My dear Grandpa,

Mrs. Best has informed me that you wish me to board with her I hope you will excuse me for asking why I [sic] you do not wish me to stay at home with the family.

I have not yet mentioned it to Mother¹ for I know it would make her feel very bad.

My dear Grandpa I do hope you will not take me from my home for there is no place where I can be so happy as there. Mother has done so much for me I would feel it so hard to have to leave her and you know it was Fathers dying wish that us children should remain together at home with Mother and her with us and he told us all to always be kind to her under every and all circumstances for she had used him like a prince.

Mother has been too kind to all and her kindness has been imposed upon by part of the family.

Dear Grandpa if you compel or really insist on me leaving home though it is much against my will I will comply with your wish but please do not force me to board at Mrs. Bests. I am willing to stay the year as an apprentice and think I could not have a better instructure [sic] in the dressmaking than her, but more than this I cannot say of her, she is not liked overly well by any of her girls, she is not considered a very pleasant woman. Mrs. Best told me should I board there I would have to sleep with the servant girl as the house is small and they have no spare room. I am sure you will agree with me that to room with the servant girl would be a very unpleasant thing

I am positive there are plenty other respectable places were [sic] I could be boarded if it is still your wish that I should leave home.

Allie informed me of the letter she had received from you I was very sorry to hear that you were sick but hope you are better now.

All here are well but Maud she is not real sick but has been troubled with headache for some time. This has been written in a hurry so please excuse all mistakes. With kindest love to you Grandma Ant [sic] Mary and all, I am dear Grandpa

Your afft. [sic] Granddaughter

Harriett Baker

¹ "Mother" is Maria (Mudge) Baker, James Alfred Baker's second wife and Hattie's step-mother. Maria had "inherited" seven stepchildren (including Hattie) after the death of her husband in 1876. Her father-in-law, Rev. Thomas Baker, provided her with financial support as she was still caring for the most of the children. However, in 1878, her eldest stepchild, John P. Baker, reported to Rev. Baker a rumour that Maria was keeping gentlemen callers for undue lengths of time and, as a result, the Reverend removed the children from Maria's care. See W3155 for details.