New Bedford Jan 18th 1886
Cousin Newton [Edwin Newton Lawson]
We have Just receive your letter and as I am now at leasure I improve the first opportunity to answer it it cofermed the Sad inteligenc of the Death of your Wife Which we heard through Clintons Wife Eliza about a week ago it was Sad and very unexpected Newes to us little did I think last March when I was up thare it would be the last time I Should ever See her in this life I feele to sympathise with you much in your Affliction but it is a
costationconsolation to you to know that she has goen well prepared and what is rearly your loss is her gain. I am glad for your sake and your Childern Sake that She was spaired to see her Childern so nigh grown up to manhood and womenhood I hope your Mother may be sparred to be with you awhile longer but it cannot reasonably be expected at her greate age that it will be longWe ar injoying our usual health and I hope this may find you and your Childern the same. We have had some verry cold weather the past week but it is milder now We had averry serveere snow storm a week last Saturday morning with 8 inches of snow and verry high winds duering the day and night it blewe down quite anumber of chimneys here and caused many shiprecks and loss of life on the coast
We should be Pleased to have your girls com down here this Winter or any time and make us a good long visit I know they must feel verry sad and lonely now and if thay could have a little change of things away from home it would be of much benefit to them My Wife says she would rearly like to have then com and would be pleased to go round with them to some of the Evening entertainments such as the union for good works and others that that they would injoy much if they ware here
We hope to hear from you agane before long how your mother is geting along and saforth I cannot think of any news to write so I close infriendship truly
Robt Lawson
[Newton's wife Sarah Corbin Lawson died Dec 31, 1885. Newton's mother died June 29, 1889 at the age of 88.]