Origsize: H 1.5" 'x D 6"; Origformat: Artifact; Resolution: 600 DPI
Name/Title
Letter to Mr. Aldrich regarding bank loan and travel
Entry/Object ID
2000.FIC.062
Scope and Content
A letter to Mr. Aldrich from unknown correspondent. The letter refers to a bank loan and possible travel to Chicago. The letter encourages relocation to Chicago as the conditions there are ripe for business ventures. In the margins on front and back pages are printed music notes for piano.
Transcribed:
p. 1
Dear Mr. Aldrich
Me thinks I see a smile on your face at getting from me
from the western world as on leaving I intended to steer my bark town[?]
other point of the compass; but how ever in turning tho matters over in
my mind I compared myself in some degree to this carr[?]
who never ceases to travel and that beautiful song asks
Where dost[?] he go when he seeks his sweet rest[?]
Oh, dost[?] he not go to the beautiful nest
to the west their I traveled and after many hours I found my
self in the great City of Chicago in what I belaid a
a few days and came to the city from which I date
this letter it is a neat and flourishing little city
on the Top[?] river some 30 miles south west of Chicago
there are a good many Capitalists settling here
and property is rising in value very much and ^ the people
appear to me to be very affable and kind
and is good circumstances I got something to do
in music but nothing yet which I could call
permanent when I strayed away from your
good home I did so laboring[?] under the influence
of that soul O[?] body[?] destroying agent rum O I
knew that the only thing to get it out ^of my system
was to travel and altho I have had many temptations pleasures
it indulge since I never partook of it nor never will -----[damage]
my life if I could only go back a short time of my life
how different would I act how I would appreciate my good
home I have written a letter to your brother and my writing
I remarked in my letter that sin never goes unpunished
which is truly verified in my case as the punishment
I suffer is almost greater than I can bear and although
an absence from the cursed stuff[?] since I left you
I feel yet that sting on my nervous system which renders
me almost unfit to work which fact you may dis cern
from my writing however I have reason to be thankful
for having been Spared to come to proper reason
to thank God who has I trust plucked me as a
brand[?] from the burning I trust it will be a warning
to me for the remainder of my life to be magnanimous
enough when asked to partake of porson[?]
to day Bra[?]
Back:
During my short stay in Chicago I paid a visit
to the room of the young mens Christian association
and there from what I saw and heard resolved that
whatever fetid I shal not allow the prolific
Mother of a simillitud of miseries to enter my com-
-position whenover takes into account that the use
of ardent spirits lothes a man with rags and
poverty or[?] makes him deservedly despised it
ought to be enough to make him shudder at its use
but the most woeful thing is the end of all sad
eternal pains Poor Mrs Ald. how is She Oh how
ashamed[?] I was[?] to meet face &[?] was glad to get away
from the gaze of one who did so much for me
and who was[?] so badly requsted for her kindness
tell him at least that my affections and esteem
will follow her till I die how are the dear children
please be the bearer of my love to them perhaps[?]
you will dress[?] me a line and make suggestion
to our will reasons now has taken[?] pleasure
now I close on assuming you to believe in
to be your able[?] O my worthy friend
Brian[?] Brs[?]
