Page1
Philadelphia October 6th 1872
Dear Joseph & Elisa Jane I once
more lift my pen to rite [write?] to yous [you?]
Hoping this will reach you in
good health as it leaves us at
present we are prety [pretty?] well
now but David was poorly for
3 weeks with fever and egy? But he
is well and to work this 2 weeks
and Thomas have the same disease
at that time but is better Martha
is ill at the present with the
same it is very common in the
city at present it is not smital
but it comes at the fall the
weather is so changeable here
this day may be so warm you
could scarcely bare [bear?] and the next
would be extreme cold your
Mother is more delicate this summer
than last but since the weather is
got cool she is more stronger and
still able to run around.
Page 2
I had a letter from your aunt
lately She tells us you have a good
crop on the Camp hill this summer
which we were glad to hear and
we hope you had a favourable
harvest to save it as regards
myself I have good health all
Summer and has been steady to work
The man I was working for burst
in August last he has 25 dolars [dollars?]
from me I do not now [know?] whether
I will get it or not the laws
here is not the same as at home
There is no way to recover it
I lost a good bit o fmoney
last summer the same way
Mary Anne was at home all summer
She is going to be child nurse and
waiter in a gentlemans house as
tomorrow at 2 Dolars [dollars? ] and 75 cents
per week and Seragh is with a
Presbyterian Clergyman and has
2 Dolars [dollars?] per week
Page 3
She has nothing to do but
to take cqre of a baby of 3 years
old and her mistress is very
fond of her and is learning her
how to make her dresses and
just to sit with her in her
sitting room I hope yous [you?] will
excuse me for not riting [writing?] sooner
but I hope yous [you?] will not be
still waiting for an answer but
rite [write?] to us for sometimes I be
disappointed but not wilfully
Your uncle and Aunt Carson
Is here from New York this summer
But the [they?] intend to gow [go?] back next
month your uncle has 87 Dolars [dollars?]
per month but he will not stay
He says he can have more in
New York We had Miss McFarland
From Droit to see us last week
But she cannot give much news
Of that country
Page 4
My children did not stop with
me long here Thomas stayed but
a short time and Johnny has work
to himself he is not with me
this summer he is driving a team
of horses delivering ale through
the city he has not been here this
good while although his work is
about 2 squares from us
Excuse this short letter I intend
to get our likeness taken soon
and I will send one to each of
yous [you] Give our best respects to
Mr. and Mrs Keel and family
hoping the [they?] are all well and to
James Colhoun and Wife hoping
the [they?] are well Let us know if yous [you?]
have got any more of McCallins
land please rite [write?] soon and let us
hear all the news Your most
Affectionate Father & Mother
John & Mitilda Ferguson
