Nov 7, 1874Dear Daughter
I was glad to hear from you again, before you left London. Glad you are better & have such a good appetite &c &c. I think you had to[o] much anxiety & care how [?] to have a good appetite. I am glad you have had a chance to see so many grand & beautiful things. The weather has been very fine ever since the 15 of Oct. It is warm & beautiful today. I wish you could be here to enjoy it. We have had some excellent pears I did wish you & Mercy could have some I sometimes wish I could have my girls with me, but I hope it is all for the best & that you & Mercy will do much good in the work[.] I am glad you know enough to do some good. If we had been sick & had such a home as we would have liked, we should have settled down & enjoyed it, like many selfish ones, Forgetting the heathen & ignorant ones. I hope you are a cheerful worker. The time is short, O! how much there is to be done. Susan. Went over to Lafayette yesterday returned with the headache - I got breakfast & dinner, washed dishes & ironed in forenoon. I Feel quite smart today. Susan. made bread, Pealed apples to dry. She was very pleased with your presents, especially [the] neck. I thank you very much for mine. I wish you had sent C something Aunt Prudence is here yet. She helps [me?] so much, I feel almost afraid she will get sick. I Have sweep & moped [sic] the garrett, & I cleaned all but C corner in the woodhouse chamber cleaned garrett stairs. We have our part all cleaned but kitchen. Susan cleaned front chamber, both halls, parlor &c &c Your Father is quite smart. Has not had the headache since you left. Eats quite hearty. Robert is not as well not much appetite. Lies abed most of the time. We are not going to have double windows. I Could not think of having windows that could not be opened. John Has made a ditch the other side of the road to carry out [?] the water, so it will not run into the cellar[.] He is drawing wood to the Falls. I am sorry he has to work so hard. Your Father Has a nice black suit, & boots, will have a new hat & slippers, then I think he will be all right. Wealthy Has been quite sick at Mr Barnards. better now. Wealthy. Is going to Doct Duncan's, the middle of this month, to take care of Fanny. Sarah['s] husband has got a divorce, they say. How sad. No one seems to blame him. He went to Indiana. I Suppose some one has told you that Esther has an other boy. Esther & baby have had a bad cold[.] Helen. Was up here last monday evening full of trouble as ever, some one has told Mrs Fiske, I said I rather have a daughter go to Indian than there. I cannot imagine who told her. I never said it out of the home[.] I think it must be W told it, to some one I Dont care. I had. I am not sorry she knows it. I Do not think Helen does right. I think if she would as [sic] different about many things it would be better for her & I have often told her so. All we can do is to pray that she may see things different & do better. You must pray for her. Poor girl it makes me feel sadly, to think she has to be [...], no time to read or rest[.] I Tell her not to clean so much - Do write her.
Solomon's arm does not get well. He uses it to[o] much. C. says there is quite a bunch on it. Poor man thinks he must work. I Am sorry for him he & Helen have a hard time. Mr Fiske. Sent two barrels of apples to Louise, Helen thinks Sol needed them most or the money they would bring. Charles had some Helen was willing & thought, better send to Nellie then Louise. L is selfish. I found. Amelia & Jennie Smead & a lady were in Shelburne. Called upon Helen. We expected they would call here on your account, but they did not. I Hoped they would. I do not see why they did not. I must go & make beds & sweep. Saturday evening. Hattie Has come up. to hear your letters read Feels bad to think you did not write here [sic] in London. Says she is going to write you as soon as she gets some paper.
[pen change]
(Susan has taken the ink to write to you)
as soon as she gets some paperI will let her have a sheet so you can have a letter. Hattie says she shall cry if you dont [sic] write her soon. Hattie Cannot think of the lady's name that came with Amelia & Jennie. Said she was from Kalamazoo. I Had a letter from John Wilson. Friday evening. He sent his photograph. Was anxious to hear from you. I Suppose Susan has told you, that Clara Morgan was married last Teusday. [sic] Went to Boston home yesterday Heard they were going to Conway today. Had a letter from Delia Friday. She has not got a boarding place yet.Clarinda Has cleaned her room & the boys[.] She has a tooth that troubles her, especially when she has the most to do. Dr Beals. filled it, but it does not stop aching. It is some thing now for her to have the teeth ache. I am sorry she has so much to do.
Eliza. Get along nicely. Her Grandmother Barnard, takes good care of her. Has made [...] her a new calico dress.
We have stiller times, when she is gone
I Went over to Lafayetts, last week some things looked natural. Had a dress maker there, Sarah Is having a new dress & sack. Full of work. Mary Is going to live or stay with her Aunt Batchelor.
Lafayette seems to feel well about going L Is going into Partnership with Mr Platt Tavern & stone. L Took $1800 out with him when he went. I Hope he will do well[.] The Auction is next week Wed. Sarah said she dreaded it, after the auction they will pack up & go as soon as possible[.] Susan. Went over to Lafayett's yesterday afternoon, returned with the headache. it has ached most all day. It has been feeling bad sometime. Susan had a letter from Mercy Friday. she has changed from single to double school does not have to teach music now, likes it better, but her girls feel badly, one cried herself most sick about it. I am glad Mercy Is so pleasantly situated. Clarinda Has had the teeth or tooth ache all day, does not ache oen bit to night but has taken all her strength away "she says -"
The Polonaise you gave me was to[o] small for me and it could not be let out. Susan tried it on[.] It set nicely. She wears it with her silk skirt & other black one - she wears it to evening meeting and visiting feel quite grand with it. It looks quite well[.] I have watered the lily every day - put it on the front pianer [?] when pleasant
I cannot think of any thing more to write.
Ever your affectionate Mother
T.M.A. [Thankful M. Anderson]write as often as possible
John bought a keg of tripe[.] It is nice[.] all send love to you.
[Robert is the brother of Thankful's husband. Thankful's children from a first marriage are John and Helen. Helen's husband is Solomon Fiske. John's wife is Clarinda, and her maiden name was Barnard. Eliza is John and Clarinda's daughter. I assume Prudence is Thankful's sister, but I haven't been able to confirm that.]