5001 Lake. Ave.
Chicago.
Nov 11th 1886
Dear Father
Your letter gave me great pleasure. I am rejoiced that you had such a pleasant trip among your old friends. I did want very much to see you and hear you tell about it.
I am still with Mrs. S. Am in high favor at court just now - She sent for me Sunday night and had a long talk with me. She said she was dissatisfied both with the primary teacher and Miss Graves and that she is going to dismiss Miss Graves at X'mas. She says she will notify her in time to get a new position after the holidays. She says she wants very much that I should remain with her this year, that I am the most successful of her teachers. She says she is going to pay me what she owes me of my last years salery [sic] next month, but will she?
A lady of twenty years experience as a teacher & $5000 capital is going to go into partnership with Mrs S. After X'mas, she will take Miss Graves place as associate principle. [sic] Miss S. says this money will enable her to pay off her debts and get even with the world. I am sorry for the aforesaid lady, of course she will lose her $5000.
I have been having a correspondence with the principle of a ladys college in Jacksonvill Ill. He wants a teacher of Latin and Higher Mathematics. He wants me to come by Thanksgiving if at all, as the position will be vacant then, but I promised Mrs S. Sunday night that I would stay with her until X'mas. I gave her this promise partly because she said it would be hard to get any one to fill my place and partly because I hope by waiting a little longer, I may be able to secure some funds. I mean to be perfectly honorable in all my dealings with Mrs S. though I do not consider she has been so with me.
The gentleman who has been instrumental in getting the offer of the two positions I spoke of, is at the head of one of the largest schools in the city, and a gentleman of influence. He & his wife have both been very kind to me. He does not want me to remain with Mrs. S. as he has no faith in her.
I wish I could see you to have a talk with you about a plan Miss Graves and I have been thinking about. In the meantime while I am waiting for Mrs S. to pay me, I will have to $50 get some clothes. Don't husk corn these cold windy days, let the man do it.
I think Edd [her older brother] takes his defeat in a very manly way. I am glad he does, though we are all disappointed with him.
With much love
Your aff. daughter
Gertrude