Dear Sister Eliza
Your letter on
the 9th which gave us much
pleasure to hear from you all once
more dear sister one reason for
not writing to you is only neglect
not but what we think of you
enough Mother is filled with all
kinds of trouble it is too bad
she has had nothing more than
sorrow since fathers death
Johnny is still drinking &
spending his money does not
help her at all in fact she has
to provide for him in place of him
helping her. Willie is still a
comfort to her he would not
be controlled by her he went
with the boys when work
[Page 2]
was dull & so was led astray
he stayed from home 3 or four
nights & slept out in wagons
and the police caught
him & arrested him they put
him in the house of refuge
that is a very good home for
those that will not be corrected
by parents sister he will be
clothed fed schooled & kept
well & get a good trade that
is if Mother lets him stay till
he is of age she thinks she will
dear sister you understand of
Thomas taken little Sam
to do for him but he thinks its
hard to do that he thought
it would be easier for him to
pay a dollar a week& let her
clothe him & mother agreed to
anything that was fair he
made him do the hardest
[Page 3]
of the work then they got a girl
Bella Graham from the crossroads
that came out her [here?] then they sent
Sam to sleep at home at night
he only lives about half a mile from
from us so he was not feeling
very well one morning& Mama
did not hurry him off till about
a half after 6 or near 7 oclock &
Martha scoulded [scolded?] him & said
he ought to be over there at
a half past 4 or 5 & if he
was with strangers he would
have bigger wages & be treated
better he is home now & mother
will try & get him into a nice
place he is a very good boy
as yet but this county soon
ruins them dear Eliza Mary
is working in the store as
yet she does not make very
much Katie still lives home
[Page 4]
with Mother I have been in a place
this last 6 weeks. I like it very
well& now I will try & help
Mother all I can She kept
me for one year while I was
out of work & none of us was
working she has her rent to pay
& her coal to pay for & her
bills & all these little things
to meet her self & it takes
a great deal of study to know
how to do it with what little
money she has Thomas has
forsaken us entirely because
she will still keep her home&
not break it up she says we are
all his children& she will not
cast us away for him she is
only too kind & I hope God will
reward her if not on earth in
Heaven he has bought his new
horse & carriage & is doing
very well I hope he will continue
[Page 5]
Mother is going to take
a nap she is not well
Sister I must close for I
dont know much more to
give & we will send you
your little request the first
chance we have & we will
all have our picture taken
& send you as soon as we
can Mother & fathers we will
have drawn off an old card
& give you & we hope you
will send yours in return
Aunt Maria & Uncle David &
family is very well & asks
for you Aunt Eliza is very well
and doing very well aunt Betty
& cousin Eliza is very well they
all send their love to you all
give our kindest regards to
all our dear friends &
[Page 6]
wishing them all in very good
health I hope yous[you?] are all well
& doing well it would be our
delight to be near you &
I hope to be some time good
by Mother sends all her kind
love & well wishes to
you all & hope you will
always think of her as she
does you write us a long
letter all the rest of the family
sends their love to you good
by [goodbye?] My love to you
& your husband &little children
Your
loving sister & mother till death
Saidee [Sadie?] Ferguson
2002 Altis St
Dear Sister I may mention all
to you David is still doing for
himself & is away from home he thinks
[Page 7]
no more of mother than if he had none
I think he will find her need
sometime now you see her
trouble & may pity her case
he has not gave her a cent since
fathers death.
good by
dear sister
write soon
Mother says some time she
thinks she will go to
Ireland & live the rest of
her life with you I often hear
her say she thinks she never
will raise any of her children
like you & Maggie when
you write dont mention
any thing I have told you
of Johnny I better keep
writing on you wish to
know if the pain has left
mothers legs yet no the[they?] have
not the[they?] still pain her &
her head is still bad from
Mother left Ireland till Maggie
came here she had no head
[Page 8]
ache but since her death
she is subject to it again
in the summer time Mother
goes with the bare head
well it is very hot here
I hope you will think
this a long enough letter
good by your sister
Saidee [Sadie?]
