Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, K

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Watertown, Wis. Dec. 17th/01

Mrs. J. Leland Stanford. San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Madam:

As I was sitting wiht a heavy heart so near Xmas figuring up the short comings in business, after I had worked so hard this fall I felt the need of one, dear one, my husband whom the Lord has taken from us, more than ever. My eyes were wandering over the table full of Bills, when they fell on an announcement in the evening paper. Mil. Journal with a large heading 30,000000. The vast sum attracted my attention. I read the article carefully, & before I finished I was elated & joyful & admired such noble generosity from the bottom of my heart. I cannot

Last edit over 3 years ago by MikeH
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comprehend such sums. 3000 would take all financial troubles from my shoulders & would make me feel so light hearted & happy that I could battle life with renewed energy. My wishes have neve[r] gone above having a snug sum of 500 on interest, I would imagine myself as rich & think it such a haven of serenity. While my dear husband lived we felt so rich & happy while we were blessed with health. But when 4 years of suffering & death yes four deaths fell to our lot, it made parting very very hard & bitter to him, although his trust was firm in his Savior, to leave us behind with a mortgaged home. I have not been able to sell it since & am still battling with paying interest & making a living. It is now we first realize what a blessing

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III

& neccesity a certain income is I have tried very hard to earn [?] wants for my little daughter & myself. I started a milliner busines a year ago, although I had fair patronage which I know I can work up in time. I find myself 300 dollars short & unable to settle my Bills at the Wholesale Houses.

This paying off interest eats up my profit. When I consider writing this to you I feel how very foolish & insane it is & want to tear it up again, and yet, when I stare at those bills, that must be paid, or I will fail in business - I feel that I must ask advise of some one.

I do not want to humilate myself to people here in town & undermine my credit altogether. They cannot help me as I can not give good

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security & oh, yet I would like to try another year in my business I love it & know I can succeed in time if only some one would advance me a few hundred dollars without interest; then I could get started & in time with Gods grace hope to pay it off. When you read this, please have patience & do not {condemn ?} me & make my sufferings public That is what I shrink from so dreadfully. If in your heart you can find some advise [sic] for me, then please answer me a few lines. If you do not see fit, then do please burn this letter & do not mention my name I'm {plore ?} you. Trusting to your noble spirit that you will understand me. I sign with tears of shame.

Mrs. Elanona Kammeyer Watertown Wis

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Claremont Neb Dec. 16, 1901

Dear Mrs. Stanford,

I read in our paper this week what a large sum of money you had given to the University in California. I am a widow my dear Husband died last February, and my dear Mother died two days before his death. I am nearly heart-

Last edit over 3 years ago by shashathree
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