T2020.102.249

Hadley Feb 21, 1909

My Dear Edith:

Your welcome letter received some time since, [???]. I intended to answer before this, but have been trying to work some of late. I work one day and stay at home the next. I do not get my strength back yet, but hope to as the weather gets warmer.

The worry and trouble keeps me down. I so miss your dear Mother. She was so kind and we were so happy that I cannot giv, [sic], her up. Your letters so much remind me of her that I think you must be like her. My eyes fill with tears, so I can hardly read them yet, {???], hear

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from you. I will send you a small box of the last I have left of her things. Not any of them worth anything for, [?], [?], [?], that were of any value. {?] Send you one of her wrapers, [sic[], that she was wearing before she was sick. One of her skirts, not a nice one, perhaps a waist partialy worn and some small things with some peicies, [sic], for the clock, if you think best. I received a letter from Archie. He asked, [Malle], for some of the things back for me and she flew in a rage and would not giv, [sic], him or me a thing. She was so angry that she left his home the next morning for her uncle's where she had, {been?], staying.

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So we shall not be able to get any of them back but, you and Archie and I can remember her if we don't have those things. Archie says he has not one thing of his mother's to remember her by. The receipt for head chees, [sic], I do, [?], [?], as your Mother never made any while she was here. The, [Pho?], you spoke of, I think I have one nearly the same. Archie loaned, [sic], me one of hers I think very good as she looked the last of her life and I am having some taken and will send you one when I get them. Many thanks for your kind offer. We have never had any taken since we were married, although, we intended to have some, but put it off from time to time and did not do it. You ask me my age. I shall be

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three score and ten, (70 years,) )the 12th of next June. I presume she has sent you one of my tho.

I am sorry to hear of Mrs. Grandy, [?], but hope she is all, [?]. This wish I was near and could step in and give him a lift. We had a terrible rain here, Friday night. Every place that will hold water is full. Some of the cellars were flooded. The ground was covered with snow and ice so hard you could drive a horse any where. So the water rushed for all of the low places but, my place is all right. I am still keeping house. I have a trained nurse that I have long known who wanted to do some sewing and take a rest and I pursuaded, [sic], her to come and stay with me for

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the winter. What I will do in the spring, I cannot tell. I have no heart to do anything, but sit and greave for your mother. I do not take any interest in anything. All happiness is gone. I received some, [?], [letters?] from Archie and I, [?,) [?], brother, a very nice, honest and upright young man, one you may be proud of. He has been very kind to me which I shall always remember with pleasant thoughts of him. But, [&?[, how different with Malle. If she had been like one of you, she might have had a nice home with very little to do as long as I lived if she had wanted to. Stay well, for all I am sorry for her. She is her own worst enemy and I hope she will live to see it, sometime. Well, I think you will be tired, [?], the time