Dear Father,

I received your letter containing fifty dollars for which I am very thankfull¹ for but the rest of your letter causes me much trouble [.] Hattie has been up to my mothers a short time my mother lay sick and as I could not go myself and her children all maried and gone no one but a little grand son to stop with her of her own [.] Hattie took her sewing with her she did not go to work but to be company for and help wait on mother I cannot see who could object to that

[A]s for lottie she has been kept regular to school with the exceptions of a few days only when she was home two weeks sick so bad that I had to have the doctor several times [.] She took a heavy cold I had to have the dentist come to the house and take out a tooth and before she was well enough I sent her too scholl again she has never mifsed an examination I am certain she was promoted last sumer hollow days none of the rest was promoted then but her and they are only sent in once a year for promotion

[Y]ou did not say who informed you I supose it must be John or Alice² as they are boath bitter enimys of mine and will do all they can against me I do not care what they say to those that know me but it grives me when they talk to strangers but god is my judge and I know it wont be long at the longest untill I go to meet my god and the parents of those poor children that I trust is in heaven my conscience is clear god knows I have tried hard he knows my weekness he knows what greifs opress me but I have tried hard to do my duty and to make their home comfortable there was nothing that gave me more pleasure than to have all the children home and happy

[D]o you remember what poor Alfred told you not six weeks before he died of what trouble John and Alice had caused him and they still keep it up should you live you will know it all and know who is in the fault and who is not [.] [A]fter I received your letter today I sent for mrs. hart to come over to see if she would take Hattie she said she would see and let me know I think she will be glad to have her for she is a good girl and every body likes her that knows her I do not know what I shall do without her but if it is your wish she must go and I must do the best I can [.] Hattie does not wish to go but she say but she is willing to comply with your wishes

I can ashure you Alice is not so much interested about the children as she makes out she does nothing for them only makes trouble makeing them belive they ought to have every thing they want that the money you send should bye every thing [.] [S]he may talk about an education what is hers she had her mother with her the early part of her life she had a good edication I have [heard] she has been to school and lived with educated people and I can assure you she cannot go in as good society as either minie [Minnie] or Hattie she cannot make the first thing nothing she wears only her stocking she cannot sew as good as lottie and should mr. Harbin tire of her she must then go as a common servent she can get a liveing no other way [.] I have william home some time he had inflamtion in his eyes, he had to have one of his eyes burnt three times a painfull operation but he is going to school again

Hattie has comenced to write to you she will send it morow I would send you lottie ['s] reports so you could see for yourself but they are over to mrs. Harts but I will send them to you as soon as I can get them

I hope you will remember us in your prays for time and eternity

I am ever your thankfull daughter in Law

Maria [Mudge] Baker

¹ The original letter contains spelling and grammatical errors which have been preserved during transcription. Any changes to punctuation are indicated by [ ]. For ease of reading, we have provided some paragraph breaks and removed the usual [sic] indications for errors.

² Here Maria probably means the information about Hattie staying with Mrs. Mudge and Lottie being home from school. She could, however, also be referring to the rumours regarding her moral behaviour that reached Rev. Baker through John P. Baker. Henry Hart had also heard the rumours but was reluctant to confirm their content (W3155, W3156).