Nov 1st (1886)

4406 Sidney Ave, Chicago

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My Dear Brother

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Elvira writes me that you are quite out of health. I hope it is only temporary and that ere this you are your old self again. We are all getting along in years and are subject to the ills of life, but as a family I think we have been wonderfully blessed with health and have all lived to a good age and though life is just as sweet as ever, we can‘t expect to linger here many years longer. I heard that you were talking of coming east next summer and have anticipated much pleasure from the thought that we might all meet once more either here or in our childhood’s home. I suppose you have seen accounts in the papers of our grand dedication services, but there were such crowds every where that the masses could not see much and hear less. We had a fine view of the street parade from the top of a seven storey building. We also saw the fire works which were the finest I ever saw. But aside from that we didn’t try to see or hear. I have come to the conclusion that Chicago is too large. I suppose you hear from those of our family who still remain near the old home occasionally so I can tell you no news there. I was back east four years ago but the bad weather prevented me from going about much, so I saw very few of my old school mates, and although many of the old buildings looked so small, the river seemed more like a creek and the mountains were like hills or bluffs as we call them out here. Lucius is quite feeble, still I think he does a good deal of work. George appeared quite well when I was there and if nothing happens I shall expect to see him here next summer. Ever since Tempe died we have been offering Elvira a home with us but she feels as if she ought to stay there while Lucius lives. He often has a sick spell and then she likes to be near. I presume she is more contented there where she is acquainted with everyone but I do not like the idea of her living alone so much. I think one of Lucius’ boys is with her now. Fordyce’ business is in New Orleans making goods for mattresses and upholstering out of the cypress moss. He is home now for a few weeks to attend the ceremonies here and put in his note for Benjamin Harrison. You don’t have a chance of that kind. I don’t think I would like to live out of the United States. I spent last winter in New Orleans but like it better here. Leslie is sixty miles south west of N.C., the two girls are with me, one of them a widow the other never married. I think Mary writes to you occasionally as she often tells me I ought to but I don’t like to write letters well enough to write when I have no expectations of their reaching their destination. Mary is talking of going east this fall and I hope she will spend the winter with Elvira for she needs the rest. She has two splendid boys, Howard you know and Will is just as good, a good man, a good farmer and getting along nicely. All he lacks is a good wife. I wonder if you remember how Chicago looked when you passed through. What a wonderful change you will see. It is forty years is it not since you took Horace Greeley’s8 advice and went west? I don’t suppose we would know each other though Howard says you look very much like Uncle Lucius and one of George’s boys says Lucius looks like the ghost of his father so you must all look alike. I see by the papers that there has been quite a heavy snow storm west and north, also east. We have not seen a flake yet but here had some ice. I wonder if your winter has begun yet. I think you have an abundance of snow there but my impression is that the cold is not severe. Remember me to George and tell him we expect to see him next summer. If I get an answer to this perhaps I can write more next time.

With much love

Addie.