East Bloomfield July 26 /[57]My Dear Cousin
Will you pardon me for my long delay in answering your letter when I tell you that it was from no desire on my part but rather from an inability to write sooner[.] When I rec'd yours which I need not assure you was most welcome I was at Uncle Wm and with the exception of two weeks have been here ever since I am sewing for them here and cant say how much longer I shall stay but I presume some time yet Joseph (I suppose you are aware) is building a home this summer and with 19 or 20 in the family Eliza does not get much time to sew and Aunt E- is not very well. They have an excellent girl in the kitchen however which lightens their labors in a measure[.] Our people at home are all well Jane is teaching a mile from home where I was the past winter and boards at home the rest are at home I expected to teach in our own district had the school engaged but the district got into trouble and have no school at all I was to have $3,00 & board at home and the most influential men in the district and the principal trustee moved out and then they thought they could not give so much so they hired another teacher but the school did not last but a few weeks. To teach for $1.50 a week and "board remd" [?] is more philanthropic than I can afford to be I don't know as there is any news of importance to write you I think Olive has wrote you since Eliza Hayward was married and probably apprized you of the fact Rumor says that Fanny Judd is soon to be married to a Mr Charles Hough of New York[.] There are some others who will very likely step off in a short time but I will wait until the consummation before I relate[.] By the way we have heard strange stories of one Edwin Montague being very attentive to our fair cousin Deborah how is the dear coz true or untrue please tell one wont you.
What is Margaret doing and how is she and all the rest of your family known and unknown[.] What sort of weather are you having "away down east" at this time we have had some very hot weather but most of the time very wet crops do not look very favorable the spring was too wet for corn and the weevils are destroying the wheat and in some places the barley and clover. Orchards are not very promising that is apples other fruit is good. I dont [sic] know but there were some questions in your letter to reply to but if there was I have forgotten and the letter is at home I will attend to them in my next. James Sprague has just returned from school graduated and received his diploma. Henry is in Nebraska[.] Remember me to Mr Logan's family and to your own[.] Perhaps Eliza will write some she said she would she rec'd your catalogue I shall direct to S. Hadly [sic] but am afraid you will get home before it reaches you[.] Write very soon wont you please
Accept this with the love and best wishes of your cousin
Martha