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                                                                                            Warwick Nov 9 1857

Betsy Conant Nov. 9. 1857 Elyria

                      Dear Sister I received your letter sometime ago and will try once more to write to you my health is good for one of my age but I know and feel that I am failing body and mind but I am thankful that I can get up and dress myself alone and do my own work after a fashion and then sit down and knit Socks to sell but I have not so much ambition about work as I used to have
 Mr C. is about as usual does some work but complains a great deal I think he shant live through the winter I think he would be too low spirited sometimes if I did not often tell him how much we have to be thankful for. there has been no Death nor any severe Sickness in our house for more than 43 years I think it remarkable. Harvey's health is not good but he works most of the time Hannah is much better than she was last winter She works very hard and would if she had but one to work for and two to help her. Henry has not been well for most a year has a pain in his bowels and back has a relax often. he is now taking some vegetable medicine that Joseph Draper sent him from Greenfield I think he is some better but has not much courage. Susan has been to the high school this fall She is a smart capable girl Horace Mann is a tall good black eyed boy

I suppose your folks out there do not feel the hard times but I guess they hear something about them from the paper it seems there never was such a time before I am afraid a great many that have to work for a living will suffer this winter if it is as cold as the two last winters were. but I suppose it is all right people have been very extravagant in dress and living for years and now we need something to humble us & make us feel our dependence