[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Mechburg Oct 4th 1877
My Dear Daughter
It is just two weeks today since you left me. I know you will be looking for a letter[.] I have been oh so busy cleaning house making butters and jelly[.] I am almost through now have taken up all the carpets and put them down again changing them all except the parlor carpet[.] I put the old flowered carpet on the dining room the carpet on the least front room I ripped and sewed and put on the two front rooms upstairs it covers them nicely[.] The rag carpet I put on the front room downstairs and on the trunk room your old carpet and the breadth on the trunk room[.] I put on my room some pieces of the old green on the stovepipe[.] I wish you could see how nicely the house looks[.] I gathered up all the sheets that had been on the beds with the spreads and dirty dresses &c &c the basket is piled full of dirty clothes but the house is clean though[.] I did work really hard and taxed my head almost too much had castors put in the Lounge and two bureaus and now I can move them nicely had the little towel rack mended and your rocking chair all glued also the back glued on the old clothes brush.
Have to go and get my neck dressed every day. S Clark is home and working for Mr Hursh again he had the ague and also met with an "accident" on the lars [?] on his way from Harrisburg to Middletown about the time you left he jumped off when the train was going and fell of cours[e] bruising and cutting his face badly. He was too late for his own train in Harrisburg and took another one which did not stop at Mid_n thinking he could jump off[.] Mrs Zinn is to be down next week on her way to the City. The friends here are all well except Mrs little boy he is not entirely well has been quite ill[.]
I have had letters from all around since you left. Calvin & Julia want Johnie to go and take their school so that they come home but he declines[.] Julias head is better than better than [sic] last summer but not well still I judge they will not get home before Spring a year if then. Annie was very busy with her grapes wishes me to go out and spend the winter with them[.] Lloyd is talking nicely she expects a visit from her Aunt Lloyd this winter the wedding is to come off in this month. Johnie reports himself quite pleased with his new home. Horrie was at his Uncle Robt had been to the oil county and to Mercer Co expects to teach in Murraysville did not say when he would commence. Jennie was dragging around so miserable as ever Willie had been suffering very much for a few days[.] Nettie not well Jennie expected to go to the Miss meeting in Columbus O next week to read a paper which was not written as yet.
Your waist fronts came and I expected to send them off today but it rains so incessantly that I sent go [?] for themselves to bring them here today but she is not well and cant come out[.] I expect to send them tomorrow[.] I found your furs when I was bringing order out of confusion now I have just seven more letters to write before I stop. Do attend to that cold & let me know just how it is. You will see that I am practicing economy[.] [She was writing in the margin at the top of the page.]
Mr Reigart will be absent on Sabbath the house will be closed I am informed that Synod meets next week in Harrisburg. You must have had quite a time getting through from Princeton glad you were so well pleased there. Lovingly Your Mother