Sidney May 20 1870

 

My Dear far away long absent Son

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It seems a long, a very long time since I have heard from you. The last letter I received you thought you would write to Tempe soon but no letter has come yet she writes and writes again but gets no answer then gets discouraged and waits awhile, then writes again. Your other sisters write I presume and if they got letters from you they would let me know. Lucius seldom writes to anyone unless on business. Sometimes I almost conclude you have forgotten the home of your childhood, Mother, brothers and sisters, old friends and companions, but no, forget you cannot, but I suppose the trouble is you have located yourself so far from all business transactions that it is very difficult for you to send letters and more difficult for you to get those that are sent you and it will ever be otherwise. Is there any probability that the country between you and Kamloops will be settled for long years to come or do you expect to lead a solitary hermit’s life the rest of your days. Whitfield you may enjoy it but I feel as if you had almost thrown away a life that might have been made useful if you had gone to some place that was settled or settling with intelligent people but you are there, perhaps it is all for the best. I hope you will try to make the best of your remaining days and secure your soul’s salvation and be prepared to dwell at God’s right hand in Heaven. I suppose I must give up all hopes of seeing your face again in this world but I pray and hope I shall meet you with the just that are made perfect in the upper world. O Whitfield if you have not made your peace with god don’t wait another moment for you know not what a day may bring forth. Seek the lord with all your heart that Jesus may be your friend and brother to guide you in the path of duty. Probably this will be the last advice I shall be able to give you for I am old and feeble and can’t expect to live a great while although my health is very good at present. I am living with Lucius in the old red house. We need a better house but Lucius has been talking of selling his farm for the last three years so puts off building. He bought a lot in Otego Village with about as good a house on it as this, let out his farm and moved with the intention of building there the next summer but he was sick in fall so he couldn’t get things prepared and the farm was not managed to suit him so he moved back in the spring and here we are yet. Tempe is living with us. Her health is not very good, she feels the infirmities of old age. She is able to do work enough to earn her living. Lucius is an old man, poor health, and he has to work so hard to take care of his farm that he should be glad to live easier. His wife don’t enjoy very good health. They have a little son three years old, his name is George Grant. They buried a little boy two years ago last Dec, two years and three months old. His name was Frank. I can’t tell you much about old friends, there has been such an alteration since you left. Harriet Murwin lives where she did, Milton and Henry live with her. Orrin Houghton lives where he did. That is about all that is left that you was acquainted with. You would be surprised to see Otego now I suppose. They have more than twice doubled in the last five years. The Susquehanna and Albany railroad runs through the Village depot just below the bridge, another down to Wells bridge. They go from Albany to Scranton. There are five trains go east and five go west daily, Sundays excepted, My paper is full so I send my love and best wishes. I think Tempe will write you soon. Do write oftener. Write and have your letters on hand so you can send when you get a chance. 

this from your affectionate Mother

WC