Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, L

god will bless you for your kindness

me out But I would not to let my husband no any thing about it I would take the little money you send me and dress my self and my children I no you would never miss a few dollers for I no you must be a good woman when you give so much money away if I ever get able I would pay you back every cent - if you make up your mind to send it I would like to get right away

Yours truly Mrs. L. Lafleur WS 400 King St. Saginaw Mich

this is the address

Montgomery Dec 13

Mrs Leland Stanford Dear Madam

I have been reading a good deal recently of your public charities & I have at last found courage to ask you to assist me. I have been told that those who contribute so munificently to public things do not like to be annoyed by individuals. But I cannot believe that you

owned about the time of the Beaumont Oil boom. The money is all gone, the land not sold & I have the burden of the debt & nothing with which to pay it. Our Savior said "Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these little ones, ye do it unto me." Two thousand dollars would make me the happiest woman in the universe, for then I could pay my debts & have a little for present emergencies.

are constituted that way. Besides I am a kinswoman of yours. My grandfather came from New Hampshire. His name was Thomas Lathrop. He afterwards went to Cohasset, Mass, where my father was from. I am a native of Ala. I have been living in Montgomery ever since I was nine years old & my story can be verified by the best citizens of this city. My mother was the wife of Chief Justice Stone of the

Supreme Court of Ala. He is dead now & she is living with me & has only a bare support for herself. I have always been in comfortable circumstances until two years since, my husband died & left me with literally nothing. No insurance, no money. I have been struggling to help myself ever since; last spring I borrowed money to send a man out to Texas to sell some land which my mother

Think before you [d]eny my request. I am making a desperate appeal to you & God will surely bless you & the ChristChild - will bring you contentment & peace if you listen to me & stretch forth a helping hand. I have heard your story & sympathize most deeply with you. I have lost several grown sons myself. May God be with you & grant you

Oakland Aug 8 1893

Mrs. Leland Stanford Madam:

Pardon me for intruding on you, but it is a matter of necessity.

On the last Saturday of Governor Stanford's life, Dr. Latham called on him at Palo Alto and asked for your influence for me, his son's wife.