Rev'd. T. Baker,

Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 3^rd inst. containing P.O. Order I received safely and beg to express our thanks for yr. kind and considerate attention to this needful matter. I think the method you have adobted [sic] in this instance "of the manner of sending remittance to be the best," and as I usually get to town as often as once a week will cause me no inconvenience. The Children Maude & Willie I am pleased to say are with us, and are I trust both content & happy for the time being.

You will receive a letter from Minnie¹ in which allusions will be made to the stratagems of her Step Mother, and its results as regards one of my nieces.²

Had I known for a certainty or had I felt positive rumours respect'g. her ( Mrs. J.A.B. [Mrs. James Alfred Baker]) were true, you would have heard of it at a much earlier date, and I therefore felt a reluctance to write to you on such a subject without being quite certain. I fear my christian [sic] feeling for the poor designing erring creature well nigh exhausted. I attribute great blame to her & but little to my wilful niece, and have yet a hope that she may not regret the step she has taken from ill-advice.

In reply to your question as regards Willie's clothing Mrs. P. considers he requires a suit of plain durable material (as what he has brought with him is not of that nature) and judges that by making them at home she could furnish him, at an expense not exceeding 7 dollars. Hoping this will find you & yrs. in health.

I remain Respectfully

J. [John] Puckridge

¹ This is likely the note from Uncle John that Minnie mentions in W3224.

² The step-mother is Maria (Mudge) Baker, the widow of James Alfred Baker. Rev. Baker had been providing financial support for Maria as she was still caring for several of the seven dependent stepchildren she had "inherited" after the death of her husband in 1876. 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.

The niece is Harriett Baker, Maria's stepdaughter, who was married secretly to a Mr. Hicks, Jun., on June 1, 1878. (See, W3224, W3220).