[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. At the time this letter was written, the writer, William Mateer, with his wife, Anna, were farming in Missouri.]Carthage. Mo. June 27th 1892
Dear Mother.
Your card came to hand some days ago, and I will enclose you a draft for a hundred dollars. You speak of your allowance of one hundred dollars. I don't suppose it is necessary that you should confine yourself to exactly this amount. If in order to get what will make you comfortable, you should have to use a little of the principal it would be all right. When you get this please write us a letter if you can and let us know how you are getting along. Whether you have any one to stay with you at night, or if you are entirely alone. If you are doing your own work. And if it is not too much for you.
The last letter from Calvin reports that they will start home the first part of June, and that they think of stopping here. Suppose they will get along about the first of August.
We are all about as usual here. Anna has been doing her own work for some time with my help. Lloyds eyes have been troubling him a good deal and he quit school before it was out and went to driving a delivery wagon but since the weather has been so very hot he has had to quit that for the present. He dont seem to be a very strong boy, and has not been used to any hardships.
Our new church is finished, and dedicated, and it is very nice. The work seems to be succeeding as well as we expected. We started with 63 members and now have about 114. Have our church almost paid for, though it has been a pretty hard pull.
Suppose you often hear from John and Lillie so I cant give you any news.
Please write when you can
As ever Your Son
WDMateer.