Sidney March 29 1871

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Dear Son far away but not forgotten

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I received a letter from you last fall but have neglected to write till now. I would have wrote sooner but there has been a long cold winter and I have felt more like sitting by the stove than writing and I am so notional I want to be alone when I write and its not often I have that privilege especially in cold weather. I don’t know as any of our family have written since we got yours all wrong. We ought to keep up correspondence. We are all glad when we get a letter from you, even Lucius is always pleased when we get a letter yet he never writes to you or anyone else only on business. George and Jane visited us last August with their three youngest boys. We hear from them quite often. Rather hard times in Scranton this winter, the railroad company and miners have had some difficulty that affects most all other business and makes it hard for poor folks. We received a letter from Elvira Jan 20, all well. I have not heard from Mary since last fall, a year last fall since she was here. She has been talking for 3 or 4 years of making us one more visit but don’t get here and I suppose you have given up all idea of ever visiting the home of your childhood again. O Whitfield, and must it be that I can never see your face again in this world. O if you could have known the anxiety a mother feels for her children you would never have gone so far away to search for worldly wealth. Of course you have met with trials and disappointments and presume suffered cold and hunger and now when old age is coming on to settle down all alone in a cold unsettled country with no friends, no society. I don’t know how you can reconcile yourself to such a way of living. Do you make the bible your study, have you embraced the truth contained in that book. If you have then I expect you will do good in the world by precept and example even among indians, but if you have not become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ I beg and pray you to put it off no longer but make haste to seek your soul’s salvation with all your heart by exercising repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus. Whit I want to meet you in a better world and since there is a Saviour provided to save our undying souls from ruin it is our own fault if we miss of Heaven. My daily prayer is that I may meet all my Children at the right hand of God to part no more forever. I am now four score and four years old. Of course you can’t expect to hear from me in this world much longer. My health is very good for one of my age. I am able to sit up and walk about the house and out doors occasionally but can’t go very far. Tempe is here, intends to stay with me until death separate us. I often think she may go first her health is far from good. She feels the infirmities of old age yet works hard and when I see her drudging around and know that much of it is for my sake I feel bad knowing I can never reward her for her labor of love. Well I hope if she lives to be needy she will find friends in time of need. Lucius is growing old, health not very good, but keeps on farming. Minerva has never enjoyed very good health since she has lived in our family, this winter more unwell than usual. Little George is four years old, a large active child but we think he haint much constitution. There have been a number of deaths in Otego in the fall and winter, mostly consumption. Harriet Murwin is sick with a cancer and we think she can’t live long. She lives where she did, her boys are with her. I hope you will write soon as you can make it convenient. Do write to the girls, they write to you and get no answer, write again, get discouraged, then wait awhile, write again, but seldom get a letter from you. Tempe received one last Spring. She intends to write soon. This from your poor old Mother. It may be the last I shall be able to scratch, weak eyes, a trembling hand and weak head probably the -- will be from another's pen. My best wishes for your welfare, good bye.