[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. The writer of this letter, Jennie's cousin Ellen, had been caring for the elderly Mary N. Mateer, at Mechanicsburg, Pa., and they are now both spending the winter as guests of Lillie Mateer, in Monroe, Ga. (Lillie Mateer was married at this time to Rev. Walker at Monroe).]Monroe Georgia Feb 17 1896
My Dear Cousin
I received your very kind letter was "mighty" glad to hear from you I felt you owed me a letter but I often thought of writing to you before I left Mechanicsburg but just let the time pass without doing it. It seems like an age since I left M- but I hear very often from them Mary Sherbern [?] keeps me pretty well posted also Laura Lenny [?] & cousin Maggie & Ellen the last I heard from coz Maggie she was threatened with grippe - but was very much better when I last heard from cousin Ellen. She had not been very well herself - had taken cold & was obliged to stay in doors her health has been better this winter Aunt Maggie Mateer had been quite sick - with a bad cold but was better when I last heard - was confined to her room for three or four weeks. What a care Mrs Lenny has - It seems to be her mission to nurse the sick Laura is not at all strong - has cronic [sic] bladder trouble. Suffers very much at times but is almost always able to move around. Laura is a lovely person - when you get to know her[.] She showed such a sweet submissive spirit in her sorrow. She was almost abashed [?]. She told me the four years of her married life were the happiest years she ever spent. How often she listened for that foot-step that never came. I have come to know Mrs L & Laura so well since I am so close they are both splendid women[.]
Rev Hasten [?] is still there, poor man he has been haveing [sic] a serious [?] time Mrs L has been in very delicate health. She was advised by Dr Kelley of Baltimore to take the rest cure. She was in bed for three weeks - but I believe she did not secure [?] any benefit from it. The greater part of the congregation have become very much dissatisfied with him & have not been able to make up his salery [sic] - without borrowing - money - they agreed to pay him a thousand till the first of April & eight hundred for the next year - but they seem to think they cannot [...] on that. I feel sorry for them - but I think their usefulness is pretty nearly at an end in M- they might be useful some where else - He is a very pleasant social man - but he does not seem to suit the people of M- I feel sorry for him poor man I think cousin Maggie got through I was without any trouble. She had her way about the candies & oranges &c
Our Psalm [?] meeting will be tomorrow Mrs Kevedy [?] the President of Presbyterial is expected to be there. You remember we are pledged for $100.00 I hope we will be able to make up the amount you know it depends on a few your mother & I sent on our Thank offering
Wednesday Morning We are all well except your Mother she seems weak - has a cough which wrenches her so - I suppose it is from cold she has taken. She has had three courses of Calomel & quinine her tongue is looking very much better & she does not have [...] sickness after eating. She is taking a tonic & cough medicine her bowels are in a much better condition - if her cough only gets better. She seemed to be full of Malaria that was the cause of her chills we were alarmed at first thought it might be grippe. The "folks say" say there is no malaria here she brought it with her do you suppose she got it at Aunt Jane's I hope this may be the last of it & hope she will not be obliged to take any more calomel & quinine.
You wonder how I came to get here Lillie sent a very pressing invitation to come & spend the winter or at least part of it your Mother seemed so anxious for me to come I had a sick spell a few weeks before I left hope & was quite run down. So I concluded to come. I came with the Bucher girls, Carrie & Hanah - they are spending the winter with their Sisters. Mrs. Leak sent an invitation for me to meet them & take in the Exposition - they live six miles out from Atlanta in Decatur they are very wealthy & live in style - Mr & Mrs S- are so extremely kind & hospitable - they are scarcely ever without company. I spent two days at the Exposition & remained one night to see the fire works, which I enjoyed very much - but I took a cold[.] We sat out till ten oclock & there seemed such a draft through the building I was not very strong it took such a hold on me that it was very hard to get rid of. I am quite well again - am taking Bovinine it just built me right up -do you know anything about it it is an extract of beef[.] My cough kept me so weak that I just kept taking cold all the time I am so thankful to be rid of it I was obliged to blister my throat & chest.
Your Mother seems very happy & contented here - her room is on the first floor & communicates with Lillies. She can come in & help her up at night. When the nights are very cold they keep up the fire all night. She has a good stove in her room. They burn coal I dont believe she will be able to leave for quite a while - if she ever does is doubtful - they have a large house & plenty of room.
Lillie has help now her cook left & her nurse got sick. They wanted to make a change[.] She has a good old colored woman in the kitchen & is getting a nurse to-day she is quite well again - she had cold & is teething - your mother says she is a real little [...] she is very cute & cunning I dont see any Walker in her Horace is a chip of the old block Clarence is very much like his mother Lillie is right well will feel stronger when she weanes [sic] her baby.
How I would like to have seen little Margaret & her Mama. She is very sweet looking in her picture I cannot see any likeness to Janet Lillie thinks she can see some resemblance to Janet in Eunice when she was her age[.]
I hope you are much better your Mother says tell you to bind a wet towel on your hips when you go to bed - it did her so much good when she sprained her ankle I can [...] it I had the same experience[.] Your Mother did talk of going back to Carthage - but I think it will depend very much on her health - I think she will have to decide that matter her self. She seems to have some very pleasant recolections [sic] of Carthage[.] She had a letter from Jennie this week - they expect her to come back in the spring. She will have to improve very much if she is able[.]
It seems Rev Hannah has left received a call to Springfield [...] Annie seems to feel Mrs H's leaving very much says she will miss her so much[.] We heard from Calvin & Julia [Calvin Mateer, missionary in China, founder of the first Christian College in China] they were better & expected to go to Canton on a trip[.]
With love to all -
Your Loving cousin EllenYour Mother & Lillie send love