Sidney April 20 1872

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Dear Son

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Almost a year has rolled away since I have heard from you and it seems a very long time. I would have written long ago but there has been a long cold winter hardly gone and we are yet living in the old red house so I have no room away from the rest of the family where is light and warmth and I never could control my thoughts to sit down and write where everything was going on so I waited for warmer weather . My eyesight is very poor and I am so feeble I can’t get about much. My health is pretty good, I can sit up and walk about but can’t go far. Tempe is here, her health not very good. She is growing old. Lucius don’t enjoy very good health but is about as well as he has been several years past. His wife has the dropsy round the heart, suffers a good deal but keeps up for the most part. The Dr. thinks she will get comfortable health if she is careful. They have two little boys, George Grant, five years old, Lucius Albert, ten months. You know they buried their oldest four years ago. 

It has been quite sickly all through this country. This winter there has been a number of deaths in Otego. I suppose you wasn’t acquainted with many of them. Harriet Murwin died sometime ago, she had a cancer in her breast, suffered very much the last two years, was confined to the house over a year and to her bed several months. We heard from Scranton a few weeks ago. All well, Walter and Annie was here last August, enjoyed their visit first rate but are not willing to move into the country but I think it would be better for George to go on to a farm he has so many boys. We received a letter from Mary not long since. There were all well. Elvira was here last fall, made a good long visit, then went back to Polo. If I had a home of my own it would be very pleasant to have both the girls live with me but as it is I think it best for her to stay with Adeline. We heard from them sometime ago. Fordyce is away from home most of the time selling sewing machines. 

I will ask some questions. Has there been any improvements made in your country since you wrote last, any new inhabitants, any railroads being build, any post office nearer than Kamloops, any prospect of the country being settled with civilized people for long years to come. What do you raise on your farm and can you find market for produce. One more question, have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ for your friend, guide, and Savior. If you have not I beg of you search the scriptures, read the prophesies that told of a Savior to come hundreds of years before the man Jesus made his appearance, then read the acts and sayings, death and resurrections of that man. I think you can’t help believing he is Lord from heaven who came into this world to save the lost and ruined Children of Adam. Perhaps you will say you have read it all. I don’t doubt it but have you read with your mind fully made up to believe the truth. If you have I think you must give up your skepticism and become a believer in the Christians religions. O Whitfield I pray God you will not wait another day before you seek the Lord with all your hear. Exercise repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that your soul be prepared to dwell in Heaven and I will try to meet you there. I must give up all expectation of ever seeing you again in this world and very likely this scratch is the last scratch you will see from my pen. I have lived four score and five years in this world and if I should linger a little longer I am going more feeble and very soon my work will all be done. If you want to hear from your sisters sit down and write to them and I dare promise it won’t be long before you get answers. They have wrote you many letters and all complain they get no answer. They get discouraged and wait in hopes to hear from you. Have you ever heard from Tim Parsons. He lives in Schenevus Otsego Co. Lucius has seen and talked with him. He is worth property I think you had better write to him, perhaps he can tell you where and how he left what belonged to you. Lucius ought to have wrote you long ago. I must now bid you farewell. Once more I entreat, don’t neglect your soul’s salvation. For that I will daily pray as long as life and sense remains. Please write oftener. Write to Lucius, maybe it will stir him up to write to you once more.

from your old affectionate Mother

Whitfield Chase

 

Warm weather now but dry.