 W3203 TO REV. THOMAS BAKER from his son Thomas Hampson Baker
May 20 1878
To: Rev. Thomas Baker, 3 Bold Street, Hamilton, Ontario
From: St. George, OntarioDear Father,
Yours of the 15th was duly received, & should have been answered at an earlier date, but I was under engagement to Mr. Crawford, who is the Conservative Candidate for this riding. Which
caused me to be absent from home a couple of nights & the
balance of the time not engaged preparing reports &
otherwise, has been occupied with professional business.1 You
ask me whether I can take 2 of my deceased brother's
children. I have consulted my wife in regard to it. She
is, I am sorry to say in a very poor state of health, &
expresses her willingness to take charge of the girl. But
with boys she has had no experience & declines the
responsibility. I think you had better take him to your
home in Hamilton. You have better schools & when older
more choice of situations than here.
Were I on the Farm, I might easily have complied with your wish. I was not a little surprised after the charges made against me in the fall, you could have reconciled your conscience to place under a sceptic a young & immortal soul.
I must farther inform you that I have as much as I
can do to make both ends meet, Sarah is looking after the millinery department for her Brother in Law, & we have no need of any extra help. Should you be determined to place them out I will take the girl & make all arrangements when I hear from you again.
Your Affecnte [sic] Son
Thos. Baker
P.S. I was in Paris on Thursday last just after the
receipt of yours. I called to see how they were getting on. I found all well & apparently very comfortable. I am in ignorance as to your motive for breaking up the House. I must state I regret it, as it appears well kept, & children comfortable.
T.H.B.
1 Thomas Hampson Baker uses the archaic "fs" for "ss", transcribed here as "ss" for ease of reading. |
