Dear Father,

We received your very kind letter and are very thankfull for the money¹ the letter contained fifty dollers it came all right and safe. We are all well as usual William went up to mr Martins for a visit lottie is over to her uncle Mr Puckridges the rest is home. lottie and willie went to Johns but they did not agree he sent them home directly we received a letter from minnie this weak. She is well. Alice is well. She had all her upper teeth extracted she was home one weak at the time she was quite poorly the docter gave her eather instead of cloraform she is quite well now.

In you last letter you asked did I know weather Mr Puckridge had received answer from the children grandparents on thir behalf. I do not think Mr Puckridge ever wrote in thir behalf he is very kind to visit them and is so much pleased to see them so comfortable but he has never mentioned one word about what the old people were going to do for them and I have never asked if you wish I will ask mr Puckridge.² prehaps when you are up you will see mr puckridge yourself and then you will have a better understanding than I can get out of him we shall be very glad to see you when you come.

I hope these few lines will find you all well the weather is much cooler now than it was the heat seemed to effect us all very much. the children write with me in kindest love and many thanks to you all [?] hoping to see you before long.

I am dear Father, your affectionate and

thankfull daughter in Law

Maria [Mudge] Baker

¹ The letter contains many errors in spelling and punctuation. The transcription is true to the original. For ease of reading, we have omitted the usual [sic] indications for errors.

² Mr. Puckridge is the maternal uncle of Rev. Baker's grandchildren. The "old people" Maria is referring to are likely Mr. and Mrs. Fussell, John Puckridge's step-father and mother. Mr. Fussell does not seem to have been willing to help the children financially. See also W3201 for a comment by Rev. Baker.