Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, O

Feeding Hills Mass. Dec. 22th, 1901

Mrs Stanford

Dear Friend

please to excuse me for writing to you, as we are strangers. but as I see your name in the Bridgeport paper that you had a sum of money to care for many charities with. I thought that I would just write a few lines to ask you if you would please to help me to buy a place. as I am a poor woman. but I could make myself wealthy in a few years if I had some one just to

Dec. 20th 1901

Mrs Stanford

I have saw your nam in the Newspapers, as being a charitable woman, I am a poor woman with four children to provide for, my oldest is a girl she is crippled with Spinal complaint, and can not help me much, it is so hard to pay house rent, and buy clothing, and get sompthing [sic] to eat, those that have plenty do not know what a hard time a poor widow and orphans does have, I haven't relation to depend on it is Christmas times, and how it does make my heart ache to think I can not get anything for my children like other people. Mrs Stanford will you help me a little. I would be so thankful I am so poor I am glad to get old clothing from others, if you would help me a little I would remember your name with gratitude as long as I live. I am respectable and honest, I do not want to do any thing wrong. Womans heart is

softer than mans so I have ventured, to ask you, Mrs Stanford won't you please assist me a little, I believe God will bless you.

Respectfully

Eva G. Olson

Osborn

De Kalb Co Missouri

[right column] widow of a physician who lost his life through his profession. Blood [poisoning?] only married two years left me with out a dollar, also an invalid had to live by boarders here - old mother 74 years to support & I thought if I could buy a little home and take about one or two people how happy you

[left column] would make me by investing my { ?} I do not wish to beg only helped { } will you be remembered after you are gone for your kind act. { ?} my people think of the poor President { how?} look at the { ?} gone on at the White House. { ?} put people in little homes so as land

Mrs Stanford Dear Madam

Please pardon me for taking the liberty of addressing you but reading of your grand act thought you would invest one hundred dollars for me. I am a

lord cannot put them out when ill what would be your reward If I was a sick woman would find well poor working people and make them happy one or two thousand would be a God Send to them it is only not men son's go to the University my husband mother had to pay in for an arm and leg enough If you will only invest by hundred for me so as I can buy a