Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, A

will reward you for it cold wether is coming on and i need it or i would not asked to please if you knew the good that it would do me i think you will grant my request i will make good use of it, do please send me something now i will leave the matter with you do as you think best Yours truly

Z Ashby Middletown Orange Co New York

Dec 12th 1901

Middletown NY

Mrs Stanford

I am an entire stranger to you but you must parden me for writing to you in this way i am in very [madert, modest ?] circumstance and would like to have a little help will you be so kind as to make me a present of five or ten thousand dollars or any other small amount that you may chuse to give and i will be very thank full for it indeed and i think that providence

I have not seen her in eleven years and would so much like to go and see her but I have not the means. I have a good steady husband but we have a family and we cannot save out of his wages as they are small. I cannot borrow the money as I have no way of paying it back My husband does not

know that I have written. If you do not care to help me I do not wish him to know that I have written. I know I have no right to ask such a thing of a stranger but I am so anxious to visit my sister that I have been bold to ask you

Yours resp

Mrs. M. Augusta 44 Sunnyside Ave Buffalo N.Y.

Buffalo Dec 20th

Mrs Stanford Dear Madam

Please excuse me for taking the liberty of addresssing you. I have noticed in the papers your gifts for charity and wondered if you would help me a little. I have an only sister in the state of Washington who is in very poor health and can not come here

only to lie down in oblivion.

What impels one to write you this, I do not know. And indeed I do not mean it for "begging". I detest both the word, and the deed. But_ you too, are a woman_ one of Eve's family_ and _ oh! I am so tired of the struggle! I know not what the end will be_ and I am so harassed by conditions._ I am thankful for one thing_ and this is, that no matter how difficult have been my trials, I have never yet lost faith in God, never yet, have known the times when I have not willingly, and comfortingly, knelt to Him in prayer, and with the consoling belief that He understands.

Forgive me for writing. [?][?] B