Undated letter. First section of the letter is faded and difficult to read, including date and the person it was written to.
Part of the Horace Stevens Collection.
Acquisition
Accession
2016.19
Transcription
Dear Sister,
Its is some time [?] since
I wrote you and i thought I
would venture a [??] again
although you may not think
it best to answer me, as you
have not written to me this twelve.
Mr. Williams, a gentleman who
Resides in [?] Fairview is about
To start for Palmyra Portage Co.
And says he will probably
Be in polaris and perhaps to
[?] [?] and kindly offers
To carry a letter or any word I
Consent to send. So I write.
Mr. Williams is a [welchman] and
Formerly lived in Palmyra. He
Goes to take his niece Frances who
Has been living [??] for a
Year past, Laura wants to go up
Too but I cannot send her
I have often wondered why you
Have not written to me but
If you do wish to write or
Keep a correspondence with me
I will not trouble you with a
Letter again. I have sometimes
Thought it was because you did not
Want to hear about the hard
Times I have to endure and
Have thought i would not
Refer to them when i wrote
Although I never have told you
Half the trials I have and
You silence has shown your
Indifference in this matter.
I am fully determined to leave
This place in the spring if i can
Get money to pay our expenses.
It is of no use for me to stay
Here this summer or any longer
For there are to be to be two schools
Here this summer and there
Are two [?] [?] i could
Earn our salt in teaching a
Few [?] [?] [?] are
Here
And if i was only out west
I could not only make more
Teaching but i could raise some
Thing for us to eat. You talk of
Trials to encounter there but I
Have them here without any
Prospect for the better and I
could willingly submit to them
If I had a foot of ground that
I could call my own home.
Wilson is a great stout boy and
With the help of a hired man
We could cultivate a few acres
Very easily. They tell me here
That the land is much easier
Worked there, that with half the
Labor they have here, i could
Raise much better crops. People
Here are turning their attention
To raising the [?] sugar
Which yields well where-
Ever it has been tried and [?]
[?] to be a good speculation.
It grows well in this country.
Mr. [?] is preparing to [?]
It this year
I was out to Mr. [?] all day
yesterday . I have tried several
ways of earning something for my
Family this winter and with
what people have given us we
Have got along so far without
Much suffering but i feel
Like going somewhere and trying
To earn a home for us. My children
Are growing up healthy and
Will be a great deal of help
To me in getting this house
And if i should die before
Then i could leave [?] a
House and a way to get living
While if we stay here we shall
All have to go to the poor house
In less than a year. The people will not continue their kindness
Forever. They [?] my own funds
Might help me but if you will
help me off [?] I will help
Myself and you too. Often I get
[?] there. Now [?] [?] [?]
And think of this matter
Charles ___ B March 22nd 1821 15 Years old
John Benjamin B Feb. 3rd 1884 12 ‘’ ‘’’
Mary Abigail B Sept. 27th 1826 10 _____ left
Sarah ____ B ____ 15th 1829 7 “ “
George _____ Dec. 9th 1832 4 ___ ____
Mary A & Sarah E Lind ____ Love to you & to your L
Little girls ___ & also many thanks for the
[ Prsants ] that you have sent them & they
Say they shall not for get their [ant] Lea.
We have been [blest] with good health. ____
We __ ____ except my wife ____
Heard ____ we have not had a fit of
Sickness in our [famaly] & we thank god
For that blessing. George & sally & [famaly]
are all well. We live about half way
from the city to ____. George lives
middel __. Mary ___ will [till] you all the
[nuse] but i will tell you some. We have
had a Great Reverend. He __ with in ___
___ ___ part. ___ have
____ ____ with the ____ shall ___ in this
City & my self & wife and many
Friends are ______ that _____ ____
_____ to it for I ___ you their is
____ thing in ____. ___ to god before
‘It is to late & have ___ ___
Your ___ I ___ to god to put __ air in
The path of your destiny & may god bless
You all now & ___ ____ & for ever
Bless us all and at last [rerere] us into
His kingdom for ever & ever
Seth G ____
