Rev. Thos. Baker

Dear Sir,

It is a painfull [sic] duty that compells [sic] me to write you a letter as I shall doubtless say things in it which will not be pleasing to you. Master Willie Baker came to my place this morning about 2 O'clock having taken advantage of an excursion train, that was running from Hamilton to London, to procure a free ride. You will please inform me at once what I will do with him. You may say he has a Brother, one John Puckridge Baker a brakesman, who runs out of London, and that I had better deliver him over to the custody of him. I am acquainted with Mr. B. and must decline to have any thing [sic] to do with such a person. He lived with me for three months and in that time I learned him to my sorrow to be an Atheistic Infidel, God-defying, untruthfull wicked man and I beg you will not ask me to have anything to do with him in the remotest kind. This cannot be pleasant for you to hear but I cannot help it, I never came across a more wicked man among all the Infidels it has been my lot to have met. Further-more I understand that the younger children have been allowed to spend a large part of their time at Mrs. Jas. A. Baker's which to me seems altogether out of place.

The heartless manner in which the family have been separated, and against the dying wishes of their Father, is bearing its legitimate fruit.¹ You cannot but understand that Mrs. Jas. A. Baker has been a "pack Horse" for the whole family for several years and in that time the younger members of the family, no matter how they have been influenced to be the contrary, have grown up with affection for their Mother, Mrs. J.A. Baker, that cannot be easily broken. Poor Willie affirms very positively that he will not stay at Mr. Puckridges, he seems to like his Uncle well enough but not the other members of the family.

Maud is at present at Mrs. Harts and I am led to believe that they are [(] the children [)] very much opposed to going back to their Uncle Puckridges. Mrs. Jas. A. Baker loves them, that she cannot help, but has no way for them, so we appeal to you to solve the problem. I persuaded both Maud and Willie to go to their Uncle Puckridges when they went, I had hoped he would have seen it would have been best for us all to have exerted his authority and have kept them away from their Mother, but he has not seemed to do so notwithstanding I notified him it was our express wishes. I will let Mr. P. know of Willie's whereabouts and I hope some of you will at once see to it. If you should have cause to write to Mrs. Jas. A. Baker I hope and beg you will not be so cutting or sarcastic as some of your late letters have been, remember it is not the part of a gentleman (not to say a Christian [underlined twice]) to put things in a harsh mean light to a woman. Especially does it ill become you to say hard things to your late son's wife who was a faithful loving creature to him and his family for a number of years and if she should be saved in the Kingdom of God, (which God grant) most likely, in the hand of the Lord, has her to thank for it. I have been plain pardon me if I have been harsh as I desire to be kind to all of God's creatures as much as in me lies.

Hoping sir, you will live and act as you will wish you had when you and Mrs. J.A. Baker will meet before the "Great White Throne," where He who made all men of one blood, where wealth, possition [sic] and circumstances will avail us to nothing, where God--The "Widows God["]--will judge and do right. I beg to commend you and yours to his care in the spirit of meekness hoping, as a best wish, you may all be enabled to dwell for ever with Him and that Mrs. J.A. Baker and all her family will live in the same house--Our Father's House--plenty of room even for all.

Yours Kindly

W.C. Hicks

[Written on the envelope:]

Recd. July 26, 1878--Obtained it Saturday morning when returned from the mountains--W.C. Hicks

[Tract glued to the back of the envelope:]

¹ After the death of his son James Alfred Baker in 1876, Rev. Thomas Baker had provided financial support for James Alfred's widow, Maria Mudge, as she was still caring for several of her seven dependent stepchildren. 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.