5 cents with him any
more he makes apopalogises [apologies?] of being
in trouble about the children but
the [there?] never was as mean a man
crossed the Atlantic we are thankful
to God for his kind mercies of taking
poor unfortunate magy [Maggie?] out of bondage
he rites [writes?] to me that his brother John
has win [won?] the Lawsuit with hacket
and that he will soon have plenty
of money you will please send me
word how the lawsuit went if John
has any money he might as well sit
down and drink it as send it to him
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I herd [heard?] the children was [were?] put in the
institute for three months but I
now [know?] that when the [they?] are in he never
will trouble himself about them
any more he rites [writes?] to me that he
is in Duches County that is about
two hundred miles from New York
as regards ourselves I am working
since Febuary [ February?] it is about 6 miles
but I can gow [go?] and come by the street cars
I do not leave home to 7 oclock in
the morning and I stop work at
a half past 5 I am working by the
foot I generaly [generally?] make from 24
to 25 dollars per week it is cutting
marble Johnny is working and David
is at present cook on a steamer
from Philadelphia to Baltimore he
comes to see us every trip once a
week Mary Anne is learning to
operate on a sewing masheen [machine?] last
week and she is under pay this
week one week dose [does?] to learn and
she thinks she will do better than
living out
2541 Galloway Street
below Federal St written upside down at bottom of page
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Seragh [Sara?] is steady in the same place
Catherine helps her mother to get along
in the house and the 2 little boys
gow [go?] to school we are glad to hear
of your being in good health I had
a letter today from my sister Mary Ann
We send our kindest respects to her
and all the family I hope my dear
mother is restored to good health
again I will rite [write?] next to them and
that will be soon I hope you will not
be so long riting [writing?] for we are always
happy when we hear from yous [you?] and let us
now{know?] how yous [you?] are getting along and what
kind of crops you are putting in this season
I understand the weather is favourable there
give our kind respects to Mr. James Colhoun wife
and family and to my enquiring friends Please
excuse this letter I am hurrying at present
I will send you a longer one the next
Your mother stands it pretty well but
she is often complaining with a pain in
her side the weather is not got hot here yet
No more at present but remain your
affectionate Father & Mother J and M Ferguson
