Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, Sl-Sw

and my husband lost his heath [sic] and his hearing and we went to Sathern [sic] California for his helth [sic] and we had to leave our business wit [sic] other people and the hard times came on and we lost nearly every thing we had I would be so glad to help the poor if I could thare [sic] is a famlia [sic] that lives out in the mountains that is very poor her husband is very parley [sic] able to do chores thay [sic] have not got eny [sic] children of thar [sic] ane [sic] she had a Brother in the { ?} war and was kiled [sic] and his wife ded [sic] and she took his to [sic] boys and raised there don [sic] the best she could for

them Ed is maried [sic] and got to [sic] children thay [sic] have a smal [sic] farm and he has to work in the loging [sic] canp [sic] Mrs Jones rot [sic] me that Eds house burnt down and the wife was all a lone and brought her children over to her I thot [sic] Mrs Jones had a hard time before thay [sic] came to her and now she wil [sic] half [sic] to take care of them. I thot [sic] if she could onley [sic] get a few calfs [sic] or cows thay [sic] have a good Stock farm if thay [sic] onley [sic] had somthing [sic] to put on it thay [sic] have an horse and an

[so many errors also in rest of this letter I will type as written]

cow and that is all thay have som chickens I thot som good kind lada like you would help her a litle if you could onley send her a litle it woul be sutch a great blessing to her and I feel asured you would if you knew the secamstance she would bless you all her life She is a good Christan woman I have hurd so mutch a bout your goodess that I took the liberty to right to you I do hope and pray you wil send he a litle ever so litle wil be most welcom. She des not know eny thing a bout this if you should send her enny thing

Vancouver Wash Dec 30th 1901 Mrs Jane L Stanford My Dear Madam

I see by the paper how mutch you have givin a way and your foto wis in the paper you must be a very kind and good to ladas how nise it is to be able to do so mutch good in the world I thot ane time I could give a home for old ladies that is what my hart was set paper

[same error-filled letter]

calf. I felt so sorey for you when you lost you Son what a grat trile it was to give up youre only one and your good husband has you may the lord bless you for all the goodness you have dun in this worl I wish thare was more like you my Father was bore and had a large famly we had very litle chance to go to chool I wish I was young I would work my finger nails off but what I would have a education I wil be sixty four a first day of Jenuary I have a invalid sister to take

care of we are the onley ones left at the famley my husband would not like it if he new I was righting this kind of a letter.

You can right to S. W. Brown of Vancouver if you have enny dons a bout this

With menny kind wishes fore youre welfare

Laura Slocum Vancouver Washington

Dec. 23 1901 Mendon, Ill.

Dear Mrs. Jane L. Stanford,

My mother saw where you was such a kind and good woman and named me for you. She named me Jane L. I saw in the paper this week where you was going to make a present of $30,000,000 to University. And I thought I was a poor woman and half to wash and do any thing I can get to do for a living, and would like very much for to send me some money for a present I am in bed sick now have been in bed six weeks. It would be a kind and noble deed to send me enough to keep me this winter in clothes and somthing to eat and God would bless you for it. I don't own no home of my own at all and

I was born and raised right here be sure and answer my letter I can send proof by any body far and near around here that what I have wrote is true. I'll tell you more of the way I have to live when I hear from you.

This letter is from Mrs. Jane L. Sloniger Mendon Ill. Adams Co.

to Mrs Jane L. Stanford San Francisco, Cal.