Page 1]
Dear Samuel I should think by this time
you may think I have no principal [principles?] or that
I am not intend [intending?] to send you your money
but do not for I am in grief thinking of it
every day if the pannick [panic?] had not come so
hard in this country I would have sent it long
since but with the assistance of God I will
send it as soon as I can of course you should
have had it long before now but please do not
be uneasy for I am sure but the times made
to get along in for this last 2 or 3 years but
we expect it will get better this summer
Stonecutting is pretty [pretty?] hard work in this country
I am working at marble at the present
[Page 2]
The short and true way is I had
but a poor errand out to this
country with the kind of crowd
I had with me the name Ferguson
is only a nickname for them
I never expect 5 cents of all the
children I raised but many a
thousand dollars the [they?] have cost
me since I came here as well
As before I caim [came?] out here
[Page 3]
I send this to you but
Do not let Elisa Jane
be riting [writing?] any thing of
this back I have trouble
enough this is but a small
volum [volume?] of my trouble since
I came here not but I could
had money plenty if I had
come out to this country by
myself I could went home
now and bought a deed
Johnny is like his uncle
David Cahoon he is another
profligate and his wife
has to keep him bound
to the peace all for
whisky the [they?] are no better
than Pady [Paddy?] McCallen
or George ban
[Page 4]
This is a few lines to let you
Know how I am situated in
This country do not rite [write?]
In your letters anything about
This Johny is boarding with
His uncle Davidthis three
Months of coursr that is no
Loss to me Robert McShane
Is there to [too?] neither of the three
Could spare any money
Close [clothes?]
But spend it all in whisky
You would think a pity of
Meriagh [Maria?] she has a miserable
Life she does not belong
To any church.
