Oct 16th 1871

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Dear Brother

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It has been a long time since I have written to you, but think not that you are forgotten, many times a day my thoughts go out towards you and always when the shadow of night gathers around us and I bow before the all merciful Father to seek pardon for the sins of the day, and ask him protecting care, through the night watches, my heart goes up in prayer that God’s protecting fever might be round about you, that He might be your companion in your loneliness and guide you in all your ways. I am on a visit to our childhood’s home, although not in the home cot, yet in the old new house that overlooks our birth place. When looking at our old home with all its surroundings, memory brings forth a group of merry children happy in their childish sports and in a parent’s love. Those were indeed joyous days which sped all too quickly. Now that loved spot has passed into the hands of strangers and its inmates are scattered to the ends of the earth. One beautiful autumn day I visited the ledges, that favourite haunt of my childhood, the rocks seemed like old familiar faces, they alone have changed not. I feasted my eyes on the beautiful landscape spread out before me, decked with all the brilliancy with which autumn chooses to cloth the eastern forests and sadly missed the companions of my youth, in memory pictured many happy hours in wandering over the fields now spread out before me, but those days are past never to return. I look forward to a time, when we may meet, to part no more, if we all prove faithful to the trust committed to us. I have not been in the old house, I cannot bring my mind to that. I had much rather think of it as in days of yore. Change is written upon all things, I meet many strange faces, with now and then a familiar one. There are but few of the families in the neighborhood that were here nine years ago when I first left for Ill. Orin Houghton and Mr. Crandal still live here. Horace Goodrich lives where his father used to, John Hunt’s where his father did. Harriet Merwin lies sick with a cancer with but little hopes of her recovery. She has had her cancer taken out. Milton and Henry live with her. H is married and has one child. John and Henry Williams Daly are still living, their boys and also some of the Frenches make quite decent men. I made a long visit in Franklin, Avery Northrup and his mother and Almina live there. They have a very pretty place and are doing well. Cynthia and Hannah Trayeg live in Fr. Mr. Wheat’s people are well. I called at Mr. Wheat’s - they live in the lower part of the village. Mary and Lamira are both home, Mary teaches painting. They inquired about you. Mr. Wheat thought he would like to live as you did. William, Lucy, Ann, and Clarisse Tracy live in Otego, the rest are west. Mrs. T. lives with her girls, they are all married. Albert Hyde is in Otego, his mother is with him. O has improved very much the past five years. Wells Bridge has got to be quite a place. Edwin Birdsall has rented his place and taken Abram Fleming’s. He married a daughter.

I expect to start for Scranton tomorrow, intend to stay there one week and then turn my face western. I shall leave with sadness for probably it will be the last time I shall look upon the face of our mother. She is very feeble, although she keeps around most of the time, her mind is good. Temp will remain with her as long as she lives if her own life is spared. Lucius has two children, his and his wife’s health are both poor. He talks of selling his farm and try to get into some business that will not be quite so hard as farming. George has five nice children, Mary two, and Ada four.

Whit I wish you would make up your mind to come a little nearer at least to the rest of us where we could once more look into your face. There are places where one could get a good situation and do as well, at least and I think better than you are doing, where one could have the companionship of the good and the intelligent and would not the company of friends be much better than riches that perish? Write soon will you Whit. In about two weeks I expect to be in Polo. I work in a tailor’s shop 6 hours a day and board with Ada. Mary is at Plum River, her post office is Pleasant Valley Jo Davies Co. What do you raise on your farm, mostly grain or cattle. Lucius is raising apples strictly. Crabs here are very good. Apples are scarce, potatoes very plenty.

Ma says she has been looking for a letter a long time. Please excuse this scratching as I have a flawed pen and my hand is very tired as I have been working.

Your sister E.T. Chase