Perry Town Aug. 17th 1863
Dear Brother
I sit down to write you a few hasty lines
as Paddy would say, in answer to my last, and hope they
will find you all well we are all pretty at present but
have not been so 9 week ago Joseph had a bad feeling
come on 4 places on his hands 2 on each he went to the Dr [Doctor?]
and had them burned to [?] them back 3 of them
were too far forward one on his left thumb turned out to be
whitlow he got worse and worse untill [until?] he could not
either feed or dress himsef [himself?] you may gues [guess?] what he
suffered he had the 3 lanced in one day the [they?] then commenced
to mend last saturday week he tried to cut
a stick of wood for the first time and had hard work
then today he has commenced to cut his wheat last
week by take it in piece meals he cut his peas, what
an amount of hard work it cost me and it happened
at a time when you might as well look for a
needle in straw as a girl to hire, so I had to get along as
best I could which was poorly enough I assure you, the
children have had a something like influenza or a
bad cold which is all round here at present it affects
their eyes some, they too are recovering, thank God.
On the 19th of May I wrote you a
letter requesting an immediate answer If you have
recieved [received?] and are well in health you are treating
us very badly I can hardly think that you got it
I wrote you a long letter and inside the envelope
I put a scrap requesting the lend of 50£ for 2 or 3
years requesting you to name the time and your
terms and if you could not lend it either immediately
or not at all to let me know as quickly as possibly
Joseph has got a chance of buying 100 acres of land very reasonable
but needs a little money just now to make a start
with he can get plenty to borrow here, but the interest is so
very, very high at present that I thought you might as
well let us have the profits of some of yours as any person
else although you never told me yet I cannot think you
spend all you make nor Thomas delay not to answer
this if you get it if you have not got it, say no, if you
do not want to lend, it say no but write immediately
and say something that Joseph may know how to
act we have been put about now awaiting your answer
James Wilson returned from England last Wednesday and we
never heard a word of his coming 'till [until?] in he come he had
not time to visit either Ireland or Scotland this time
I am so angry with him but tis no use he was so busy visiting
his numerous relatives
should you send the money let us have it in Port Hope if possible.
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Give my king love to mama and G [George?] & R. J [Robert John?] and their
better halves and Joseph Aunt E [Ellen?] Uncle John and cousins Mr Gilmour
and all my old Neighbours tell Alex Ireland to write me a letter
let me know all about M [Margaret?] Anne & that wild brother of
mine to start amongst their [haything?]
Why do not you send me a Guardian. George send us lots of papers
give him our best thanks. M J W [Martha Jane Wilson?]
