[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. The letter has no year date in the dateline, but is from circa 1873, when Mrs. Mateer lived at Monmouth, after moving from Henry, Illinois, and where Robert was attending college, before transferring to Princeton.]Monmouth Ill March 4
My Dear Daughter
I do hope you will forgive me for being so tardy about writing it is such a task for me to write. Willie and Anna have been here and are gone we had a real pleasant visit from them I was surprised to see them so well and in such fine spritis Willie is as full of mischief as ever he staid from Thursday evening until Tuesday [sic] morning then went on to henry [sic] she staid over a week intending to go directly to Streator but [it?] appears they cannot get the house for a while, consequently Anna is visiting Lacon and Henry until Willie can get some place for hem they will probably board until the house is ready Anna is very anxious to get settled her cold is not quite well yet.
While she was here I had a sewing girl (a near) neighbor to come and she and Anna made my Alpaca dress and a calico in three days[.] The alpaca looks real well and is a good piece for the money[.] The shawl is real fine and pretty. Miss Bane has one for which she gave 16 doll[ars] the same size and stile [sic] but much coarser[.] The satchel is a real little gem just what I wanted my greatest trouble will be to prevent Lillie from using it up she does so use up my things. I just have to watch her all the time. I should not be atall [sic] surprised to see her coming down some day with my new alpaca on. She does grow so fast that we can scarcely keep her in clothes.
When Willie was here he tried to prevail upon Father to give the children each a certain portion of money and allow them to get their own clothes and pay all their own expenses except board of course[.] The calculation was 175 doll per year to each one they also made out a list of all our other expenses here which all together amounted to within one hundred doll of our income which I think would be doing very well whilst educating these three children but Father thinks she may not get all his money his rents may fail or something else might turn up. he [sic] is so wedded to his money that we all have a hard time to get along and he is constantly worried as there is every day something wanting, for my part I have ceased to worry my trust is in the Lord and not in man I know he will bring us through all right.
Since Willie is gone Father thinks that 35 doll per quarter will be plenty for the children and all he can give them. now [sic] they cannot get along, with less than 100 doll per year for clothes the tuition alone is 30 [?] doll besid [sic] books and a host of other little matters. Lillie is determined to have music lessons, by some means. Robbie I think will unite with the church on Sabbath next which is our communion day I have been only twice at church since the last communion. I am so glad that Robbie is coming out on the Lord's side I think he has the ministry in view he has improved quite since you saw him his class had a public
exhibitionexibition [sic] while Anna was here they thought his performance was good.Anna tells us you are coming out to see us some time during the coming summer and intend bringing Willie along it will be so pleasant we will try to make your visit more enjoyable than the last one was this is a real pleasant place in summer and more healthy than Henry I hope you will not fail to come and have a nice visit I expect Father and Willie will have fine times I am sorry to hear that Nettie is so much affected could you not give her something to cleanse her blood I am so sorry to hear of her eyes being so sore you have had a hard winter really but it will soon be over now and you will all be able to go out and enjoy the fresh air which is much more balmy there than here we have real winter here as yet so much ice we have had all winter I have fallen four times on the ice during the winter and every time I feel the effects for a week I too am wishing for spring.
Father was near buying a small house near the church real neat and nice but the man gave up selling we were all sorry. I would love to be near the church[.] Aunt Jane talked of coming to see us in May with James Tilball and wife they are coming to look up some business Robert talks of selling out and moving west if Jane is pleased Robbie is going to town and I must close I am much obliged to you for your trouble in getting those things for just keep that trifle of money.
Please write soon and tell me all about things as ever
Your Mother