[A few paragraph breaks were added for ease of reading]Jan 2, 1874 [sic - classic New Year's error - this is actually 1875]
Dear Daughter Martha,
I Will try & finish my letter. The water froze up at the Barn Susan. Went after William Smith. He was gone Could not get Mr Franklin, so went after some one at Mr Fiske, Got Frank Stone, he works for Solomon. Frank. Came with a horse so Susan had a ride. They dug all day. Have given up. Are going to drive some of the cattle to a spring below the barn. It is not the water that comes from the well Mrs Barnard Is here yet. Clarinda. Has been sewing on her machine making aprons for the children.
Your Father, wants you to write all about the people & country. How you like &c Harriett. Gave me for you a photograph of their place. Do you want I should send it to you You did not tell me what to do about your life & light and missionary Herald.
Hattie. Was up here last week. Said She had written to you & was expecting an answer every day. Mrs Daner. Wrote. that she examined appers with more interest now to see if she could find anything about you! I Had a letter from John Wilson Martha Giddings. & Libby Robinson. All anxious to hear from you. Susan Is good to me, always if well gets the breakfast. We do not get up very early in our part. If S. only had a taste for fixing her clothes & things. We might have our part in nice order - It is a great trial to me. & I get so tired trying to fix up things, that I cannot think what to write.
Robert. Has not been up for 2 day[s] only to have his bed made once - I Do dread his being sick. He is so fussy about his food It has snowed all day. Now the wind is blowing hard. Have not had much snow this winter. I forgot to tell you that your Father, said he could not stand the cold wished he could be with you 2 or 3 months I Do not go out much, so I do not learn much news. Susan Had a letter from Lafayette & Sarah. yesterday - They arrived safe, contended, pleasantly situated.
Mrs. Platt has sent an invitation to Susan to come out there & stay a few month[s] and go botanizing with her. Lafayett [sic] is anxious to have George come out when his school is done. Robbie likes to live there but Willie Batchelder is homesick Mary Wells is at school at Westfield I Am anxious to hear from you burn up my scrawls I Am thinking about you most all the time. Mercy is well & likes teaching
ever your affectionate mother
T. M. A. [Thankful M. Anderson]Eliza & Helen talk about you often. Helen says she is going to India