Scranton March 11th 1876

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Dear Brother

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I am ashamed at myself for my dilatoriness in writing to you for a year past. I don’t think I have written since the letter announcing the death of our mother. My only excuse is waiting for a “more convenient time” till a whole year has slipped away almost unconsciously.

There has been no material change in the circumstances of the rest of us since I last wrote as I know of, except what you have been made acquainted with by the others in writing to you. Waterbury, I suppose you know, has removed with his family to Louisville K.Y. and Elvira is at Lucius’ place with Temperance and Lucius has moved over to Otego. Lucius thinks he has become a christian and is trying to live a new life in Christ. Now you my dear Brother are the only one of our whole family that has not a hope of eternal life. Let me beseech you to give this subject your serious and earnest consideration and seek the Lord Jesus now. How it would rejoice our parents if permitted to have cognizance of things on earth, to know that all their children, not one left, are looking forward to a reunion in the life to come. When I last saw our mother a few weeks before her death almost her last words were about you.

I have been somewhat unfortunate in worldly matters, having endorsed notes to the amount of $800.00 which I suppose I will have to pay. I expect eventually to be repaid perhaps 3/4 of it but in the mean time it will cause me a good deal of embarassment and anxiety to meet it.

Our oldest boy Walter you know learned the printing business, but that like every other business has been in a very depressed condition and he was out of regular employment all last summer but last fall I succeeded in getting him a situation in the Government Printing Office at Washington where he is at present. The average pay is about $5.00 a day. All business interests are very much depressed all over the country as you are probably aware. It is hoped however that the worst is over and that things will gradually improve. I hope which will be the case, for there is a terrible suffering among the unemployed poor.

Write to me without delay and tell me how you are doing and whether the country there about is being settled any yet.

Truly your Brother

George