[A few paragraph breaks were added for ease of reading]Dec. 31st 1874
Dear Daughter Martha,
I Have been thinking about writing you for sometime I suppose [Susan?] has told you all the news. Susan. Went a foot-alone to attend Mr & Mrs Hart Golden wedding. She made a loaf of mountain cake all frosted of [sic] & a pie (apple) Her loaf of cake was the nicest those [sic] was there. Mrs Daner sent $35. They raised enough or more than enough to get Mr Hart a suit of clothes Mrs Hart a dress & wrapper & a barrel of flour. Mr C Wells. drawed him some wood - I Do not know the particulars Susan Thought there were more than 40 there. Carried chicken, meat biscuit, bons pies cakes &c - The traveling was so bad Joseph did not want to go & drive. John could not go, Robert, said he was sick we could not persuade him to go. Clarinda thought he might, but I am not sure he feigned it. Rec [sic] J F Moors was there
Tyler Thompson. Went home sick (Dec 22) His niece was sick. They sent for him to come hom. He went. Could not get anyone to drive the horse home. Had to come himself. Clarinda doctored him all day monday [sic] & night for diphtheria. He seemed a little better. He wanted Frank Barnard to take him home Frank. Came Teusday [sic] morning. All advised him to stay. Go he would! We thought he run a great risk. It was not very cold - John. Had a letter last evening from him He said, they said he had been very sick Was very weak, now. Had not been out of his room. David Purrington. Worked here one week, Sylvenas Allen. Is here now.
Mrs Barnard. Came here yesterday, Wants to go home this week, Wealthy. Is up there visiting To Mrs Barnard Thought it would be a good chance for her to come & see Clarinda It is very cold, yesterday, & to day. Susan Has gone down to prayer meeting. Has returned with a package of plants from Mr Rusby. Very fine We are in the bed room. Susan Is looking over her plants. Joseph reading the Tribune It is nice & warm. Clarinda, Says it does not seem like the same room. It warms Roberts room finely. He likes that. Clarinda thinks it is one things. [sic] that keeps him in bed until morning. Cannot persuade him to stay in here. says ["]he is glad they have got a den for Joe, but he wont stay there." He takes the whole side of the stove reset the wood box in John's room, sits in C. rocking chair with legs crosed, [sic] feet sticking up in the way -
I wonder how he can choose to do so, I know he must be very much in the way. Then he opens the stove & spits in & it flies around C is afraid it will get into the victuals, C is very patient with him. I should fly away or want to, It is so nice to have a place where we can sit & be warm this cold weather. I Think your Father enjoyes [sic] it. When he gets tired of reading he lies down on the lounge & takes a nap. When it is warm enough, he goes out & chops a little.
The lily is doing nicely. I have watered every day. Last Fall I used to put it on the front piazza in the Sun. It stands by the new window, all the days - nights I put it near the stove. Put in some large sticks, cover them some, keeps warm until morning.
I have been trying to fix Susans waterproof dress to day. I Colored her drak brown dress black. The dress C colored for her is worn out. She does not seem to have any ambition or taste about fixing up her clothes or anything. I Have to do all the slicking up - I get discouraged often - I made the head cheese & cooked the apples and Mr Henry Wells & daughter Carrie came the day I stewed the apple sauce. They were here to tea Susan & Joseph, were at Mr Fiske, stayed after the funeral of Miss Long. John. Went after them Then Susan Went to prayer meeting, O! dear how tired I was. I get so tired I cannot think John. says he is so much in debt he cannot afford to hire Wealthy. when Clarinda can get along. I told him C was injuring herself working so hard. He said he supposed she knew what she could do, if she wanted W. she could have her sometimes I think they or she wants to get all they can out of us - Susan. says. she is not able to do any more then she does & will not kill herself working for them. C says she thinks Susan has a wonderful easy time, if she could have as much leisure, she would have ther [sic] things in apple pie order. C aught to know that it does not belong to Susan to do her work Susan does for Robert. C. cannot bear to see Susan have any leisure. I Hope God will help us & grant us easier times. Tyler said C was
[letter from Thankful ends abruptly here]