[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Mechanicsburg. Feb 10. 1879
My Dear Daughter
I have not heard from you for some time presume you are well and busy though Johnie thinks you will have an easy time and no trouble to get through. I have been well and very busy trying to bring up my work have been sewing every evening until 9 ock and later. Have been fixing up my under clothes, stockings dresses &cc hope to get through by and by the walking has been so dangerous that I do not go out much.
Jennie is without a girl and finds it pretty hard getting along but it is much the best way for the girls they have to work some now. She does not intend keeping a girl. Mr Henderson is not well atall [sic] scarcely able to teach has applied to a Dr who tells him his disease is in his stomach altogether if that is the case he will not remain in the south longer than this the diet there does not suit him atall and unless he gets relief through his Physician he will not be able to stay out the year.
Now I want to tell you that we have heard from Julia at last she was about to land at San Francisco on the 26th of Jan expected to be at her brotherinlaw' [sic] yesterday with her uncle in Deleware [sic] next Sabbath her sister the next Sabbath and here the next but we scarcely think she can get on so fast as this. She wants to meet Horrie on her way and inquires as to whether she can see you on her way she wants to stop one day at Lawrenceville near Pittsburg to see Mrs Corbetts mother. If she does this we do not see how she can stop off at Altoona without landing at Harrisburg in the night. You can write to her at her sisters. Washington Guernsey County Ohio, care of Mrs Dr Grier. I do not know how Horrie will manage to see her. His school will be out about that time Johnie may have told you that he expects to go out and stay with him awhile, and assist him.
A new idea Julia wishes to get on to New York as soon as possible. I am desirous to see her but I do not wish her to hasten on so rapidly as she might injure her head seriously. Matters are moving on here as usual. The new Library is not yet ready or rather the case is not ready. The new book[s] are nearly all story books expensively bound and quite large averaging one doll apiece after the percentage is taken off. I dare say the committee differ [sic] widely about the character of the books[.] I am not on the committee as I refused to act in that capacity I knew I could agree with Mr Reigart who is chairman of the committee he is in favor of those Sunday School novels as Lida Stayman justly calls them. She remarked yesterday that she did not see why the S School gave them such books to read. Sensible for once[.]
Florence is not in the choir has not called on me fear you offended her does not attend church regularly. I sent your dress to Shippensburg with Cou [?] Robert Mateer
lastweek before last. Newto[n] is at Alleghany left where he was because they would not pay him any thing for his services not even pay his traveling expenses. Maggie Mateer is quite sick. Mary Brandt has Errysipeles [sic] in her face is quite ill. Mrs Young has been sick is now improving. Lizzie Miller is at home sick. Mr Grove (the Baker) being [?] himself a short time since his mind was disturbed. The druggist up street died recently with a short illness Mrs Allen of Wilkensburg is dead, died of brain disease. A sad loss to her family[.]Now write soon Affectionately Mother